The man who studies the spread of ignorance

1/13/2016

This article introduces Robert Proctor, a professor at Stanford University who studies the spread of ignorance and the tactics used by industries to create doubt and confusion. Proctor coined the term "agnotology" to describe the deliberate dissemination of ignorance or doubt. The article discusses how industries, such as tobacco and fossil fuel companies, have employed strategies to sow doubt about scientific evidence and delay action on important issues. It also explores the harmful effects of this spread of ignorance on public health and societal progress. Proctor's work highlights the importance of identifying and challenging the deliberate creation of ignorance in order to make informed decisions and address pressing societal challenges.

knowledge ꞏ ignorance ꞏ misinformation ꞏ disinformation ꞏ cognitive biases ꞏ epistemology ꞏ psychology ꞏ information flow ꞏ anti-intellectualism ꞏ intellectual history ꞏ scientific literacy ꞏ information overload ꞏ media literacy ꞏ critical thinking ꞏ misinformation campaigns ꞏ propaganda ꞏ public perception ꞏ conspiracy theories ꞏ information warfare ꞏ sociology ꞏ philosophy ꞏ information dissemination ꞏ information control ꞏ knowledge gaps ꞏ information society ꞏ information age ꞏ information management ꞏ information manipulation ꞏ information access ꞏ social psychology ꞏ information diffusion ꞏ confirmation bias ꞏ cognitive psychology ꞏ viral misinformation ꞏ information sharing ꞏ information processing ꞏ information sources ꞏ information consumption ꞏ information credibility ꞏ information analysis ꞏ information ecosystem ꞏ information ethics ꞏ information technology ꞏ information science ꞏ ignorance eradication ꞏ knowledge transmission ꞏ knowledge production