“Se non è vero…” post-truth, alternative facts and informative spam

They say we live in the post-truth era. A term that is used to describe the situation in which emotional appeals and personal beliefs have a greater influence when creating a public opinion than hard facts and verified data.

On many occasions this leads us to underestimate scientific knowledge and a realistic approach from empirical methods. In this context, the university faces the challenge of promoting a critical spirit within society and build a conversation based on verified facts.

To reflect upon these matters and unmask the concept of post-truth, the Chair of Scientific Culture of the UPV/EHU and the ehuGune forum have organised a conference under the title “Se non è vero…” post-truth, alternative facts and informative spam, which will be held on 13 June at the Bizkaia Aretoa university building.

This interdisciplinary meeting will include the participation of experts from many different academic areas such as biology, philosophy, political science and sociology, among others.

Admission is free; however it is necessary to register in advance for the event by emailing joxerramon.bengoetxea@ehu.es. The talks will be in Spanish.

Programme:

• 09:15 Opening session: Nekane Balluerka, rector of the UPV/EHU
• 09:30 – 09:45 “Through history: Pyrrho (Elis, 3rd century BC), things and speech (Hobbes, 17th century) and skepsis in the digital era”, Professor Joseba Agirreazkuenaga
• 09:45 – 11:00 Fundamentals (1^st round table)
  •  “Every ideology created its own alternative facts”, Juan Ignacio Pérez Iglesias (Chair of Scientific Culture)
  • “Against whom are we losing the war?”, César Tomé López (Chair of Scientific Culture)
  • “Providing sense to appearance”, Helena Matute (University of Deusto)
  • “The falsehoods of post-truth”, Javier Echeverria (Jakiunde)
• 10:45- 11:00 debate (Moderated by Xabier Aierdi, ehuGune)
• 11:00 – 11:15 Coffee Break

• 11:15 – 12:30 Post-truth and political correctness (2^nd round table)
  • “The truths of post-politics”, Pedro Ibarra (UPV/EHU)
  • “Nationalism and post-truth in the Internet era”, Daniele Conversi (Ikerbasque, UPV/EHU)
  • “Social networks reaffirm your beliefs, even if they are wrong”, Uxune Martinez (Euskampus)
  • “Pre- and post-truth”, Xabier Aierdi
• 12:15 – 12:30 debate (Moderated by Joxerramon Bengoetxea, ehuGune)

• 12:30 – 13:45 Facts and Stories (3^rd round table)
  • “Plausibility: the insidious costume of post-truth”, Juan Igartua (UPV/EHU)
  • “Facts, multiple stories and re-conceptualisation”, Mari Luz Esteban (UPV/EHU)
  • “International Relationships/Intertextual Relationships, Noé Cornago (UPV/EHU)
  • “Post-truth: a new season for Public Relations”, Esti Leon (Innobasque)
• 13:30 – 13:45 debate
• 13:45 – 14:15 General Debate (Debate and proposals for the future) (Moderated by Luis Mendizabal, collaborator of ehuGune)