INFOSTORMS: How to take Information Punches and Save Democracy
INFOSTORMS
How to take Information Punches and Save Democracy
Pelle G. Hansen
Vincent F. Hendricks
New York: Copernicus Books
Forthcoming 2013
- Based on new insights from philosophy, social psychology, behavioural science and economics
- Explains how to navigate in the information age – from taking the wrong way out of the airport gate to making bad calls in affairs of state and democracy
- Shows how information is used to enlighten but also manipulate people, opinions and markets
The information society is upon us. New technologies have given us back pocket libraries, online discussion forums, blogs, social media and breaking news on SMS. But has it made us wiser or anymore enlightened?
Information is a condition for a robust democracy where people should vote based on sound information. Sound information doesn’t come easy and without labour. It must be properly handled and formatted before it may be useful for deliberation, decision and action. In the information age understanding the means by which information is processed becomes a crucial democratic instrument.
With points of departure in philosophy, social psychology, economics, choice-‐ and game theory, Infostorms shows how information may be used to improve the quality of personal decision and group thinking. This goes all the way from the reasons for the continued involvement in Afghanistan, the Facebook hype and the Instagram success or what it really is, that makes you buy a book like this.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface
Chapter 1 / Introduction and Manipulation
Chapter 2 / Ignorance and Cascades
Chapter 3 / The Battle for Public Space
Chapter 4 / The Free Choice
Chapter 5 / Framing Effects
Chapter 6 / Polarization
Chapter 7 / Lethal Logic
Chapter 8 / Solidarity or Selfishness
Chapter 9 / Knowledge Democracy
References
