Combating naïve scepticism and epistemic nihilism in the classroom and beyond

In this interview with Luke Davies, Jake Wright discusses the ways in which teaching first-year philosophy students connects to issues surrounding tolerance, critical thinking, and bullshit in a so-called ‘post-truth’ world. Wright discusses the claim that student engagement in first-year philosophy classes reflects broader forms of nihilism in the public sphere. University teachers, graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) and early career researchers (ECRs), in particular, will benefit from the discussion on dualism, tolerance, and epistemic humility when teaching contestatory topics, and the virtues of explicit discussion of disciplinary aims in the classroom. Wright’s reflections on the ways in which public discourse and university teaching face similar problems are particularly prescient given current global events. The interview helps to address common sources of difficulty for early-career teachers and will foster reflection on the way in which universities are embedded in public life.