Know thyself to know the truth: Fighting disinformation in the age of artificial intelligence through foundational, psychological and emotional literacy

In the age of artificial intelligence–driven manipulation, deepfakes and algorithmic distortion, the crisis of truth is not merely technological but epistemological. Traditional digital literacy efforts are insufficient if they do not address deeper vulnerabilities in human cognition and communication. In this article, a radical, long-term strategy is proposed, one centred on foundational literacy (in terms of etymology, linguistics and translation), psychological literacy and emotional literacy. By empowering individuals to decode not only information but also their emotional and cognitive responses to it, such education can counter both polarisation and corrosive scepticism. This three-tiered approach draws on ancient wisdom—‘ gnōthi seauton ’, or ‘know thyself’—to reframe resilience to disinformation as a journey to self-knowledge. This article presents a call to action for policymakers to invest in education that fosters discernment, self-awareness and social cohesion, building not only critical thinkers but reflective citizens capable of safeguarding democratic societies.