Le Moyne College Calendar

Why does information pollution – specifically fake news – spread so easily on social media? And why are appeals to reasons and evidence so ineffective in combatting it? In this talk, Michael Lynch, Ph. D., will respond to both questions. His answers rest on a new hypothesis concerning the function of some of our communicative acts on social media. As such, it aims to contribute not only to our understanding of fake news, but to a richer understanding of how we communicate online. Dr. Lynch, who received his doctorate in philosophy from Syracuse University, is a professor of philosophy and director of the Humanities Center at the University of Connecticut. He is an author of six books, including The Know it All Society.

This event is free and open to the public.

This talk will be co-sponsored by the McDevitt Core Professorship, Digital Stories, the Department of Philosophy and a National Endowment for the Humanities grant supporting Le Moyne’s new minor – ethics, values, and professional life.

Science Center Addition, Room 100