The mission of Information Science in the Post-Truth Era

Abstract

In this text, some aspects of contemporary informational reality are presented and discussed, marked by the questions of post-truth and disinformation. The potential of information science to study and propose actions related to this reality is discussed, based on the three existing study models in the area: the physical, the cognitive and the social. The need is identified, based on Edgar Morin's notion of knowledge and ignorance, to promote an advance in information science towards a veritistic dimension, as presented by Jonathan Furner. It is concluded, based on Theodor Adorno's ideas, that the current information science needs to focus on the question of truth and combating the circulation of false information as the center of its mission.

 Keywords: Post-truth. Disinformation. Information science. Epistemology of information science.