cover of episode Agnotology (WILLFUL IGNORANCE) Encore with Dr. Robert Proctor

Agnotology (WILLFUL IGNORANCE) Encore with Dr. Robert Proctor

2025/2/12
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Allie Ward: 我在本期节目中探讨了有意无知、故意的错误信息和争议。我们生活在一个两极分化的时代,对真相的误导无处不在。我很好奇也很兴奋能和一位研究无知和无知的舒适性的人讨论。 Robert Proctor: 我研究很多不同的东西,包括无知的历史。我们需要一个词来形容无知的创造,因为每个人都在忽视无知。烟草业通过强调不确定性来制造怀疑,他们变得真正的不确定性引擎,说每个问题都有两面。并非所有的无知都是坏的,事实上,我们的许多无知形式都是必须拥有的,比如隐私权。我们生活在无知的黄金时代,无知现在以光速传播。财富就是权力,权力就是财富,知识就是力量,财富有助于创造知识,但财富也能摧毁知识。

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The term 'agnotology' was coined by Dr. Robert Proctor to describe the study of ignorance. His interest stemmed from observing how various industries and societal forces create and perpetuate ignorance to protect their interests, highlighting the need for a field dedicated to understanding how ignorance is manufactured.
  • Agnotology is the study of ignorance.
  • The term was coined in the early 1990s by Dr. Robert Proctor.
  • It examines how ignorance is created and perpetuated.
  • The word's creation was influenced by the study of how industries like tobacco and chemicals mislead the public.

Shownotes Transcript

Yes, there is an -ology for that. And yes, we’re airing this episode -– with a ton of 2025 updates -– because it’s never felt more relevant. Dr. Robert Proctor is a Stanford professor of the History of Science and co-edited the book “Agnotology: The Making & Unmaking of Ignorance,” having coined the word 30 years ago. We chat about everything from tobacco marketing, to the sugar lobby, to racial injustice, horse vision, the psychology of the Flat Earther movement, which countries have the highest rates of climate denial, empathy, how to navigate difficult conversations and why it's critical to dismantle the systems of willful ignorance, starting locally. 

Dr. Robert Proctor’s book: "Agnotology: The Making and Unmaking of Ignorance")

His 2021 book: Science and the Production of Ignorance: When the Quest for Knowledge Is Thwarted).

Donations in Dr. Proctor’s name went to: SavingBlackLives.org) and the Public Health Advocacy Institute)

An additional donation went to The National Black Law Students Association)

More episode sources and links)

Smologies (short, classroom-safe) episodes)

Other episodes you may enjoy: Eschatology (THE APOCALYPSE))

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Editing by Steven Ray Morris and Jarrett Sleeper of Mindjam Media)

Encore editing by Jake Chaffee) and Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions)

Additional encore producing by Mercedes Maitland

Managing Director: Susan Hale

Scheduling Producer: Noel Dilworth

Transcripts by Aveline Malek 

Website by Kelly R. Dwyer)

Theme song by Nick Thorburn