Date of Graduation
5-2022
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Degree Level
Undergraduate
Department
Philosophy
Advisor/Mentor
Funkhouser, Eric
Committee Member/Reader
Senor, Thomas
Committee Member/Second Reader
Lehmer, Bret
Committee Member/Third Reader
Dominguez, Freddy
Abstract
The primary goal of this paper is to determine in which cases, if any, an individual is culpable for adopting, expressing, or acting upon a misinformed belief. To determine this, it is necessary to understand the mechanisms by which individuals select beliefs and the biases or mistakes that lead them to adopt false ones. I will compare and evaluate the views of Neil Levy and Dan Kahan, who offer opposing viewpoints on the source of misinformed beliefs. I will also consider the attempts to model belief adoption and expression through signaling theory. Finally, I will propose a particular standard to which we can hold individuals to consider if they are culpable for their misinformed beliefs, and explore how best to counteract the proliferation of these beliefs in light of their causes.
Keywords
Misinformation, Responsibility, Belief
Citation
Siebenmorgen, A. (2022). Down the Misinformation Rabbit Hole: Falling or Jumping In?. Philosophy Undergraduate Honors Theses Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/philuht/3