Aired Apr 10, 2024

Ever encounter someone who digs their heels in, refusing to believe something even when presented with clear evidence? It’s not necessarily stubbornness – there’s a fascinating human quirk at play called knowledge resistance.

As humans, we rely heavily on social sources of knowledge. But trust in institutions and media is breaking down, creating a polarized information landscape. This erosion of trust makes it easier to reject evidence that contradicts our beliefs.

This episode of Outrage Overload dives deep with Dr. Åsa Wikforss, a philosophy professor, to understand why we resist new information and what we can do about it.

Knowledge resistance is a challenge, but it’s not insurmountable. Join us as we explore the complexities of this issue and discover ways to ensure knowledge wins over misinformation.

Åsa Wikforss is a professor of theoretical philosophy at Stockholm University, whose research sits at the intersection of philosophy of mind, language and epistemology.

Links

Knowledge Resistance project

Åsa Wikforss (Stockholm University)