Elementos para uma antropologia da pós-verdade: uma introdução

Abstract

This paper was built as set of introductory reflections addressed to anthropologists interested in starting to research about the post-truth and the scientific denialism. Initially, the work evaluates the heuristic value of the aforementioned concepts under the light of three contemporary perspectives. The next move is to map two possible challenges a researcher approaching the anthropology of post-truth may deal with: the charge of reanimating a discipline’s dormant drive and some methodological complexities of describing socialities which are critical to science. Once both challenges are presented, the paper covers some research possibilities on the post-truth and the scientific denialism already developed in the discipline. Finally, it discusses some elements to be considered during the research, such as: the denialists self-representation and the way scientists are depictured by them; the  relation between the crisis of confidence in science and the notion of disinformation; and the typical explanatory complex of the conspiracy theories.