Microsoft Teams: https://go.um.edu.mo/w7j1ioud

Abstract

In the talk, I will discuss the topic of disinformation, starting with the different approaches taken by the United States and Europe to the notion of free speech. After discussing problems that connect free speech with disinformation and fake news, I will use some basic tools in the philosophy of language to give some clarification of the notion of fake news. First of all, I will use Austin’s notion of speech act, and in particular, I will describe fake news as a kind of speech act falling under the force of assertion. I then will treat some aspects of pragmatics dealing with the idea of common ground (Robert Stalnaker) and accommodation (David Lewis). Through these notions, I will illustrate with examples how hidden presuppositions can persuade people implicitly, leading them to easily believe fake news. If there is time, I will conclude on the problem of the relation between fake news and belief: do people believe in fake news? And if yes, why?

Bio

After studying in Oxford with Sir Michael Dummett, Professor Penco taught philosophy of science at the University of Salento (1988–1992) and then became a full professor of philosophy of language at the University of Genoa, where he was head of the master’s in philosophy and of the doctorate in philosophy. he edited many volumes and collections of classical and contemporary philosophers (Gottlob Frege, John L. Austin, Michael Dummett, Hilary Putnam, Donald Davidson, Saul Kripke, David Kaplan, John Perry, and others) and published in many philosophical journals such as Philosophia, Philosophical Investigations, and Theoria. He co-organized many international conferences, including conferences on modeling and using contexts, a venue for interdisciplinary research with computer scientists, philosophers, and other social science experts. He was a visiting scholar at various institutions, such as the Pittsburgh Center for Philosophy of Science and London’s Institute of Philosophy. Among his main works are an introduction to the philosophy of language and a book on disinformation, The Dark Side of Speech.