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# Wiki Tutorial
## Reflection: Agnotology and Epistemological Fragmentation

[Transcript from DPLAfest by Data & Society Founder and President](https://points.datasociety.net/agnotology-and-epistemological-fragmentation-56aa3c509c6b)

Epistemology: how we know what we know
* Ignorance is strategically manufactured
* Agnotology (coined by Robert Proctor): strategic and purposeful production of ignorance
    * a tool of oppression by the powerful

Vulnerabilities of social media and news media can be exploited to cause havoc and terrorize. *Example: Christchurch*
* data void
* purposefully and intentionally seeding doubt to fragment society

### "The creation of 'sides' in journalism is a political project."

This is an interesting point because people generally resort to "looking at both sides to the story" in an effort to get the facts and ultimately make an informed, unbiased opinion. However, the basis of an opinion is that it's always influenced by prejudices and other people's opinions. Opinions built upon opinions will likely only divert further and further from the truth. 

#### [BBC Article on the spread of ignorance](https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20160105-the-man-who-studies-the-spread-of-ignorance)
![](https://i.imgur.com/hXsdQFV.jpg)

Robert Proctor, a science historian dove into tobacco firm practices and their spreading of the notion that smoking causes cancer.
* [Tobacco label video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1KHSXLIR1k)
* "Powerful industries could promote ignorance to sell their wares. Ignorance is power... and agnotology is about the deliberate creation of ignorance."
* "The secret world of classified science, and thought historians should be giving this more attention."

Agnotology is still widely relevant and as important today. Individuals attempt to stoke panic by propagating ignorance under a veil of balanced debate. There isn't ALWAYS two opposing views, and this doesn't always automatically mean there's a rational conclusion. Robert Proctor says, "we live in a world of radical ignorance." People are gradually going to lose the ability to make up their own minds.