Kaarina Beam, assistant professor of philosophy at Linfield College, will present “Is Truth Dead?: Fact You!” on Wednesday, Sept. 20, at 7 p.m. in the Fred Meyer Lounge in Riley Hall at Linfield.
The talk explores the nature of truth, truth-seeking education and the philosophy underlying an educational search for truth in a pluralistic world. Daily reports of hostile confrontation, fake news, alternative facts, ad hominem attacks and increasing tribalism are distressing. But those divisions also indicate something good about our democratic system.
Public discourse is increasingly polarizing and unproductive. Is there a common ground upon which we can build discourse and seek a common public good? To what can we appeal for common ground? Do we appeal to truth or power? Philosophers have traditionally sought truth to legitimate power and parsed education as a search for truth. But, as Alasdair MacIntyre asked, Whose truth? Which rationality?
Beam, at Linfield since 1999, received her undergraduate degree from Bellarmine College and her master’s and doctorate from Purdue University.
The lecture is free and open to the public. The Linfield College faculty lecture series offers one presentation each month. For more information, call 503-883-2409.
