The best op-ed pages operate like a town square, allowing readers to discuss and debate issues important to their communities and beyond. But many now focus on divisive national political issues.
When science and anecdote share a podium, you must decide how to value each.
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How much weight would you put on a scientist’s expertise versus the opinion of a random stranger? People on either end of the political spectrum decide differently what seems true.
Yes, it is important to censure harmful and offensive speech. But there are ethical costs to widening the scope of our moral outrage to viewpoints that merely differ from our own.
Readers don’t always know how to distinguish fact from opinion.
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It is a tenet of American journalism that reporters working for the news sections of newspapers remain entirely independent of the opinion sections. But that wall may be invisible to readers.
Humans have always sought knowledge, all the way back to Eve.
Wes Mountain/The Conversation
Research suggests people intuitively draw a distinction between what is known and what is believed. Recognizing the difference can help in ideological disagreements.
President Donald Trump, August 30, 2018.
Reuters/Kevin Lamarque
Revelations about the president’s behavior in a new book and an unsigned op-ed, writes a Yale psychiatrist, support what she and mental health specialists have warned: Trump is dangerously unstable.
ABC News’ investment in long-form journalism is generating strong take-up on Twitter.
The message over the doorway to London’s Kirkaldy Testing Museum. But don’t be too quick to believe the facts and dismiss the opinions.
Flickr/Kevo Thomson
We like to think that we reach conclusions by reviewing facts, weighing evidence and analysing arguments. But this is not how humans usually operate, particularly when decisions are important or need to…
Cameron bonding with Barroso would make scientists happy.
Dominic Lipinski/PA
At a time of much business debate around whether the UK should remain in the European Union (EU), there is one critical area being overlooked regarding the relationship – science. With a growing appreciation…
The ABC’s popular Q And A show revolves around opinion. But not all opinions are of equal value.
ABC TV
Every year, I try to do at least two things with my students at least once. First, I make a point of addressing them as “philosophers” – a bit cheesy, but hopefully it encourages active learning. Secondly…