Do Facts Matter

Author : Jennifer L. Hochschild,Katherine Levine Einstein
Publisher : University of Oklahoma Press
Page : 209 pages
File Size : 52,5 Mb
Release : 2015-01-20
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9780806149417

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Do Facts Matter? by Jennifer L. Hochschild,Katherine Levine Einstein Pdf

A democracy falters when most of its citizens are uninformed or misinformed, when misinformation affects political decisions and actions, or when political actors foment misinformation—the state of affairs the United States faces today, as this timely book makes painfully clear. In Do Facts Matter? Jennifer L. Hochschild and Katherine Levine Einstein start with Thomas Jefferson’s ideal citizen, who knows and uses correct information to make policy or political choices. What, then, the authors ask, are the consequences if citizens are informed but do not act on their knowledge? More serious, what if they do act, but on incorrect information? Analyzing the use, nonuse, and misuse of facts in various cases—such as the call to impeach Bill Clinton, the response to global warming, Clarence Thomas’s appointment to the Supreme Court, the case for invading Iraq, beliefs about Barack Obama’s birthplace and religion, and the Affordable Care Act—Hochschild and Einstein argue persuasively that errors of commission (that is, acting on falsehoods) are even more troublesome than errors of omission. While citizens’ inability or unwillingness to use the facts they know in their political decision making may be frustrating, their acquisition and use of incorrect “knowledge” pose a far greater threat to a democratic political system. Do Facts Matter? looks beyond individual citizens to the role that political elites play in informing, misinforming, and encouraging or discouraging the use of accurate or mistaken information or beliefs. Hochschild and Einstein show that if a well-informed electorate remains a crucial component of a successful democracy, the deliberate concealment of political facts poses its greatest threat.

Author : Laura A. Millar
Publisher : American Library Association
Page : 193 pages
File Size : 43,9 Mb
Release : 2021-03-04
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN : 9780838937570

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A Matter of Facts by Laura A. Millar Pdf

The safeguarding of authentic facts is essential, especially in this disruptive Orwellian age, where digital technologies have opened the door to a post-truth world in which "alternative facts" can be so easily accepted as valid. And because facts matter, evidence matters. In this urgent manifesto, archives luminary Millar makes the case that authentic and accurate records, archives, data, and other sources of documentary proof are crucial in supporting and fostering a society that is respectful, democratic, and self-aware. An eye-opening treatise for the general public, an invaluable resource for archives students, and a provocative call-to-arms for information and records professionals, Millar's book explains the concept of evidence and discusses the ways in which records, archives, and data are not just useful tools for our daily existence but also essential sources of evidence both today and in the future; includes plentiful examples that illustrate the critical role evidence plays in upholding rights, enforcing responsibilities, tracing family or community stories, and capturing and sharing memories; and examines the impact of digital technologies on how records and information are created and used. With documentary examples ranging from Mesopotamian clay tablets to World War II photographs to today’s Twitter messages and Facebook posts, Millar’s stirring book will encourage readers to understand more fully the importance of their own records and archives, for themselves and for future generations.

Author : Gareth Leng,Rhodri Ivor Leng
Publisher : MIT Press
Page : 377 pages
File Size : 46,8 Mb
Release : 2020-03-18
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780262358286

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The Matter of Facts by Gareth Leng,Rhodri Ivor Leng Pdf

How biases, the desire for a good narrative, reliance on citation metrics, and other problems undermine confidence in modern science. Modern science is built on experimental evidence, yet scientists are often very selective in deciding what evidence to use and tend to disagree about how to interpret it. In The Matter of Facts, Gareth and Rhodri Leng explore how scientists produce and use evidence. They do so to contextualize an array of problems confronting modern science that have raised concerns about its reliability: the widespread use of inappropriate statistical tests, a shortage of replication studies, and a bias in both publishing and citing “positive” results. Before these problems can be addressed meaningfully, the authors argue, we must understand what makes science work and what leads it astray. The myth of science is that scientists constantly challenge their own thinking. But in reality, all scientists are in the business of persuading other scientists of the importance of their own ideas, and they do so by combining reason with rhetoric. Often, they look for evidence that will support their ideas, not for evidence that might contradict them; often, they present evidence in a way that makes it appear to be supportive; and often, they ignore inconvenient evidence. In a series of essays focusing on controversies, disputes, and discoveries, the authors vividly portray science as a human activity, driven by passion as well as by reason. By analyzing the fluidity of scientific concepts and the dynamic and unpredictable development of scientific fields, the authors paint a picture of modern science and the pressures it faces.

Author : David Parish
Publisher : Greenleaf Book Group
Page : 200 pages
File Size : 45,7 Mb
Release : 2018-08-31
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9781626344808

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The Facts of the Matter by David Parish Pdf

Too Green to Be True? Does all the positive press about hybrid cars, alternative fuels, and the next ''green'' must-have product sound too good to be true? Well, maybe it is. In The Facts of the Matter, Alaskan author David Parish provides a clear explanation of the environmental, technology, energy, and resources issues we face and shows how readers can move politicians, regulators, environmental groups, media, and businesses to truly take the action society needs to prosper. ​Parish helps readers cut through the noise and focus on an optimistic approach to green issues. He argues that the best way to conserve the planet and ourselves is the natural convergence of smart natural resource development with improving the lives of the growing population. The Facts of the Matter is the basis for a conversation, based on solutions rather than rhetoric, and will cause a rethinking of our biases—to the benefit of the greater good.

Author : Thurston Twigg-Smith
Publisher : Goodale Publishing
Page : 444 pages
File Size : 45,5 Mb
Release : 1998
Category : History
ISBN : UOM:39015061180504

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Hawaiian Sovereignty by Thurston Twigg-Smith Pdf

Author : Jennifer L. Hochschild,Katherine Levine Einstein
Publisher : University of Oklahoma Press
Page : 249 pages
File Size : 51,5 Mb
Release : 2015-01-20
Category : Education
ISBN : 9780806149424

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Do Facts Matter? by Jennifer L. Hochschild,Katherine Levine Einstein Pdf

In Do Facts Matter? Jennifer L. Hochschild and Katherine Levine Einstein start with Thomas Jefferson’s ideal citizen, who knows and uses correct information to make policy or political choices. What, then, the authors ask, are the consequences if citizens are informed but do not act on their knowledge? More serious, what if they do act, but on incorrect information?

Author : Bruce Bartlett
Publisher : Ten Speed Press
Page : 144 pages
File Size : 45,7 Mb
Release : 2017-10-24
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9780399581175

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The Truth Matters by Bruce Bartlett Pdf

Distinguish fake news from reliable journalism with this clear and concise handbook by New York Times best-selling author Bruce Bartlett. Today’s media and political landscapes are littered with untrustworthy sources and the dangerous concept of “fake news.” This accessible guide helps you fight this deeply troubling trend and ensure that truth is not a permanent casualty. Written by Capitol Hill veteran and author Bruce Bartlett, The Truth Matters presents actionable tips and tricks for reading critically, judging sources, using fact-checking sites, avoiding confirmation bias, identifying trustworthy experts, and more.

Author : Candis Callison
Publisher : Duke University Press
Page : 328 pages
File Size : 40,8 Mb
Release : 2015-02-15
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780822376064

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How Climate Change Comes to Matter by Candis Callison Pdf

During the past decade, skepticism about climate change has frustrated those seeking to engage broad publics and motivate them to take action on the issue. In this innovative ethnography, Candis Callison examines the initiatives of social and professional groups as they encourage diverse American publics to care about climate change. She explores the efforts of science journalists, scientists who have become expert voices for and about climate change, American evangelicals, Indigenous leaders, and advocates for corporate social responsibility. The disparate efforts of these groups illuminate the challenge of maintaining fidelity to scientific facts while transforming them into ethical and moral calls to action. Callison investigates the different vernaculars through which we understand and articulate our worlds, as well as the nuanced and pluralistic understandings of climate change evident in different forms of advocacy. As she demonstrates, climate change offers an opportunity to look deeply at how issues and problems that begin in a scientific context come to matter to wide publics, and to rethink emerging interactions among different kinds of knowledge and experience, evolving media landscapes, and claims to authority and expertise.

Author : Scott Adams
Publisher : Penguin
Page : 304 pages
File Size : 54,6 Mb
Release : 2017-10-31
Category : Psychology
ISBN : 9780735219724

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Win Bigly by Scott Adams Pdf

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER The New York Times bestseller that explains one of the most important perceptual shifts in the history of humankind Scott Adams was one of the earliest public figures to predict Donald Trump’s election. The mainstream media regarded Trump as a lucky clown, but Adams – best known as “the guy who created Dilbert” -- recognized a level of persuasion you only see once in a generation. We’re hardwired to respond to emotion, not reason, and Trump knew exactly which emotional buttons to push. The point isn’t whether Trump was right or wrong, good or bad. Adams goes beyond politics to look at persuasion tools that can work in any setting—the same ones Adams saw in Steve Jobs when he invested in Apple decades ago. Win Bigly is a field guide for persuading others in any situation—or resisting the tactics of emotional persuasion when they’re used on you. This revised edition features a bonus chapter that assesses just how well Adams foresaw the outcomes of Trump’s tactics with North Korea, the NFL protesters, Congress, and more.

Author : Samuel Arbesman
Publisher : Penguin
Page : 281 pages
File Size : 48,7 Mb
Release : 2012-09-27
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9781101595299

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The Half-Life of Facts by Samuel Arbesman Pdf

New insights from the science of science Facts change all the time. Smoking has gone from doctor recommended to deadly. We used to think the Earth was the center of the universe and that the brontosaurus was a real dinosaur. In short, what we know about the world is constantly changing. Samuel Arbesman shows us how knowledge in most fields evolves systematically and predictably, and how this evolution unfolds in a fascinating way that can have a powerful impact on our lives. He takes us through a wide variety of fields, including those that change quickly, over the course of a few years, or over the span of centuries.

Author : Peter Howlett,Mary S. Morgan
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
Page : 487 pages
File Size : 45,7 Mb
Release : 2010-11-15
Category : Science
ISBN : 9781139492393

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How Well Do Facts Travel? by Peter Howlett,Mary S. Morgan Pdf

This book discusses how facts travel, and when and why they sometimes travel well enough to acquire a life of their own. Whether or not facts travel in this manner depends not only on their character and ability to play useful roles elsewhere, but also on the labels, packaging, vehicles and company that take them across difficult terrains and over disciplinary boundaries. These diverse stories of travelling facts, ranging from architecture to nanotechnology and from romance fiction to climate science, change the way we see the nature of facts. Facts are far from the bland and rather boring but useful objects that scientists and humanists produce and fit together to make narratives, arguments and evidence. Rather, their extraordinary abilities to travel well shows when, how and why facts can be used to build further knowledge beyond and away from their sites of original production and intended use.

Author : Michael P. Lynch
Publisher : W. W. Norton & Company
Page : 256 pages
File Size : 43,7 Mb
Release : 2016-03-21
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9781631491863

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The Internet of Us: Knowing More and Understanding Less in the Age of Big Data by Michael P. Lynch Pdf

"An intelligent book that struggles honestly with important questions: Is the net turning us into passive knowers? Is it degrading our ability to reason? What can we do about this?" —David Weinberger, Los Angeles Review of Books We used to say "seeing is believing"; now, googling is believing. With 24/7 access to nearly all of the world’s information at our fingertips, we no longer trek to the library or the encyclopedia shelf in search of answers. We just open our browsers, type in a few keywords and wait for the information to come to us. Now firmly established as a pioneering work of modern philosophy, The Internet of Us has helped revolutionize our understanding of what it means to be human in the digital age. Indeed, demonstrating that knowledge based on reason plays an essential role in society and that there is more to “knowing” than just acquiring information, leading philosopher Michael P. Lynch shows how our digital way of life makes us value some ways of processing information over others, and thus risks distorting the greatest traits of mankind. Charting a path from Plato’s cave to Google Glass, the result is a necessary guide on how to navigate the philosophical quagmire that is the "Internet of Things."

Author : Brooke Gladstone
Publisher : Workman Publishing
Page : 97 pages
File Size : 47,5 Mb
Release : 2017-05-16
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9781523502387

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The Trouble with Reality by Brooke Gladstone Pdf

Every week on the public radio show On the Media, the award-winning journalist Brooke Gladstone analyzes the media and how it shapes our perceptions of the world. Now, from her front-row perch on the day’s events, Gladstone brings her genius for making insightful, unexpected connections to help us understand what she calls—and what so many of us can acknowledge having—“trouble with reality.” Reality, as she shows us, was never what we thought it was—there is always a bubble, people are always subjective and prey to stereotypes. And that makes reality actually more vulnerable than we ever thought. Enter Donald J. Trump and his team of advisors. For them, as she writes, lying is the point. The more blatant the lie, the easier it is to hijack reality and assert power over the truth. Drawing on writers as diverse as Hannah Arendt, Walter Lippmann, Philip K. Dick, and Jonathan Swift, she dissects this strategy, straight out of the authoritarian playbook, and shows how the Trump team mastered it, down to the five types of tweets that Trump uses to distort our notions of what’s real and what’s not. And she offers hope. There is meaningful action, a time-tested treatment for moral panic. And there is also the inevitable reckoning. History tells us we can count on it. Brief and bracing, The Trouble with Reality shows exactly why so many of us didn’t see it coming, and how we can recover both our belief in reality—and our sanity.

Author : Nicholas Rescher
Publisher : Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG
Page : 203 pages
File Size : 43,6 Mb
Release : 2020-01-20
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9783110670110

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The Realm of Facts by Nicholas Rescher Pdf

Knowledge of facts is essential for the management of life. Most studies of the subject examine how we go about trying to obtain it; they describe the processes and proceedings of rational inquiry. The present work steps back from this to inquire into the limits and limitations of such processes and to identify the assets and the limitabilities of what they are able to supply for us. It examines how knowledge of facts is secured and consolidated as such, and what the resulting information can and cannot provide. It argues that the unavoidable incompleteness of our factual information also endows it with an element of incorrectness. By looking also at the negative side of human inquiry the book’s perspective clarifies the nature of our grip on the facts that constitute our view of the reality of things.

Author : James Hoggan,Grania Litwin
Publisher : New Society Publisher
Page : 327 pages
File Size : 44,9 Mb
Release : 2019-07-02
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN : 9781771423038

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I'm Right and You're an Idiot by James Hoggan,Grania Litwin Pdf

“Explor[es] the underlying history and psychology of public discourse . . . should be required reading for politicians and public advocates.” —Real Change The most pressing problem we face today is not climate change. It is pollution in the public square, where a toxic smog of adversarial rhetoric, propaganda, and polarization stifles discussion and debate, creating resistance to change and thwarting our ability to solve our collective problems. In this second edition of I’m Right and You’re an Idiot, James Hoggan grapples with this critical issue, through interviews with outstanding thinkers and drawing on wisdom from highly regarded public figures. Featuring a new, radically revised prologue, afterword, and a new chapter addressing the changes in the public discourse since the 2016 US election, his comprehensive analysis explores: · How political will is manipulated · How tribalism shuts down open-minded thinking, undermines trust, and helps misinformation thrive · Why facts alone fail and how language is manipulated and dissent silenced · The importance of dialogue, empathy, and pluralistic narrative reframing arguments to create compelling narratives and spur action. Our species’ greatest survival strategy has always been foresight and the ability to leverage intelligence to overcome adversity. For too long now this capacity has been threatened by the sorry state of public discourse. Focusing on proven techniques to foster more powerful and effective communication, I’m Right and You’re an Idiot will appeal to readers looking for deep insights and practical advice in these troubling times. “This is a must-read for anyone tired of the bullying, the propagandizing, the screaming, and the bullsh*t.” —Dr. Samantha Nutt, author of Damned Nations: Greed, Guns, Armies and Aid