Anti-Science

Shortcuts to a Big Idea
1. Auflage 2026
ISBN: 978-1-041-21052-8
Verlag: Taylor & Francis

Buch, Englisch, 168 Seiten, Format (B × H): 129 mm x 198 mm

Reihe: Shortcuts

Tackling the critical issue of the growing skepticism towards science, this volume explores the complex forces driving the anti-science movement. It dissects the phenomenon of increasing anti-science advocates using academic research boosted by lived experiences fighting online disinformation.

The book focuses on the alarming erosion of trust in scientific authority. It highlights how misinformation, the politicization of scientific issues, an epistemic revolution of knowledge hierarchies, and a cultural shift toward prioritizing personal beliefs over facts have contributed to this trend. It explores the implications of a society increasingly skeptical of scientific expertise, driven by the rapid spread of misinformation on digital platforms and a deepening distrust in traditional institutions. Illuminating the path that led us here, the author advocates for the importance of critical thinking and digital literacy as tools to combat misinformation. This volume is not just an analysis of the current state of skepticism toward science; it is a call to action, encouraging a recommitment to the values of scientific inquiry and evidence-based decision-making in an age marked by doubt.

Both theoretically informed and accessibly written, the book will appeal to students, academics, and general readers, alike.

Zielgruppe

General

Autoren/Hrsg.

Jemielniak, Dariusz

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Spezielle Soziologie Wissenssoziologie, Wissenschaftssoziologie, Techniksoziologie

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Introduction. If it is so good, why is it so bad? Part 1: The Decline of Scientific Authority 1. The Historical Trust in Science 2. Lost in Translation 3. Politicizing Facts Part 2: Knowledge Without Gatekeepers 4. Open Collaboration and Peer Production 5. When Patients Become Experts Part 3: The Age of Misinformation 6. Disinformation and the Post-Truth Era 7. Echo Chambers and Filter Bubbles 8. Navigating Our Epistemic Future

Über Autor(innen)

Dariusz Jemielniak is Professor at Kozminski University, and faculty associate at Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University. He is a veteran activist of open knowledge, heavily involved in the Wikipedia movement, and has sat on the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees for ten years, actively combating anti-scientific disinformation. He is also the vice-president of the Polish Academy of Sciences.