A Brief History of Truth: From Socrates to Trump

In an age of misinformation, “alternative facts,” and endless online opinions, the question of truth feels more relevant than ever. But this debate is far from new. From the philosophical questioning of Socrates to the political rhetoric of modern times, humanity has wrestled with truth for centuries.

Join philosopher and ethicist Dr Blay Whitby for a fascinating, accessible, and entertaining exploration of one of philosophy’s oldest and most important questions. This engaging talk traces the history of ideas about truth, knowledge, belief, and persuasion through some of history’s greatest thinkers, bringing these ideas into the context of today’s world.

Blending philosophy, history, humour, and personal anecdotes, this talk offers a lively introduction to the evolution of truth in public life — and why it still matters today.

Perfect for anyone interested in philosophy, politics, society, history, or simply understanding the world around us a little better.

About the speaker:
Dr Blay Whitby is a philosopher and technology ethicist, specialising in computer science, artificial intelligence and robotics. He is based at the University of Sussex. He graduated with first class honours from New College, Oxford University in 1974 and completed his PhD on "The Social Implications of Artificial Intelligence" at Middlesex University in 2003. His publications are predominantly in the area of the philosophy and ethical implications of artificial intelligence. His views place particular stress on the moral responsibilities of scientific and technical professionals and debate on ethical issues.

Whitby is an ethics expert for the European Commission, a member of the Ethics Strategic Panel of BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT. He also participates in art/science collaborations. See: Blay Whitby - Wikipedia

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