Post-Truth Philosophy

Abstract

This article is one of the studies that aims to understand the post-truth phenomenon and its effects through the philosophical observation of the post-truth concept and the phenomenon that it refers to. The article presented a variety of concepts and interpretations of the phenomenon presented by philosophers and scholars. Hannah Arendt's comments helped shed light on the process of understanding a new concept and the phenomenon she was referring to. On this basis, the article argues that our understanding of the concept of "truth" and the post-truth phenomenon depends first and foremost on our understanding of the concept of "truth". After that, four main theories of the concept of truth are presented, and the concepts and interpretations presented are said to be drawn from a preexisting and specific understanding of the same concept. The problems arising from this understanding, which were expressed more strongly in the post-truth era, were discussed due to the explosion of information and technology and the decline in trust in institutions and those who are responsible for the truth. A partial answer was given about what is new about the post-truth phenomenon and why it is happening now, and an alternative definition was formulated to define the Oxford dictionary for the post-truth concept. In 2016, the Oxford Dictionary chose the term “post-truth” for the word for the year, which is: “A concept that refers to the circumstances in which objective facts have less influence on public opinion design than their effect on emotional emotion and personal belief.” This definition is the starting point for the article, which will eventually suggest a new definition. The new definition is derived from the philosophical observation of the new "post-truth" concept, which depends on the central theories of the old and familiar concept of "truth" and an analysis of the characteristics of the post-truth phenomenon. This philosophical observation will help answer two questions addressed by all researchers in this field: What is the phenomenon of the concept of post-truth? And why does it occur or become particularly prominent at this time?