Anti-intellectualism to Anti-rationalism to Post-truth Era

Robert J. Thompson Jr. is professor emeritus of psychology and neuroscience at Duke University.

• PrefaceAcknowledgmentsPart I: Anti-Intellectualism: Contributing Factors and Societal EffectsChapter 1: Introduction: Intellect and the Paradox of American AttitudesChapter 2: Hofstadter: Anti-Intellectualism in American LifeChapter 3: Hofstadter Reexamined and the Resurgence of Anti-IntellectualismChapter 4: The Types and Characteristics of Intellectuals and their WorkChapter 5: Standard Critique, Loss of Authority, and the New Public IntellectualPart II: Post-Truth, Rationality, and False BeliefsChapter 6: A Post-truth World and Valuing TruthChapter 7: Rational ThinkingChapter 8: The Formation and Correction of False BeliefsPart III: Personal Attributes Constituting a Rational Mind-SetChapter 9: Personal EpistemologyChapter 10: Personality Traits and Epistemic Dispositions and VirtuesChapter 11: Identity Formation and the Narrative Process of Self-AuthorshipPart IV: The Challenges and Opportunities for Higher EducationChapter 12: Restoring our Shared Commitment to Rationali

Thompson outlines how American culture has abandoned reason, evidence, and critical thought and instead embraced emotion and personal belief as the source of knowledge. In a text that points to questions such as "Is truth irrelevant? If so, how did we get to this point?" the author successfully details the dynamics underlying that vague and complex construct called truth…. Recommended. Graduate students and faculty.