A Philosopher's Take on Truth and Misinformation

Misinformation is impacting society at all levels, from politics to health. But what makes us believe untrue things? And why is misinformation on the rise today? In this episode of Talking Policy, host Lindsay Shingler is joined by Cailin O'Connor, a Chancellor’s Professor in the Department of Logic and Philosophy of Science at UC Irvine, and author of The Misinformation Age: How False Beliefs Spread with James Weatherall. Together, they discuss how false beliefs originate, how technology contributes to their spread, and how misinformation can be combated.This episode was recorded on August 27, 2025. The conversation was edited for length and clarity.