Table Ronde : «Post-Vérité et autorité»

Table Ronde : «Post-Vérité et autorité»

Round Table: "Post-Truth and Authority"

🎙 Chaire de recherche sur les écritures numériques 👥 318 📅 February 8, 2017 ⏱ 118 min 👁 230 📄 debate 🧭 2026-10-10
Available in: English (current) Français

Keywords

post-truthauthoritydigital agetruthFoucault

Summary

This round table, organized by the Canada Research Chair on Digital Writings and the Interuniversity Research Centre on Digital Humanities, brings together scholars to discuss post-truth and authority in the digital age. Moderated by Servanne Monjour, the panel includes Marcello Vitali-Rosati, Pierre Lévy, Maude Bonenfant, Stéphane Vial, and invited guest Adriano Fabris. The discussion begins with the observation that ‘post-truth’ was named Oxford Dictionaries’ Word of the Year 2016, and examines the crisis of truth in relation to authority. Marcello Vitali-Rosati questions Tarski’s correspondence theory of truth, arguing that digital environments replace verification with validation protocols. Pierre Lévy emphasizes the need to distinguish sources from channels and to teach students critical source evaluation. Maude Bonenfant rejects the idea of post-truth, suggesting instead a new regime of truth à la Foucault, illustrated by the self-proclaimed authority of entities like Delaware University Press. Stéphane Vial offers a conceptual analysis of authority, distinguishing political/juridical authority (obedience) from intellectual/moral authority (trust). The panel collectively explores the reconfiguration of authority and the role of collective responsibility in information sharing.

174 words

Critical Evaluation

Value of the Information & Strength of the Argument

The value of the information lies in the diverse, well-argued perspectives from established scholars. The arguments are thoughtful and grounded in philosophical theory (Tarski, Foucault) and practical pedagogical experience. The debate is solid in its reasoning, though it remains conversational and exploratory rather than evidence-driven. Each speaker contributes coherent positions, with Vitali-Rosati’s protocol-based approach and Bonenfant’s regime-of-truth framework being particularly nuanced. The discussion is intellectually stimulating and well-structured, with the moderator effectively controlling the flow.

Scientific Rigor, Source Quality, Title Accuracy

The scientific rigor is high, as all participants are academics with relevant expertise. They reference established theories and authors (Tarski, Foucault, Grand Robert, etc.) without misrepresenting them. However, the format is a round table discussion, so claims are not systematically cited with precise references. The title accurately reflects the content, being a round table on post-truth and authority. The discussion stays on-topic throughout, with occasional tangents that are quickly redirected.

160 words

Title / Content Match

The title accurately reflects the content: a round table on post-truth and authority.

Quality & Reliability

8/10

High-quality academic discussion by recognized scholars in philosophy and digital studies, though it is an opinion-based debate and not an empirical study.

Key Moments

Cited Sources

Contribution & Novelties

The original contribution of this round table lies in its interdisciplinary confrontation of philosophical, communication, and design perspectives on post-truth and authority. It moves beyond simple media criticism to propose a conceptual reconfiguration: Vitali-Rosati’s idea of validation protocols, Bonenfant’s Foucauldian regime of truth, and Vial’s dual notion of authority offer nuanced frameworks. The discussion also emphasizes the pedagogical and ethical responsibilities of citizens in digital information ecosystems.

Pour aller plus loin :

  • Post-truth politics — Explores the political dimension of post-truth, directly relevant to the video’s discussion.
  • Epistemic authority — Concept of authority based on knowledge, useful for understanding Vial’s distinction.
  • Digital literacy — Complements Pierre Lévy’s remarks on teaching students to evaluate sources.

114 words

Radar Profile

The profile shows a balanced but strong performance across information quantity, quality, and technical level, with reliability also high, indicating a well-structured academic debate that is both informative and credible.

Reliability 8/10