Projects & Grants




Obscurantism in Philosophy, Science, and Public Discourse
Project IdSGS02/FF/2022
Main solverMgr. David Černín, Ph.D.
Period1/2022 - 12/2022
ProviderSpecifický VŠ výzkum
Statefinished
AnotationObscure statements and systems are ever-present part of our daily lives. "The charge of obscurantism suggests a deliberate move on behalf of the speaker, who is accused of setting up a game of verbal smoke and mirrors to suggest depth and insight where none exists." (Buekens - Boudry 2015). As such, obscurantism can be identified in various contexts, including philosophy, science and pseudoscience, political statements, historical narratives, art, public discourse, etc. It poses a significant challenge to our understanding of the world and ourselves, our theories concerning reality, our ability to maintain a democratic system with liberal counter-weights, and to our education system, which must prepare citizens who are able to discern between knowledge and mere illusory substitutes. At the same time, obscure properties of some art forms are highly valued as original translations of life experiences into different types of media. The research team aspires to inquire into aspects of obscurantism in interdisciplinary contexts, including politics, technology, artificial intelligence, logic, didactics, science-art relations, history of philosophy, etc. The goal is to provide a multifaceted view of the issue, identify both its dangers and possible benefits and offer new ideas on how to deal with obscure statements and discourses, their influence, and how to navigate the multimedia world which supports their proliferation.