Episode 9: The Epistemic Irresponsibility Known as "Bullshit"

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In this episode, April uses the definition of “bullshit” described by American philosopher Harry G. Frankfurt in his seminal 1985 essay, “On Bullshit” to discuss its impact on our lives and ways to see through it. As you can probably tell, she also says “bullshit” a lot.

Episode 9 Show Notes

 I purchased the big red Bullshit Button that you hear in this episode from Amazon if you want one. I use it to annoy my students, but it’s also handy for annoying your kids, significant other, and pets.

The book “On Bullshit” by Harry G. Frankfurt is also available on Amazon as well as academic databases.

As of 2018 Trump was still insisting he was right about Sweden: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-claims-he-was-right-about-crimes-caused-immigrants-sweden-n854296

 Beto O’Rourke and his “false” rating on Politifact: https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2019/oct/21/beto-orourke/despite-his-claim-presidential-candidate-beto-orou/

Hey it’s not just me; the illustrious Harry G. Frankfurt himself has called out Donald Trump on his bullshit: https://time.com/4321036/donald-trump-bs/

Yes, “bullshit receptivity is a thing. Here’s discussion of the research by Gordon Pennycook et al: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jopy.12476

https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2015-54494-003

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/one-among-many/201512/not-even-bullshit

https://www.niemanlab.org/2017/08/when-it-comes-to-the-academic-study-of-fake-news-bullshit-receptivity-is-a-thing/

Philosopher Victor Moberger’s article in Theoria: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/theo.12271

A short explanation of how Brandolini’s law got it’s name: http://ordrespontane.blogspot.com/2014/07/brandolinis-law.html

Conspiracy theories and pseudoscience both get science wrong:
https://elephantinthelab.org/how-conspiracy-theorists-get-the-scientific-method-wrong/

This amazing little handbook teaches you how to approach people and (nicely) debunk their bullshit. It's focused on climate change deniers, but it will work for other issues: https://www.climatechangecommunication.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/DebunkingHandbook2020.pdf

 Author Warren Berger shows you how to pick up on, and call out, bullshit: https://www.fastcompany.com/3068589/how-to-fine-tune-your-bullshit-detector

 “Legit Scientist” Paul M. Sutter explains the power behind the words “I don’t know.” https://www.forbes.com/sites/paulmsutter/2019/08/11/i-dont-know-is-one-of-the-most-powerful-things-