McBrayer approaches misinformation from a philosopher's perspective, which distinguishes this volume from the predominantly empirical and policy-oriented literature. The Basics series format requires him to address foundational questions that more specialist works often elide: what exactly is misinformation, how does it differ from error and from deception, what does it mean to believe something false, and what obligations do individuals and institutions have with respect to truth. These are not merely academic questions — the definitional disputes around misinformation have direct policy consequences.
The philosophical rigour is a genuine contribution. McBrayer is careful about the distinction between sincere and performative assertion, about the role of intent in definitions of disinformation, and about the epistemic conditions under which false belief is rational. For practitioners who need to be precise about what they are trying to counter — and why — this book provides the conceptual foundations that much operational work lacks.
Cogitavi commentary
McBrayer approaches misinformation from a philosopher's perspective, which distinguishes this volume from the predominantly empirical and policy-oriented literature. The Basics series format requires him to address foundational questions that more specialist works often elide: what exactly is misinformation, how does it differ from error and from deception, what does it mean to believe something false, and what obligations do individuals and institutions have with respect to truth. These are not merely academic questions — the definitional disputes around misinformation have direct policy consequences.
The philosophical rigour is a genuine contribution. McBrayer is careful about the distinction between sincere and performative assertion, about the role of intent in definitions of disinformation, and about the epistemic conditions under which false belief is rational. For practitioners who need to be precise about what they are trying to counter — and why — this book provides the conceptual foundations that much operational work lacks.