"Beyond Facts: A Deep Dive into the World of Post-Truth"

   "From Truth to Post-Truth"


- Introduction 

   Recently our professor Dilip sir Barad talk about the word 'Post truth' which is the declared 2016 word of the year by Oxford Dictionaries' and here is the detail discription of the word.



  Preface to the Explanation 

 The term "post-truth" is a relatively recent yet deeply prominent concept in contemporary political, cultural, and media discourse. Here's a detailed explanation of the word post-truth, covering its origin, meaning, historical development, and impact on society of the word of the year 2016

                    'post truth' 


Definition of Post-Truth

- Post-truth refers to a situation where emotional or personal beliefs have more influence on public opinion than objective facts.

- Oxford Dictionaries' Definition (2016 Word of the Year):

"Relating to or denoting circumstances in that  objective facts are less powerful in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief."


Origin and Etymology

- Meaning of the word 

 - The word "post-truth" combines the prefix "post-" (meaning after or beyond) with the noun "truth", suggesting a time or culture in which truth no longer matters.

- Entomology 

Although the term gained popularity recently, the first known usage dates back to 1992, by Serbian-American playwright Steve Tesich in The Nation magazine.


He criticized how Americans accepted the lies of political leaders (e.g., the Iran-Contra affair, Gulf War) with apathy, writing:

“We, as a free people, have freely decided that we want to live in some post-truth world.”


Rise to Popularity


The term became globally known after 2016, during:

1.The Brexit referendum in the UK.

2.The U.S. Presidential Election (Donald Trump vs Hillary Clinton).



In both cases, false or misleading information often spread on social media and influenced voters more than verified facts and much more information.

Oxford Dictionaries named "Post-truth" the Word of the Year in 2016.



Philosophical and Cultural Context

The post-truth era builds on postmodernism, which questions the existence of objective truth, arguing that all knowledge is socially constructed.


In the post-truth world:

 - Truth becomes relative, not absolute.

 - Opinions are often considered as valid as facts.

 - People live in “echo chambers” — hearing only what supports their views.


Post-Truth in Society: Impacts

1. Politics

Politicians often make false claims without consequences.

“Alternative facts”, a term popularized by U.S. White House counselor Kellyanne Conway, became symbolic of post-truth politics.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/01/20/us/politics/trump-inauguration-crowd.html

Fact-checking is undermined or ignored by political followers.

2. Media and Journalism

- Rise of fake news, clickbait, and propaganda.

- Traditional journalism struggles against viral misinformation on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp.

- Truth becomes subjective and the people choose their own “version” of reality

3. Science and Health

- Public resistance to scientific evidence (e.g., during COVID-19 pandemic, climate change denial).

- Emotional narratives (like conspiracy theories) overpower research-based information.

4. Social Division

- Encourages polarization where each group believes its version of the truth.

- Promotes intolerance, nationalism, and identity-based politics.




Related Concepts

- Fake News – fabricated news presented as real.

- Disinformation – deliberate falsehoods spread to mislead.

- Echo Chambers – environments where one’s beliefs are constantly reinforced.


Why It Matters Today

The post-truth era represents a crisis of truth. In societies where emotion overrides evidence:

 - Democracy weakens, as informed decision making declines.

 - Education and media literacy become, crucial tools.

- There's a need for critical thinking and fact-based discourse.



Conclusion

The word post-truth marks a cultural shift where truth is no longer the cornerstone of public debate. Born out of political disillusionment and fueled by digital media, it challenges our ability to distinguish fact from fiction. In response, society must embrace truth-seeking values, ethical media, and education to counter this trend. This Blog aslo help us to understand the true meaning of the term 'post truth' and how things get with that term .


Refrences 

1. https://blog.dilipbarad.com/2017/01/post-truth-word-of-year-2016.html?m=1

2. https://blog.dilipbarad.com/2023/11/beware-of-histofluencers.html?m=1

3. Some resources taken from chat GTP




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