Workshop: Varieties of Misinformation

Calendar
Cuando:
26 octubre, 2023 – 27 octubre, 2023 todo el día
2023-10-26T00:00:00+02:00
2023-10-28T00:00:00+02:00
Donde:
Valencia

Workshop: Varieties of Misinformation.
Venue: Faculty of Philosophy and Education Sciences, University of Valencia, Spain.
Date: 26-27 October 2023.
Room: F11.

Tentative program:

THURSDAY 26

  • 9:30 – 10:20. Teresa Marques (UB), Constant Bonard (Institut Jean Nicod) & Filippo Contesi (UB). THE DEFECTIVENESS OF PROPAGANDA.
  • 10:20 – 11:10. Eric Berg (UCONN). HACKING EPISTEMOLOGY: SOCIAL MEDIA, MISINFORMATION, AND PROPAGANDA.
  • 11:10 – 11:30. COFFEE BREAK
  • 11:30 – 12:20. Manuel Almagro (UV), Manuel de Pinedo (UGR) & Neftalí Villanueva (UGR). MISINFORMATION IN PUBLIC CONTEXTS.
  • 12:20 – 13:10. Carmen Aguilera (UGR). VISUAL MISINFORMATION: POLARISATION IN THE PROPAGANDA MAGAZINES OF THE ISLAM STATE.
  • 13:10 – 15:30. LUNCH
  • 15:30 – 16:20. Daniel Williams (Sussex). ARE THERE FINGERPRINTS OF MISINFORMATION?
  • 16:20- 16:40. COFFEE BREAK
  • 16:40 – 17:30. Ana Cuevas Badallo (Salamanca). THE RISKS OF A GULLIBLE FOLK PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE.
  • 17:30 – 18:20. Alessandra Tanesini (Cardiff). DISINFORMATION AND COLLECTIVE EMOTIONS.
  • CONFERENCE DINNER.

FRIDAY 27

  • 9:30 – 10:20. Jason Tosta (UCONN). (MIS)INFORMED BY IDENTITY.
  • 10:20 – 11:10. Sara Degli-Esposti (CSIC), Berta Chulvi Ferriols (UPV) & Mariángeles Molpeceres (UV). MISINFORMATION AND POLITICISATION: THE ROLE OF ‘OTHERNESS’.
  • 11:10 – 11:30. COFFEE BREAK
  • 11:30 – 12:20. Jessica Keiser (Leeds) . THE PERSUASIVE POWER OF NOT-AT-ISSUE CONTENT.
  • 12:20 – 13:10. Neri Marsili (UNED). POSTING AND REPOSTING:INVESTIGATING PLAUSIBLE DENIABILITY IN ONLINE COMMUNICATION.
  • 13:10 – 15:30. LUNCH
  • 15:30 – 16:20. Marcin Lewinski (Lisbon). ILLOCUTIONARY PLURALISM AND DOUBLESPEAK.
  • 16:20 – 16:40. COFFEE BREAK
  • 16:40 – 17: 30. Catarina Dutilh Novaes (Amsterdam). HOW CONSPIRACY THEORIES SPREAD, AND HOW REAL CONSPIRACIES ARE HIDDEN.
  • 17:30 – 18:20. Michael Lynch (UCONN). TRUTH, AI AND THE EPISTEMIC CONDITION.

Workshop’s description:
Public opinion is highly divided in many contemporary democracies, to the extent that there seems to be no basis for productive discussions among citizens of varying ideological affiliations. This division severely undermines the ability to make collective decisions alongside individuals who hold differing political perspectives, thus posing a substantial threat to democracy. Citizens are increasingly open to anti-democratic measures, and distrust in public institutions has augmented, resulting in a politically dysfunctional and harmful environment. This situation exacerbates discrimination and violence while making it impossible to implement policies aimed at addressing pressing issues like climate change.

How do these harmful situations arise? Why do citizens become so deeply entrenched in the core and active ideas of the political group that they identify with in a specific context? One possibility is that this situation is cultivated by the action of certain political actors who promote specific political agendas. In other words, this state of division could be fueled by political motivations and gains. If this is correct, then it is vital to comprehend what drives citizens to become so rooted in their positions, that is, it is crucial to understand the ways through which these political actors achieve their objectives. 

This workshop aims to explore and discuss the varieties of misinformation: the diverse mechanisms, linguistic or otherwise, that political actors employ in public settings. Thus, the main inquiry of this workshop is how these political actors manage to successfully misinform through their public engagements. “Misinformation” here is broadly understood, to encompass phenomena such as dogwhistles, figleaves, hate speech, slurs, lies, and provocative insinuations, but also propagandistic strategies such as strategically timing the release of truthful information, or presenting evaluative information as if it were factual, to covertly promote certain attitudes. Other related mechanisms are also welcome.

Organizers:
Manuel Almagro (UV)
Marc Artiga (UV)

This event is possible thanks to the project “Lying and Deception” (CIGE/2021/160), funded by Generalitat Valenciana – Conselleria d’Innovació, Universitats, Ciència i Societat Digital, the project «The Representational Penumbra» (PID2021-127046NA-I00) funded by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación and the project «OPIDPOLA», funded by the BBVA Foundation, with the support of the VLC Philosophy Lab and the University of Valencia’s Department of Philosophy.