“It’s Not Accidental at All”—Media Literacy, “Whataboutism,” and Occam’s Razor

Authors

  • Mark Pearcy Rider University

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to focus on the importance of critical media literacy for students in today’s polarized, “post-truth” atmosphere. In the wake of attempted insurrection of January 6, 2021, our students need the ability to discern and analyze information more than ever before. However, the proliferation of falsehoods and distortions makes the development of effective strategies difficult. This article focuses on the development of what John Dewey called “habits of mind,” in order to foster critical evaluation of truth claims, focusing particularly on logical fallacies like “whataboutism.” The implication of practice is the discussion of “Occam’s razor,” a longstanding scientific and philosophical rule that can help students prevent the spread and dissemination of disinformation.

Author Biography

  • Mark Pearcy, Rider University
    Associate Professor, Department of Teacher Education

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Published

2021-07-30