What Is Truth For? (First Edition) (What Is It For?)

By: N.J. Enfield

Sign Up Now! Already a Member? Log In
You must be logged into Bookshare to access this title. Learn about membership options, or view our freely available titles.

Synopsis: Truth is for striving at, for the sake of good collective action. With new media technologies, it seems that falsehoods can spread faster and further than ever. And with new norms of public discourse, while being caught in a lie would once end a politician’s career, today it is shrugged off, which has profound implications for democracy. Does the truth no longer matter? This optimist’s guide to truth argues that the problem of truth is an ancient one. It contends that truth is the best device we have for coordinating collective decisions and actions, and that, while the truth itself is perpetually elusive, the concept of truth as a target ideal to strive for is supremely useful. If we do not strive for truth, our decisions will be risky at best, often foolish and sometimes disastrous. This longstanding problem will not be solved with modern technology or regulations, but with measures we must all apply: mindfulness, humility, cooperation and optimism.

Book Quality:: Publisher Quality
Book Size:: 152 Pages
ISBN-13:: 9781529249392
Related ISBNs:: 9781529249385, 9781529249408
Publisher:: Bristol University Press
Date of Addition:: 09/30/25
Copyrighted By:: Bristol University Press
Adult content:: No
Language:: English
Has Image Descriptions:: No
Categories:: Nonfiction, Law, Legal Issues and Ethics, Philosophy, Politics and Government, Sociology
Submitted By:: Bookshare Staff
Usage Restrictions:: This is a copyrighted book.