Fake News in Contemporary Science and Politics - by Keith Moser (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

This transdisciplinary book investigates the profound repercussions of living in a post-truth world in which 'alternative facts' and post-truth knowledge claims, often bordering on the absurd, have replaced the real in the collective imagination of millions of people around the planet. Through discussions on climate change denial, the anti-vaccination movement, the January 6th Insurrection and the Russia-Ukraine War, this study explores the gravity of the current 'infodemic, ' or the increasing inability of a large segment of the population to distinguish between reality and misrepresentation, and the destabilizing impact this infodemic has on democratic models of governance around the globe, coinciding with the rise of autocratic forms of populism.

From the Back Cover

This transdisciplinary book investigates the profound repercussions of living in a post-truth world in which "alternative facts" and post-truth knowledge claims, often bordering on the absurd, have replaced the real in the collective imagination of millions of people around the planet. Through discussions on climate change denial, the anti-vaccination movement, the January 6th Insurrection and the Russia-Ukraine War, this study explores the gravity of the current 'infodemic, ' or the increasing inability of a large segment of the population to distinguish between reality and misrepresentation, and the destabilizing impact this infodemic has on democratic models of governance around the globe, coinciding with the rise of autocratic forms of populism.

Keith Moser is Professor of French and Francophone Studies at Mississippi State University. He has more than one-hundred major publications including nine books and eighty-five articles. Moser's research examines many issues linked to social-ecological justice, including Environmental Ethics (Environmental Philosophy, Philosophy of Science, Ecocriticism, Ecolinguistics, and Biosemiotics) and postmodern French thought as it relates to literature, Popular Culture, and society in general.

Review Quotes

"This book delves into the profound repercussions of living in a post-truth era, where misinformation runs rampant, blurring the lines between fact and fiction. ... Fake News in Contemporary Science and Politics is a revelation in this pivotal election year. ... Keith Moser is a fascinating writer. Prepare to be captivated by this masterful storytelling by a true artisan of the written word. Brace yourself ... sensational unraveling of misinformation intricacies that will challenge your perceptions and ignite your curiosity" (Suzie Housley, Midwest Book Review, midwestbookreview.com, Vol. 23 (8), August, 2024)

"When the conditions are right, there are ideas and concepts that ignite and burn with such intensity that they outshine any others of the same time period. Fake News in Contemporary Science and Politics presents a very good example ... The current volume is meant to send a wake-up call ... this constant transmission of information ad infinitum that may affect our existence on this planet and even lead to a misinterpretation of democracy and its basic grasp on reality" (Dan Manolescu, Journal of Critical Studies in Language and Literature, vol. 5 (5), 2024)

"In Fake News in Contemporary Science and Politics: A Requiem for the Real?, Keith Moser sheds light on the real-life consequences of the infodemic ... and offers us four enlightening revelations on the ubiquity of fake news and conspiracy theories ... in the larger context of the scientific and political realm. ... Moser's requiem for the post-truth era must be fully chanted as a counter-hegemonic prayer leading to the awareness of the 'real.'" (Kenichiro Otani, Journal of Comparative Literature and Aesthetics, Vol. 47 (4), 2024)

About the Author

Keith Moser is Professor of French and Francophone Studies at Mississippi State University. He has more than one-hundred major publications including nine books and eighty-five articles. Moser's research examines many issues linked to social-ecological justice, including Environmental Ethics (Environmental Philosophy, Philosophy of Science, Ecocriticism, Ecolinguistics, and Biosemiotics) and postmodern French thought as it relates to literature, Popular Culture, and society in general.