Malcolm Rivera
In his book, *The Constitution of Knowledge*, Jonathan Rauch explores the idea of a constitution of knowledge – a social system for turning disagreement into truth. This concept is rooted in the belief that knowledge is a social construct, and truth is a matter of agreement. Rauch argues that the digital age, which was supposed to bring about unlimited knowledge, has instead led to an epistemic crisis fueled by viral disinformation and a loss of faith in free speech and liberal ideals. He traces the origins of this crisis to the 18th century, paralleling the developments of liberal democracy and science, and offers innovative solutions to defend objective truth and free inquiry. The book provides a sweeping and readable description of how individuals can protect knowledge, reason, and critical thinking in an era of misinformation and disinformation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| A social system for turning disagreement into truth | Liberal democracy and science |
| A defense of truth | Protecting objective truth and free inquiry |
| A shared understanding of right and wrong ways to make knowledge | A governing structure that forces social contestation onto peaceful and productive pathways |
| A claim to exclusivity | Validation by a reality-based community |
| A system of checks and balances | Peer review and replication |
| Separation of powers | Specialization |
| Governing institutions | Scientific societies and professional bodies |
| Voting | Citations and confirmations |
| Civic virtues | Submission of beliefs for checking |
| Free speech | Floating any hypothesis |
| Social testing | Vigorous questioning and criticism |
| Knowledge as a social construct | Agreement on truth |
| Epistemic crisis | Nihilistic trolling, manipulative disinformation, and addictive outrage |
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What You'll Learn
- The book, *The Constitution of Knowledge*, by Jonathan Rauch, is a defence of truth
- The book aims to arm readers with the tools to engage with reason in an age of illiberalism
- Rauch explains how the social consensus on how to derive facts has been undermined
- The book offers a range of innovative solutions to the epistemic crisis
- The book is well-balanced, taking on the left and the right, and is full of practical advice
The book, *The Constitution of Knowledge*, by Jonathan Rauch, is a defence of truth
Rauch identifies a global epidemic of nihilistic trolling, manipulative disinformation, and addictive outrage, which has led to a collapse in shared standards of truth and an existential challenge for modern democracies. He claims that citizens not only disagree on politics but also on the nature of truth itself. This is exacerbated by the rise of internet trolls and propagandists who undermine the social consensus on reality and truth, chipping away at the long-held, informal social consensus on how to derive facts.
Rauch traces the development of the "Constitution of Knowledge" back to the eighteenth century, paralleling the developments of liberal democracy and science. He argues that the "Constitution of Knowledge" has its own equivalents of checks and balances, such as peer review and replication, separation of powers through specialization, and governing institutions like scientific societies.
Through his book, Rauch aims to arm defenders of truth with a clearer understanding of what they must protect and how they can do it. He emphasizes the importance of defending objective truth and free inquiry from threats, both external and internal. Rauch's work is praised for its lucidity and accessibility, offering a manifesto for liberals and eccentrics, and providing innovative solutions to the epistemological crisis.
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The book aims to arm readers with the tools to engage with reason in an age of illiberalism
In his book, The Constitution of Knowledge, Jonathan Rauch explores the idea of a "constitution of knowledge", a social system for transforming disagreement into truth. This concept is rooted in the belief that knowledge is inherently social and that our understanding of reality is shaped by shared values, rules, and institutions.
Rauch argues that the rise of disinformation and the collapse of shared standards of truth pose a significant threat to democracy. He highlights how internet trolls and propagandists undermine the social consensus on reality and truth, creating an epistemic crisis. This crisis is characterised by a rejection of objective reality and a loss of faith in the institutions of expertise.
Through his work, Rauch equips readers with a clearer understanding of the value of knowledge, freedom, and peace. He encourages readers to submit their beliefs for checking if they want to be taken seriously and underscores the importance of vigorous questioning and criticism in the pursuit of knowledge. By defending the concept of objective knowledge, Rauch offers a manifesto for liberals and eccentrics, providing innovative solutions to the challenges posed by disinformation and the rejection of truth.
The Constitution of Knowledge is praised for its writing quality and depth of analysis, offering a hopeful and insightful perspective on navigating the post-truth era. It is a call to action for those who care about truth and democracy, providing a sweeping and readable description of how to defend objective truth and free inquiry in an age of illiberalism.
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Rauch explains how the social consensus on how to derive facts has been undermined
In his book, *The Constitution of Knowledge*, Jonathan Rauch explores the idea of a "constitution of knowledge", a social system for turning disagreement into truth. Rauch argues that there is a war on reality, and that defenders of truth need to understand what they must protect, why they must do so, and how they can do it.
Rauch identifies a larger trend, beyond the political sphere, of internet propagandists and trolls undermining the social consensus on how to derive facts. He refers to this as the "constitution of knowledge", a process developed during the Age of Enlightenment to identify truth modelled on the scientific method. The first pillar of this process is freedom of speech, which allows anyone to state a hypothesis. Experts then evaluate the hypothesis's validity through a process of "social testing". This involves subjecting the hypothesis to vigorous questioning and criticism, and only those propositions that withstand this testing over time qualify as knowledge.
Rauch highlights that this process is under threat from manipulative disinformation, nihilistic trolling, and addictive outrage, which have bred deep cynicism about the benefits of free speech and liberal ideals. This has resulted in an existential challenge for modern democracies, as citizens not only disagree politically but also on the nature of truth itself.
Rauch's book provides a historical and philosophical analysis of how we arrived at a shared understanding of reality and how we are now letting it slip away. He offers innovative solutions and a path forward to defend objective truth and free inquiry in an age of illiberalism and the rise of disinformation.
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The book offers a range of innovative solutions to the epistemic crisis
In his book, The Constitution of Knowledge, Jonathan Rauch offers an insightful exploration of the current epistemic crisis, characterised by a proliferation of disinformation, the collapse of shared standards of truth, and threats to free speech and inquiry. Rauch identifies the roots of this crisis in the digital age, where viral misinformation, manipulative disinformation, and indifference to truth have bred cynicism about the benefits of free speech and liberal ideals.
To address this crisis, Rauch proposes a range of innovative solutions centred around defending and preserving knowledge, reason, and critical thinking. He emphasises the importance of understanding the "Constitution of Knowledge", which he defines as the social system for turning disagreement into truth. This constitution comprises values, rules, and institutions that govern the creation and validation of knowledge, mirroring the role of the US Constitution in politics.
One key solution Rauch offers is to arm defenders of truth with a clearer understanding of what they must protect and how they can do it. He encourages readers to actively engage in defending objective truth and free inquiry from threats, recognising that the responsibility lies with every individual. Rauch provides historical context and philosophical grounding to help readers comprehend the fragility and importance of the knowledge-making network.
The book also highlights the role of institutions of expertise in knowledge creation and validation. It emphasises the value of liberal science, characterised by open-ended, depersonalised checking by an error-seeking social network. This process ensures that knowledge is validated through a decentralised, non-coercive mechanism, fostering intellectual pluralism and freedom of thought. Rauch underscores the significance of freedom of speech within this framework, allowing anyone to state a hypothesis that is then evaluated by experts.
Additionally, Rauch's work provides practical advice for readers, offering concrete examples and direct applications for navigating the current epistemic crisis. He acknowledges that there are no simple solutions, but his insights can guide individuals in their personal and professional lives, fostering critical thinking and informed decision-making. The book encourages readers to question predominant views, embrace uncertainty, and seek out diverse perspectives to enhance their understanding of complex issues.
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The book is well-balanced, taking on the left and the right, and is full of practical advice
In his book, *The Constitution of Knowledge*, Jonathan Rauch offers an insightful exploration of the concept of knowledge and its defence in an era of misinformation and disinformation. Rauch, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, delves into the "Constitution of Knowledge", a term he uses to describe the social system for transforming disagreement into truth.
The book takes on a balanced approach, addressing the challenges posed by both the left and the right in the context of knowledge and truth. Rauch recognises that the concept of objective knowledge is inherently social and that it is shaped by the values, rules, and institutions that govern our understanding of reality. He argues that while anyone can believe anything, liberal science, with its emphasis on open-ended and depersonalised enquiry, serves as the legitimate validator of knowledge. This notion may be at odds with various belief systems and communities, but Rauch emphasises the importance of submitting ideas to a reality-based community for scrutiny and validation.
Rauch identifies the current era as one characterised by a collapse of shared standards of truth, exacerbated by the digital age and the spread of viral disinformation. He attributes this to a larger trend, exemplified by figures like Donald Trump, who has strategically spread falsehoods to undermine the very concept of objective truth. Rauch's writing is described as graceful, accessible, lucid, and erudite, providing readers with a clear understanding of the threats to truth and the actions needed to defend it.
The book offers a range of innovative solutions and practical advice for navigating this post-truth era. It encourages the defence of truth, reason, and critical thinking, highlighting the importance of institutions of expertise. Rauch's work is praised for its applicability, providing concrete examples and direct advice for both personal and professional contexts. It is well-structured and comprehensive, covering all major aspects of the subject matter, making it a valuable resource for anyone concerned about truth and democracy.
Overall, *The Constitution of Knowledge* by Jonathan Rauch is a well-balanced and insightful book that takes on the challenges posed by both the left and the right. It is full of practical advice, offering readers a clearer understanding of the threats to truth and providing them with tools to navigate the complex information landscape of the modern world.
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Frequently asked questions
The "Constitution of Knowledge" is a term used by Jonathan Rauch to describe the social system for turning disagreement into truth. It is a system of rules for identifying truth, with its own equivalents of checks and balances (peer review and replication), separation of powers (specialization), governing institutions (scientific societies and professional bodies), voting (citations and confirmations), and civic virtues (submit your beliefs for checking).
The key principles of the "Constitution of Knowledge" include freedom of speech, the ability to float any hypothesis, and the requirement that hypotheses must withstand vigorous questioning and criticism to be accepted as reality.
The "Constitution of Knowledge" is important because it provides a framework for defending objective truth and free inquiry in an era of misinformation and disinformation. It helps to maintain peace and prevent societal ungovernability by managing conflicts of belief.
In practice, the "Constitution of Knowledge" operates through a decentralized, global network of critical testers who hunt for each other's errors. This network includes scientists, philosophers, and other experts who evaluate the validity of hypotheses and derive facts through a process of social testing and persuasion.
