Germany’s Federal Agency for Civic Education has recommended that people should take four steps in order to help to distinguish real news from fake news.
Look closely.
Think for yourself.
Think critically.
Check sources.
Good advice, as long as people know how to ‘think critically’. It is to be hoped that programmes of ‘civic education’ include the development of people’s skills of critical thinking.
Critical thinking as essential for us to distinguish truth from falsehood and to make better choices
In his new book (‘Rationality: What it is. Why it seems scarce. Why it matters’), the Harvard psychologist Steven Pinker has argued in favour of