The Ethics of Belief and Ignorance

In this module we will explore the ethics of believing, denying, and seeking knowledge in an era called “post-truth.” Sample topics may include: Is believing or denying something a choice? When is ignorance a moral problem? What is the relationship between democracy and truth—and the tension between democracy and expertise? Does separation of church and state sanction two different epistemologies? Is our world “post-truth”? Typically, we will wrestle with one of a set of interlocking questions each session and work toward defensible responses. It is an exciting time to examine the intersection of ethics and epistemology—and urgent due to social, technological, and political developments.