Skip to main navigation Skip to search Skip to main content

Epistemic Values and Disinformation

  • Don Fallis

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

    Abstract

    David Hume (1748) famously said, “when anyone tells me, that he saw a dead man restored to life, I immediately consider with myself, whether it be more probable, that this person should either deceive or be deceived, or that the fact, which he relates, should really have happened.” Of course, intentionally deceptive information on many topics (not just reports of miracles) can interfere with our ability to achieve our epistemic goals of acquiring true beliefs and avoiding false beliefs. Thus, it would be beneficial to reduce the spread of such disinformation. In order to do this, we need to identify what sorts of things affect the amount of disinformation and how they affect it. Toward this end, I offer an analysis of what disinformation is. I then use this analysis to develop a game-theoretic model (which is inspired by the work of Elliott Sober and of Brian Skyrms and which appeals to philosophical work on epistemic values) of the sending and receiving of disinformation.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Title of host publicationSynthese Library
    PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media B.V.
    Pages159-179
    Number of pages21
    DOIs
    StatePublished - 2014

    Publication series

    NameSynthese Library
    Volume366
    ISSN (Print)0166-6991
    ISSN (Electronic)2542-8292

    Keywords

    • Epistemic State
    • Equilibrium Point
    • Monarch Butterfly
    • Pure Strategy
    • True Belief

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Language and Linguistics
    • History
    • Logic
    • History and Philosophy of Science

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Epistemic Values and Disinformation'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this