Philosopher David Livingstone Smith of UNE addresses lying in politics in "Scholar’s Circle" radio interview
David Livingstone Smith, Ph.D., professor of philosophy, participated in a "Scholar’s Circle" radio show interview on July 9, titled “Truth about Lies We Speak and Hear.”
Smith and two other scholars discussed the idea that we are living in a “post-truth” era as the result of the election of President Donald Trump and his accusations of “false news.”
Smith pointed out that deception in politics is nothing new and that successful politicians have always been skilled at manipulating the public’s perception of them. However, he shared his view that Trump’s skill is highly developed. “Trump has the salesman’s instinct for [image manipulation],” he explained. “Not that political lying is something new... That’s ridiculous…What’s different is that he can push the envelope very far, indeed, if he tells people the sorts of things that motivate them in the way he wants to motivate them.”
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