Books by Eugen-Calin Secara

In the age of information, bullshit and fake news are literally everywhere. If you nodded in agreement while reading the previous statement, you have just been a victim of bullshit - read it again, slowly, and think about it. This book presents two empirical studies which investigate what the philosopher Harry Frankfurt considers bullshit: statements which are emitted without concern for their truth-value. It debates what can be adequately classified as bullshit, examining different philosophical perspectives on the topic and psychological constructs related to it. The perspective is then shifted from defining bullshit and examining those who produce it to what makes people vulnerable to it. The problem of assessing bullshit vulnerability is thoroughly discussed, following the development and validation of the Health-Related Bullshit Vulnerability Scale. Finally, empirical results are interpreted, suggesting ways of lowering one's vulnerability and protecting against the influence of bullshit. This book might be of use to those seeking to understand core cognitive mechanisms behind the modern phenomenon of fake news and especially to those who wish to do research on the topic.