SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " prof " 7,403 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
Mosaic (MOS) Bets On Enzymes While Its Core Business Bleeds
On August 17, Mosaic Biosciences, a unit of The Mosaic Company (NYSE:MOS), launched Renuvis Enzara, an enzyme-based treatment meant to speed up how fast crop residue breaks down after harvest. The launch landed less than two weeks after Mosaic reported a second-quarter net loss of $273 million, a sharp reversal from the $411 million profit […]
Blue Jays’ Spencer Miles Doing Something No One Else Is
The word faith means, by definition, belief without evidence. The Toronto Blue Jays had faith in Spencer Miles. He had hardly pitched in professional baseball when the Blue Jays took him in the Rule 5 Draft. As far as evidence goes, there wasn’t a ton. Toronto clearly had pitch data that they liked, but sample […] The post Blue Jays’ Spencer Miles Doing Something No One Else Is appeared first on HEAVY.
Virginia Department of Health officials, food quality professionals detail latest food regulations
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — New food safety regulations that establish updated standards for handling food, sanitation and staff oversight, while adding another food allergen, took effect across Virgi…
Researchers to develop microsensor for potentially dangerous gas emissions
Professor Mohammad Younis to lead National Science Foundation project that could detect problems with lithium-ion batteries.
Search begins for arts and sciences dean
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln has launched a national search to select its next dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. The 15-member search advisory committee will be chaired by Richard Moberly, Dean and Schmoker Professor in the College of Law.
A Vocation Discovered: Dwayne Simmons’ Journey to Becoming a Renowned Neuroscientist
Since earning his bachelor’s degree from Pepperdine University, Dwayne Simmons has forged a career as an esteemed neuroscience professor, researcher, and newly inducted fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). In looking back on his accomplished vocational journey, the neuroscience considers his undergraduate education in Malibu to be the key that unlocked his potential.
HHS recognizes 2026 Behavioral Health and Children and Family Services Conference award recipients | Health and Human Services North Dakota
North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) recognized five individuals and teams for their outstanding contributions to children, families and behavioral health services during the 2026 Behavioral Health & Children and Family Services Conference. The annual awards recognize providers and professionals who demonstrate exceptional service, innovation, leadership and a commitment to improving the lives of North Dakotans.
Former UCF Standout F Keyshawn Hall Remains Ineligible
Legal setbacks stall the versatile "Big Guard" from joining Rick Pitino at St. John's, leaving the former Knights star’s professional aspirations and collegiate return in limbo.
Puget Sound Leaders Launch New Economic Partnership
Led by nonprofit Challenge Seattle, the partnership aims to strengthen the region’s ability to retain employers, attract investment, and create jobs.
Savannah Indoor Football League team to host tryouts
Looking for your chance to play professional football? Savannah's IFL franchise will hold open tryouts ahead of its inaugural 2027 season
Nonprofit helps clients rebuild wardrobes after health changes
Whether it’s a health journey or any other life change, Hernandez said the closet is free.
Former Lincoln College campus to become a business incubator with $1 leases on offer
An investor purchased the property with the intention to offer businesses $1 leases. Nonprofits looking to expand can operate from one of five campus buildings for free.
Seven rural community colleges receive $5.93 million for healthcare training
Because community colleges can serve as an entry point for aspiring medical professionals, the RHTF funding for rural colleges is intended to help grow the healthcare workforce in areas of the state that have experienced shortages.
Pork Producer and Packer Profits Slip in Tandem
Check out the Sterling Marketing Profit Tracker for week of Sept. 12.
iOS 27.2 gives Apple TV a new profiles feature on iPhone
iOS 27.2 beta 1 arrived today, and with it a key new feature for the Apple TV app on iPhone: user profiles.
Science Cafe heard that maybe A.I. Armageddon isn't in the cards, after all
Professors Nick Smith and James Dobson discussed AI risks and industry motives at a recent Concord Science Cafe event.
AIC’s Will Dunham Talks PE Support of Small Businesses, Workers on ‘The Deciders’ Podcast
Dunham: “Our members are professional business builders … They go find businesses that are struggling or businesses that are doing just fine and they help
Why Gabriel could leave Man Utd
In the past 24 hours there has been a backlash against JJ Gabriel and his family, for the direction he is taking and around his professionalism and attitude. It then had been anticipated that Gabriel would feature during United's pre-season programme. Gabriel travelled to Trondheim for the Rosenborg friendly on 24 July and Carrick used 11 substitutes that day, but Gabriel was one of two who did not come on.
In leaked recording, Nebraska Senate candidate criticizes some Trump voters
Osborn has carefully sought to maintain an independent profile to attract crossover voters of both parties in the typically red state.
Northwest Colorado Health reports $230K loss in financial fraud scheme
Northwest Colorado Health lost approximately $230,000 this summer from fraudulent account transactions, with CEO Steph Einfeld describing the organization as the “victim of a sophisticated crime” involving the impersonation of one of the nonprofit’s financial...
Scientists create human-mouse hybrid
Animals will be used to study causes of neurodevelopmental disorders such as dementia, profound autism and cerebral palsy
The science behind greener, healthier lawns
A healthy, green lawn can be the envy of any neighborhood, but how does someone cultivate a yard like that? Assistant Professor of Ecosystem Science Amber Churchill has been getting her hands dirty and ...
Massachusetts nonprofit offers peer mental health support via Hey Sam
During Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, the Massachusetts nonprofit Samaritans is highlighting its role in operating the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and Hey Sam, a peer-to-peer mental hea…
Crooked Letter Sports: A Magnolia Bowl for the Ages
CBS National College Football Writer John Talty joins the podcast to talk about this week’s LSU - Ole Miss game and his latest book, in which he profiles LSU
Curiosity Blog, Sols 5002-5009: Tough Planning To Learn More About Wind-Blown Sediments
Written by Benjamin Tutolo, Professor, University of Calgary
'Science of Well-Being' workshop comes to Bemidji Public Library Sept. 23
Bemidji State associate professor Shawn E. Schooley will present, "The Science of Well-Being: Small Habits for a Happier, Healthier Life," from 6 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 23, at the library.
North Carolina’s Southeast welcomes new Director of Business Development Savannah Taylor
Savannah TaylorSavannah Taylor, a career economic development professional, has accepted the role of director of Business Development at North Carolina’s Southeast. She officially started in the position on Sept. 14.“North Carolina’s Southeast’s success has long been based on strategic collaborative engagement and leadership among our team and with our partners, so a key aim was to find someone who aligned with those dynamics,” said NCSE President Steve Yost in a press release. “Savannah has strong experience for this position through her previous roles in local economic development, research, and policy development, and it became clear that she would be an excellent match in helping to advance the mission for our 20-county region. We couldn’t be more excited to welcome her to the Southeast.”Before joining the Southeast team, Taylor lived and worked in Georgia as an economic development project manager for the City of Marietta and as public policy & research manager and research director for the Georgia Chamber of Commerce Foundation. She has successfully led public policy and strategic project initiatives related to statewide community development and has served on several special committees, including the Metro Atlanta eXchange for Workforce Solutions Research Committee and the United for ALICE Georgia Research Advisory Committee. “After previously working at the state and local level in Georgia, I knew I was looking for a local or regional organization as my next step,” said Taylor in a press release. “I wanted to find a highly collaborative environment, and that led me to North Carolina’s Southeast.”Taylor graduated from Georgia College & State University with dual degrees — a B.S. in Economics and a B.A. in World Languages and Cultures. “I’m really looking forward to interacting with the organization’s partners and all of the local developers,” said Taylor in a press release. “Overall, I think I’m most excited for the new adventures with all the hiking and biking and everything else there is to explore in the region. I hope if anyone has any recommendations, they’ll share them!”
Sagtec Reports 46 Percent Gross Profit Growth and Expands International Business Momentum
Stronger margins and operating cash flow provide a foundation for growth across AI and data infrastructureKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Sept. 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sagtec Global Limited (Nasdaq: SAGT) ("Sagtec" or the "Company"), a provider of customizable software, technology infrastructure and digital solutions, today announced its unaudited financial results for the six months ended June 30, 2026. The Company delivered higher gross profit, wider margins and positive operating cash flow while
RAFFAELE PALLADINO TO BE OFFICIALLY INTRODUCED TOMORROW
Raffaele Palladino, born in Mugnano (Naples) on 17 April 1984, enjoyed a long career as a professional footballer, making three appearances for the Italian national team. After retiring from playing, ...
Walmart is partnering with a nonprofit insurer to sell Medicare Advantage plans
The co-branded plans will be available to more than 2 million Medicare enrollees in two states when open enrollment begins Oct. 15
Surviving the battle within: Alabama combat veteran shares mental health journey for Suicide Prevention Month
September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, which is a time when mental health professionals and advocates push to break the silence around a crisis that claims thousands of lives each year.
Cumberland County Schools Business Operations earns Meritorious Budget Award for third consecutive year
Cumberland County Schools continues to demonstrate strong fiscal leadership as the district’s Business Operations Department has earned the 2026–2027 Meritorious Budget Award from the Association of School Business Officials International for the third consecutive year.The national recognition honors excellence in budget preparation and presentation, highlighting the department’s commitment to transparency, accountability and sound financial practices. The award is presented following a rigorous peer review by experienced school finance professionals who evaluate district budgets against nationally recognized standards.“This recognition reflects the leadership of the Cumberland County Board of Education and Superintendent Dr. Eric C. Bracy, along with the hard work of our Business Operations team,” said Jay Toland, associate superintendent of Business Operations, in a press release. “We take pride in using public funds wisely and making our budget clear and accessible so our community can see how those resources support student success.”ASBO International’s award program promotes budget documents that are comprehensive, accessible and informative for families, staff and community members.“An effective school budget is more than just numbers—it’s a vital tool for building trust and engaging the community,” said Executive Director of ASBO International Jim Rowan in a press release. “The Meritorious Budget Award recognizes districts like Cumberland County Board of Education that prioritize financial clarity and accountability.”
Temple Professor Lauren Alloy wins 2027 APS Mentor Award
The Association for Psychological Science (APS) recognizes Alloy for shaping the future directions of science by fostering students and colleagues’ careers.
UM System honors six faculty with Curators’ Distinguished Professorships
The designation is the highest academic rank bestowed by the University of Missouri Board of Curators.
Bilingual leadership: The business case and the moral case
Steps to get nonprofits and business leaders to speak each other’s language.
UM System honors six faculty with Curators’ Distinguished Professorships
The designation is the highest academic rank bestowed by the University of Missouri Board of Curators.
Knicks star Jalen Brunson launching Thirty Third, a family-owned marketing firm to manage off-court business
Jalen Brunson is launching a family-owned brand advisory firm to handle the Knicks guard's off-court business and represent clients across professional sports, business and philanthropy.
Reading 1-2 Brentord
Ian: The Bees seem to be scraping results at the moment (three Premier League leads ending in draws and a 2-1 win over Reading), however, it is easy to be critical. Douglas: Every Brentford supporter expects them to win by a hatful of goals, but that can't always happen. A professional performance which shows their class.
After curriculum scrutiny, Springfield will keep an eye on fifth grade science proficiency
The district’s choice to put its fifth-grade science scores under the microscope is meant to measure the effectiveness of its new elementary science curriculum after the state ruled the district’s previous science curriculum did not meet state requirements.
Truth and Politics in the Age of Post-Truth
Get E-International Relations delivered to your inbox, free of charge. As you sign up, consider becoming a paid subscriber, or make a donation, to support our work. Subscribe This is an excerpt from Global Politics in a Post-Truth Era. You can download the book free of charge from E-International Relations. The term post-truth is by now so ubiquitous in describing the state of politics in the Western world and even beyond that the most pressing issue of the day appears to be about making democracy work in the era of post-truth rather than questioning the normalisation of the term itself in the first place. The critical turning point appeared to have occurred in 2016 when the term was chosen by the Oxford English Dictionary as ‘The Word of the Year.’ On its website, the Dictionary notes the transformation of post-truth from ‘being a peripheral term to being a mainstay in political commentary and connects ‘the spike in frequency’ directly with the Brexit referendum in the United Kingdom and the election of Donald J. Trump in the United States – both occurring in 2016. Paired with the noun ‘politics,’ post-truth is defined as an adjective ‘relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief.’ The Oxford English Dictionary traces the first use of the term to a 1992 essay in The Nation by the playwright Steve Tesich as he reflected on the 1980s Iran-Contra scandal and the 1990–91 Gulf War: We are rapidly becoming prototypes of a people that totalitarian monsters could only drool about in their dreams. All the dictators up to now have had to work hard at suppressing the truth. We, by our actions, are saying that this is no longer necessary, that we have acquired a spiritual mechanism that can denude truth of any significance. In a very fundamental way we, as a free people, have freely decided that we want to live in some post-truth world (Tesich 1992, 13; emphasis added). He then continued, The Gulf War is over but the war at home goes on. The gulf between rich and destitute widens – between those of us who live in a modern post-industrial nation and those of us who live in the Third World countries of our inner cities. The present administration’s response to this internal crisis has shifted from benign to malignant neglect. The current levels of misery and decomposition of our cities and the economic gulags of our ghettos are acceptable. Since there is only so much hope to go around, there is a freeze on hope. The have-nots have now been reclassified as never-will-haves (Tesich 1992, 13). In the context of Tesich’s essay, truth includes both facts, as in what happens, and ‘moral absolutes,’ as in the ‘self-evident truths mentioned in our Constitution’ (Tesich 1992, 14). Together, these two notions of truth entail the obligation to both act and react. The two passages cited above show that even in the early post-Cold War years, Tesich was already deeply concerned that the American people are neither prepared to act on truth nor react to truth that is disconcerting, or what he calls ‘bad news’ (Tesich 1992, 12). Accordingly, Tesich’s insight as captured by the term post-truth is not that truth is irrelevant to what we know, but rather it is irrelevant to how we act. In contrast, ‘post-truth politics,’ as defined by Oxford as a term that pitches ‘objective facts’ against ‘emotion and personal belief’ such that the latter appears to have overtaken the former in shaping ‘public opinion’ and thereby, democratic politics. When Tesich’s post-truth politics and its current usage are juxtaposed, the two are in fact not identical in terms of what truth is and how it relates to politics. Against such consideration, this chapter provides a critical survey of selected historical events and theoretical considerations for the purpose of gaining a more nuanced understanding of the relation between truth and politics. Truth and Language One notable impact of post-truth politics is that language is being overtly deployed as a political weapon not only by politicians and those in power, but among the general population. It seems that once facts are irrelevant to the validity of what is being said, language becomes the platform for an all-out political contest in which what is said is no more than an act of will expressed as an assertion of power and/or an exercise in defiance. As early as in the writings of Thucydides (460–400 BCE), the vulnerability of logos – which is the human capacity for rational discourse in tumultuous times – was already noted. Thucydides belonged to a school of Greek thought which maintained that language is conventional and that the association between name and things is a result of ‘human use and habit’ rather than ‘nature or divine dispensation’ (Connor 1984, 99). The conventional nature of language means that it is incapable of providing its users with any independent criteria for judgement. In Thucydides’ study of the Peloponnesian War (431–405 BCE), the subversion of logos as seen in the manipulation of language was introduced through his account of the civil war in Corcyra (Thucydides 1972, 236-245). The war first broke out in 427 BCE between the pro-Athenian democratic faction and the pro-Spartan oligarchic faction before it spread to the rest of the Greek world. There was a general breakdown of law and order, resulting in extreme violence and death. Language underwent changes that were reflective of the events of the time. The English philosopher Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679) translated Thucydides’ description of the situation as follows: The received value of names imposed for signification of things, was changed into arbitrary. For inconsiderate boldness, was counted true-hearted manliness: provident deliberation, a handsome fear: modesty, the cloak of cowardice: to be wise in everything, to be lazy in everything... he that had been so provident as not to need to do the one or the other, was said to be a dissolver of society, and one that stood in fear of his adversary. In brief, he that could outstrip another in the doing of an evil act, or that could persuade another thereto that never meant it, was commended (Hobbes 1839–1845, 8: 348; Thucydides 1972, 242-243). What concerned Thucydides most was that the meanings of words are no more than linguistic conventions that require logos to support them. The Corcyrean civil war was a reminder that such capacity cannot be assumed. This is why history understood as an authentic account of what happens matters. Guided by logos, the historian’s task is ‘the search after truth’, which is established through ‘the absence of the fabulous,’ including ‘the rejection of myth and unverifiable stories’ (de Jonge 2017, 2). Thus, history plays an important role in facilitating the stability of language – without which distinctions and judgements cannot be rendered communicable. Just like Thucydides, Hobbes was a nominalist who subscribed to the view that there is no inherent meaning to words. Hobbes’ state of nature, where there is no common authority, is precisely one in which distinctions cannot be made. As Hobbes put it, there is ‘no Mine and Thine distinct’ nor is there distinction between ‘the notions of Right and Wrong, Justice and Injustice’ (1968, 188; emphasis in original). This is clearly an unsustainable condition for everyone. Behind Hobbes’ famous words that life in the state of nature is ‘solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short’ is his uncompromising argument for the ‘Leviathan’, which is described by the late American political theorist, Sheldon Wolin (1922–2015), as the ‘sovereign definer’ (Hobbes 1968, 186; Wolin 2004, 238–243). Accordingly, the social contract is importantly a ‘linguistic contract’ that binds all parties to ‘general names agreed upon’ (Peters 1979, 125; Hobbes 1968, 111). Through Thucydides and Hobbes, we can identify a line of thinking that sees politics as a contestation over the use of language, which is based on shared conventions and norms. Thus understood, politics is not a collective quest for the true nature of our being or an epistemological exercise in pursuit of true knowledge. Rather, politics is about humans living with one another by finding a shared language to communicate with one another on matters that affect them all. Truth is in that sense contingent on what is being said as opposed to setting the standard for it. In other words, truth is the embodiment of shareability among us. While truth as such ensures the viability of a political entity, truth by no means represents a normative standard to adjudicate among contesting actors in what they say, let alone in what they do. During Thucydides’ times, ancient China was also experiencing a tumultuous time as the ruling Zhou dynasty deteriorated into the period of the Warring States (481–221 BCE). This was when the rulers of Zhou no longer presided over the territories brought under its control through conquest. Instead of professing allegiance to the Zhou royalty, the lords of these territories became kings themselves to rule over their own land. The period was one marked by endless military campaigns as each of the seven major states aimed to conquer the rest (Lewis 1999). Yet, the period was also known for its intellectual vibrancy as different thinkers challenged the restoring of order among these warring states – including offering ideas and advice to rulers on good governance. Among these thinkers was Confucius (551–479 BCE). His thought, which came to be known as Confucianism, went on to become the state ideology of China from the Han dynasty (206 BCE–222 CE) until the end of the Qing dynasty in 1911 when China became a republic. The founding text of Confucianism was the Analects, which is a collection of dialogues between Confucius and his students as recorded by them. One key concept Confucius advanced is the ‘rectification of names’. Though the term only appears in one exchange in the Analects, it is considered a major aspect of Confucius’ thought. Generations of Confucian scholars from past and present, including Western academics, have debated over its interpretation (Makeham 2003). The passage in question reads as follows: Zi Lu said: ‘The monarch of the state of Wei wants you to govern the country, what is the first thing you plan on doing?’ Confucius said: ‘First it is necessary to rectify the names.’Zi Lu said: ‘Is that really what has to be done? You are being too pedantic, aren’t you now? How will you rectify these names?’Confucius said: ‘Zhong You, you are too unrefined. A gentleman, faced with a matter that he does not understand, takes a skeptical attitude. If names are not correct, one cannot speak smoothly and reasonably, and if one cannot speak smoothly and reasonably, affairs cannot be managed successfully. If affairs cannot be managed successfully, rites and music will not be conducted. If rites and music are not conducted, punishments will not be suitable. And if punishments are not suitable, the common people will not know what to do. So, when the gentleman uses names, it is necessary to be able to speak so that people understand. If one can say it, one can definitely do it. A gentleman should not be careless with words’ (Analects 13:3 in Cao 2016, 148). This translation is offered by the contemporary philosopher Cao Feng. As Cao notes, the passage is what started the whole debate over ‘exactly what kind of names did Confucius... wish to rectify’ (Cao 2016, 148). Of the three major groups of interpretation examined by Cao, beginning with classical Confucian scholarship, one is arguably the most influential and certainly most pertinent to the issue of language and politics. This is the interpretation that was first associated with the Neo-Confucian master, Zhu Xi (1130–1200), who argued that the ‘rectification of names is simply the rectification of politics’ (Cao 2016, 149). Within this interpretive framework, rectification has the dual functions of correction and prescription by ensuring that predetermined hierarchical roles are strictly adhered to through following ‘the system of rites and propriety’ (Cao 2016, 151). In addition, the rectification of names entails ‘using names to rectify actuality’ (Cao 2016, 151). Yet Cao rejects this whole body of interpretive works by arguing that these were ideas developed later. Instead, Cao suggests the following: The original meaning of Confucius’ rectification of names may, then, be quite simple. Confucius did not mean to establish a concrete, normative system of “names”; rather, Confucius was simply the first person in history to realize or remark upon the importance of language in politics. As a politician, he noticed and foresaw the impact that the indeterminacy, ambiguity, and arbitrariness of names would have on politics. Confucius recognized the political consequences of language’s not accurately expressing meaning or not being accurately received by people. He realized the great role that names, as a means of distinguishing right and wrong and establishing norms, could play in society and politics (Cao 2016, 168). Scholarly debates aside, Cao’s view has the advantage of identifying an interpretation of this controversial exchange in the Analects that enables its readers to extrapolate from it the observation that the meaning of words depends as much on their users as on their interpreters; neither of which can be predetermined. Accordingly, a good ruler is someone who can speak without ambiguity to his subjects and make good his words through actions. Stated differently, Cao’s view on what concerned Confucius then, who was living through times of protracted political upheaval, is that language is an indispensable political tool for those in power and can be deployed by both good and bad rulers alike. To sum up, this historical survey shows that politics as a war of words is by no means a distinctive marker of contemporary politics nor the Western world. Be it ancient or current, east or west, language is subject to manipulation to serve political purposes and when there is an outright war of words that defies existing norms, it is indicative of a political situation in which people no longer share a language and truth becomes irrelevant. Accordingly, political order entails stability in language use. Truth and Politics As previously noted, current use of the term post-truth as an adjective to the term ‘politics’ suggests that once there was a time when politics aligned with truth. Indeed, if we start with Plato’s Republic as the key founding text of Western political thought, we see that the ideal polis (city-state of ancient Greece) is where truth and politics converge, and justice is achieved. Written around 380 BCE when Athens was still coping with its defeat by the Spartans in the Peloponnesian War, the Republic is a defence of the rule of the ‘philosopher king’, defined as someone who is ‘guided by the truth’ and is ‘always and in every way’ in pursuit of the truth (Plato 1974, 490a). For Plato, truth converges with virtues and hence, letting the philosopher take charge of politics is to let the wisest and the most virtuous lead the less wise and the less virtuous even if it requires compulsion (Plato 1974, 499b). In Plato’s words, ‘…until the philosophers attain power in a city there will be no respite from evil for either city or citizens…’ (Plato 1974, 501e). The uncompromising rule of philosopher-kings is made palatable by the claim that we are all ‘earth- born brothers’ with random mixtures of gold, silver, bronze and iron, but only the gold can rule (Plato 1974, 414–415). Understandably, academic debates over the interpretation of Plato’s Republic revolve around the question of whether truth as attained in philosophy can be realised in politics as action and whether such a connection is even desirable. Without getting into the details of these scholarly exchanges, I suggest that they all share the concern that truth acquired through the rigorous process of philosophical reasoning is not without problem when applied to the real world of living humans. This is because not all humans are philosophers – and indeed, in Plato’s view, not everyone is capable of becoming a philosopher given the protracted and arduous training that one needs to endure to become one. Hannah Arendt (1906–1975), a highly influential political philosopher of the twentieth century, notes that ‘Plato was the first to introduce the division between those who know and do not act and those who act and do not know’ and that such a separation has remained ‘at the root of all theories of domination’ (Arendt 1958, 223, 225). What Arendt points out in this remark is not the gap between theory and practice, but rather that Plato provides the normative ground for those who know the truth to tell those who do not know what to do. Arendt herself took on the challenge of understanding the relationship between truth and politics through her analysis of Nazism and Stalinism. Arendt’s insight, which was controversial when The Origins of Totalitarianism was published in 1951, was to identify Nazism and Stalinism as representative of a new form of political rule – totalitarianism – making it distinct from ‘other forms of political oppression... such as despotism, tyranny and dictatorship’ (Arendt 1973, 460). Arendt defines totalitarianism as a self- contained system of ideas driven by their ‘logic’ and marked by a mode of reasoning called ‘ideological thinking.’ Ideological thinking as such is a distinctive form of political reasoning defined by three characteristics. First, ideological thinking claims to provide a ‘total explanation’ of all historical happenings, encompassing the past, the present, and the future. Second, while ideological thinking is an attempt to account for ‘factual reality’ in its totality, this mode of thinking is paradoxically divorced from reality and experience. This is because experience, being rooted in specificity, is clearly limited in its claim to totality. It follows that as its third characteristic, ideological thinking aims to emancipate thought from the limitation imposed by experience through a ‘specific method of demonstration.’ The method involves arranging facts into an ‘absolutely logical procedure’ that starts from an ‘axiomatically accepted premise’. It is, in short, a ‘process of deduction from a premise’ – which is the only possible movement in the realm of logic that leads to one definitive conclusion. This is how the ‘logicality of ideological thinking’ provides the basis for total explanation and the ‘principle of action’ for totalitarian movement (Arendt 1973, 468–474). Stated differently, totalitarianism is a form of uncompromising idealism that exists in one’s head irrespective of shared reality as experienced. It is the perverse form of what Arendt later refers to as ‘rational truth’, which is the product of the ‘speculative mind’ that belongs to philosophy, mathematics and the sciences. The ‘speculative mind’ is the mind working on its way to generate axioms and theories by relying on the cognitive capacity of the human brain (Arendt 1977, 231). The presence of others has no bearing whatsoever on rational truth. In contrast, ‘factual truth’ is what happens when humans are ‘living and acting together’ (Arendt 1977, 231). Factual truth is therefore particular and temporal by definition. But more importantly, factual truth is ‘political by nature’ because it can only be validated in the context of the human community (Arendt 1977, 238). In other words, factual truth is about humans in their plurality rather than in their singularity. For factual truth to be sustainable, we need what Arendt calls ‘common sense’ – understood as ‘community sense’ (Arendt 1982, 72). There is also another distinction about truth that Arendt makes which is pertinent to understanding how totalitarianism works. The issue is whether the so-called totalitarian ideology is simply an unnecessarily cumbersome way of saying that it is an all-round and polished lie. Here, Arendt calls totalitarian ideology the ‘modern lie’ – in contrast to the ‘traditional lie’. The latter is restricted by two conditions: that it is a lie about the ‘particulars’ and that it deceives only the ‘enemy’ – which means that the liar is not engaged in self- deception. The modern lie, however, involves a ‘complete rearrangement of the whole factual texture’. It also intends to deceive everyone alike, to the extent that those who initiate the lie eventually ‘fall victims to their own falsehood’ (Arendt 1977, 249–254). This distinction between the traditional and modern lie is important. It indicates that not only is totalitarianism a lie, but the lie is in fact too big to fit into the standard meaning of the word. To tell a lie from truth, we need a common standard. In the case of a traditional lie, the common standard is precisely ‘the fabric of factuality’. As such, a lie always appears as a ‘tear’ to that fabric. Yet, modern lies require making a surrogate reality with a completely different context for facts to fit ‘without seam, crack, or fissure, exactly as the facts fitted into their original context’. Arendt notes that as long as those who concoct the surrogate reality are prepared to engage in self- deception to ‘create a semblance of truthfulness’, there is nothing to prevent ‘these new stories, images, and non-facts from becoming an adequate substitute for reality and factuality’ (Arendt 1977, 253–254). Totalitarianism therefore requires a person to stand outside of the system itself in order to make sense of it. Arendt points out that it is futile for us to argue with (for example) a Nazi or a Stalinist on race or class. To confront totalitarianism requires more than just a confrontation with specific facts. It is a more fundamental confrontation between reality as experienced and its total rejection. This means that Nazism and Stalinism are more than radical ways of conducting racial conflict or class struggle. Rather: Totalitarian politics – far from being simply antisemitic or racist or imperialist or communist – use and abuse their own ideological and political elements until the basis of factual reality, from which the ideologies originally derived their propaganda value– the value of struggle, for instance, or the interest conflicts between Jews and their neighbours – have all but disappeared (Arendt 1973, xv). Accordingly: The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the convinced Communist, but people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction (that is, the reality of experience) and the distinction between true and false (that is, the standards of thought) no longer exist (Arendt 1973, 474). Who then is the ‘ideal subject’ of totalitarianism? Although there is a revival of interest in Arendt’s observation on truth and politics since the onset of post- truth politics, not enough has been said about her reply to the question (Hyvönen 2018; Klinkler 2018; Lee 2019; Zerilli 2020). Yet if we take a look at Arendt’s portrait of this ideal subject, her view is even more pertinent to our current challenge. As a self-contained system of ideas that is detached from experience, totalitarian thinking offers consistency in ways that reality cannot. Arendt notes that this kind of consistency is especially appealing to those who have lost a sense of bearing in the world (Arendt 1973, 353). They constitute what she calls the ‘masses’. The ‘mass man’ is thus a highly isolated and atomised individual, who is ‘obsessed by a desire to escape from reality’ (Arendt 1973, 318, 352). In his ‘essential homelessness’ the mass man can ‘no longer bear its accidental, incomprehensible aspects’ (Arendt 1973, 352). This longing for escape from reality is a ‘verdict against the world’ in which one is ‘forced to live’ but ‘cannot exist’ (Arendt 1973, 352). Such a situation is ripe for the ‘revolt of the masses’ against ‘common sense,’ which is ‘the result of their atomisation, of their loss of social status’ and with it, the ‘whole sector of communal relationships in whose framework common sense makes sense’ (Arendt 1973, 352). In short, the masses are people who are considered to be ‘superfluous or can be spared … [who] cannot be integrated into any organisation based on common interest’ (Arendt 1973, 311). Whether one agrees with Arendt’s analysis of the social conditions in the interwar years that led to the formation of the ‘masses’, her portrait of the ‘mass man’ is a powerful account of what can happen to an individual who has become disposable to the society that they used to belong to. Hand in hand with this phenomenon is indeed the collapse of ‘common sense’ that leaves the dislodged individual scrambling for reconnection. By offering the masses a substitute reality validated by the ‘logic of an idea’ rather than by experience, totalitarianism makes it possible for them to live in a world where there is no condition of plurality. Between ‘facing the anarchic growth and total arbitrariness of decay’ and ‘bowing down before the most rigid, fantastically fictitious consistency of an ideology’, the masses will likely ‘choose the latter’ (Arendt 1973, 352). A world created by ideology, then, is more attractive to the masses not because ‘they are stupid and wicked, but because in the general disaster this escape grants them a minimum of self- respect’ by conjuring up ‘a lying world of consistency which is more adequate to the needs of the human mind than reality itself’ (Arendt 1973, 353). Moreover, it is precisely this ability to guarantee consistency that makes it possible for the leaders of totalitarian movements to demand ‘total, unrestricted, unconditional and unalterable loyalty of the individual member’ (Arendt 1973, 323). While this chapter is not a study of the social factors that led to specific contemporary developments such as the result of the Brexit referendum or the election of Donald Trump in 2016, Arendt’s ‘mass man’ seem to have found their counterparts among the supporters of Brexit and Trumpism. Studies of voters’ profiles in both events point to a disproportionate share of supporters from white male lower income backgrounds without university educations. These are individuals who have either already lost their jobs to globalisation or who are at high risk of losing their job with very little capacity to be retrained for the twenty-first century market economy of advanced industrialised states (BBC 2016; Pew Research Center 2018). In short, these displaced workers are part of the tapestry forming the modern equivalent of Arendt’s ‘mass man’ – ready to be the recruits of totalitarianism. Conclusion If we step back to take a more comprehensive approach to the relationship between truth and politics, both historically and theoretically, it is not so obvious that 2016 is a defining moment. From ancient China and ancient Greece to our so-called post-truth age, the indeterminacy of language appears to be a persistent political challenge. Language is always open to manipulation by its users to serve power. Nonetheless, the tendency these days is to single out the ubiquity of social media and the proliferation of Internet platforms as the incubator for the countless cyberwars of words that in turn fuel the real world of politics. In this context, language is no longer the conveyor of objective facts and accurate information, but rather the medium for expressing subjective opinions and feelings, as captured by the Oxford Dictionary’s definition of the term ‘post-truth politics’. In contrast, the historical approach used in this chapter shows that it is in fact too easy to point the figure at the Internet and digital communication for the political challenge that we face today. What is being suggested here is that with or without the Internet, language, be it used to convey facts or emotions, is simply a tool for communication that humans have invented. While language per se cannot adjudicate what is true or not true, what is right or wrong, it embodies such capacity when language is a shared norm. That shared norm cannot be sustained without some semblance of cohesion in any given community. Any war of words, irrespective of its platform, is indicative of the breakdown of such cohesiveness. Returning to the original context in which the term post-truth politics was first used by Steve Tesich helps to identify the important distinction between truth as the standard for knowledge and truth as the standard for action. The two do not necessarily coincide. Placed in the context of the history of political thought, this distinction is in fact at the heart of Plato’s Republic. Yet when the philosopher as the quintessential bearer of truth becomes king, the polis that he rules over is far from the ideal of a just state that it purports to be. Instead, it is one that is held together by lies and coercion. What Arendt reveals through her study of Nazism and Stalinism is that it is dangerous for the kind of truth that philosophy generates – ‘rational truth’ – to become the guide to politics. Politics guided by rational truth can only be uncompromising and follows a logic of its own that cannot afford the ambiguity and indeterminacy of reality as lived experiences of humans. A world of post-truth politics can be an opportunity for a new kind of politics if it is indeed about dismantling the idea that truth is the ideal that politics should strive for. But as it stands, the post-truth politics of today is more about invoking a past that never exists to judge the presence as a crisis in naming when the real crisis is about rebuilding a shared space that has room for all – be they of the left, right or centre; cosmopolitan or parochial; civic-minded or self-centred; liberal-minded or bigoted. Politics is and always will be about striving for that space, without which no human can thrive. References Arendt, Hannah. 1958. The Human Condition. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. Arendt, Hannah. 1973. The Origins of Totalitarianism. Rev. ed. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. Arendt, Hannah. 1977. “Truth and Politics.” In Between Past and Future, 227–264. New York: Penguin Books. Arendt, Hannah. 1982. Lectures on Kant’s Political Philosophy, edited by Ronald Beiner. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. British Broadcasting Corporation. 2016. “Brexit vote: The breakdown.” BBC News, December 7, 2016. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-38227674 Cao, Feng. 2016. “A New Examination of Confucius’ Rectification of Names.” Journal of Chinese Humanities 2: 147–171. https://doi-org.subzero.lib. uoguelph.ca/ doi/ 10.1163/23521341-12340032. Connor, W. Robert. 1984. Thucydides. Princeton: Princeton University Press. de Jonge, Casper C. 2017. “Dionysius of Halicarnassus on Thucydides.” in The Oxford Handbook of Thucydides, edited by Sara Forsdyke, Edith Foster, and Ryan Balot. Oxford University Press. DOI: 10.1093/ oxfordhb/9780199340385.013.17 https://www-oxfordhandbooks-com.subzero. lib.uoguelph.ca/view/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199340385.001.0001/oxfordhb-9780199340385 Hyvönen, Ari-Elmeri. 2018. “Careless Speech: Conceptualizing Post-Truth Politics.” New Perspectives 26 (3): 31–55. https://www.proquest.com/ scholarly-journals/careless-speech-conceptualizing-post-truth/ docview/2204515132/se-2?accountid=11233. Hobbes, Thomas. 1839–1845. The English Works of Thomas Hobbes, edited by Sir William Molesworth. London: John Bohn. Vol. 8. Klinkner, Melanie. 2018. “Reasonable Truth.” International Journal of Media & Cultural Politics 14 (3): 393–99. doi:10.1386/macp.14.3.393_7. Lee, Haiyan. 2019. “When Nothing Is True, Everything Is Possible: On Truth and Power by Way of Socialist Realism.” PMLA/Publications of the Modern Language Association of America 134 (5). Cambridge University Press: 1157–64. https://doi.org/10.1632/pmla.2019.134.5.1157 Lewis, Mark E. 1999. “Warring States Political History.” In The Cambridge History of Ancient China: From the Origins of Civilization to 221 BC, edited by Michael Loewe and Edward Shaughnessy, 587–650. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Makeham, John. 2003. “Zheng ming (Rectification of names).” In RoutledgeCurzon Encyclopedia of Confucianism, edited by Xinzhong Yao. Vol. 2: 813-814. New York: Routledge. Oxford Languages, n. d. “Word of the Year 2016.” Accessed 19 August 2017. https://languages.oup.com/word-of-the-year/2016/ Peters, Richard. 1979. Hobbes. Westport: Greenwood Press. Pew Research Center. 2018. “An examination of the 2016 electorate, based on validated voters.” Report, August 9, 2018. https://www.pewresearch.org/ politics/2018/08/09/an-examination-of-the-2016-electorate-based-on- validated-voters/ Plato. 1974. Republic. Translated by G. M. A. Grube. Indianapolis: Hackett. Tesich, Steve. 1992. “Watergate Syndrome: A Government of Lies.” The Nation: 12-14. January 6/13, 1992. Thucydides. 1972. The Peloponnesian War. Translated by Rex Warner. Harmondsworth, England: Penguin Books. Wolin, Sheldon. 2004. Politics and Vision: Continuity and Innovation in Westen Political Thought. Expanded Edition. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Zerilli, Linda M. G. 2020. ‘Fact-Checking and Truth-Telling in an Age of Alternative Facts.’ Le foucaldien 6, no. 1: 2, 1–22. Theresa Man Ling Lee is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Guelph (Canada). Lee is a political theorist who specializes in contemporary political thought. Her research and teaching areas include continental philosophy, Marxism and critical theory, feminism, postmodernism, philosophy of social science, psychoanalysis, multiculturalism, human rights, disability studies, modern Chinese political thought and comparative political theory. Lee has published on a wide range of subjects in these areas, including intercultural pedagogy and the challenges of teaching as a person with multiple minority designations in a Canadian university classroom.
Simplilearn and Carnegie Mellon University School of Computer Science Executive Education Launch Program to Advance LLM and Multi-Agent Systems Skills
Simplilearn, the global digital upskilling platform, along with Carnegie Mellon University School of Computer Science Executive Education, has launched Build With LLMs: From Context Engineering to Multi-Agent Systems, an 8-week live online program designed to help technical professionals develop the skills to build modern LLM-powered applications and multi-agent systems.
4 Central Florida restaurants shut down after health inspections last week
The Department of Business and Professional Regulation shut down four Central Florida restaurants during the week from Sept. 6-13 after conducting health inspections.
SellYourWay.org Launches New Resource Helping Business Owners Understand the Benefits of Working with a Certified Business Intermediary®
Today, SellYourWay.org announces the launch of a new, dynamic feature on their website, defining the Certified Business Intermediary® (CBI) designation. This interactive tool educates small business owners on the advantages of working with these highly qualified and ethical Business Brokers when preparing to sell their business. This new resource emphasizes the benefits of selecting a CBI® — a professional who has met educational and performance requirements — and remains committed to ongoing ed
Ted Lasso’s dating profile problem says a lot about the show itself
Ted Lasso's Bantr dilemma speaks to one of the show's biggest weaknesses.
Technologies, Math Research Get Lift from CAREER Awards
By Office of Media Relations | Dr. Waseem Abbas, assistant professor of systems engineering in the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, uses lightweight modular small quadcopters, a type of drone, for indoor aerial robotics research. Abbas received a Faculty Early Career Development Program award from the National Science Foundation to support his work […]
RIX Industries Partners with Build Health International to Bring Medical Oxygen Compressor Training to Africa
New program at Kigali College of Rwanda Polytechnic puts RIX factory-level compressor training within reach of hospital biomedical technicians across the continentBENICIA, Calif., Sept. 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RIX Industries, a recognized leader in advanced gas compression, gas generation, and precision-engineered technologies, today announced a formal training partnership with Build Health International (BHI), a nonprofit organization specializing in designing and building healthcare infra
Rock for Relief raises the volume for local nonprofits
Spend a day listening to live music by the river — all while supporting two great local organizations during the annual Rock for Relief fundraiser on Saturday, Sept. 19, at
Health Professionals Testify on Menopause Care
Senate Special Aging Committee holds a first-of-its-kind hearing to address menopause care in the U.S.
Ohio State-Texas sets Week 2 ratings record with 14 million viewers, but down from last year
Week 2 of the 2026 college football season featured two high-profile SEC-Big Ten matchups, with Ohio State-Texas setting records for ESPN. On Saturday, Texas’s improbable comeback win over Ohio State averaged 14.0 million viewers on ABC, peaking at 16.4 million, according to ESPN PR. That is the most-watched regular-season college football game on ESPN networks…
TribCast: Paxton’s political baggage
GOP Senate nominee Ken Paxton has been dogged by allegations of personal and professional improprieties throughout his political career. Do voters care?
Arc System Works are working on a brand new fighting game property as of a few months ago but it kind of slipped under the radar
Today, Automaton Media reported that for the fiscal year which ended May 2026, Arc System Works has returned to being profitable after posting a net loss in the year prior.This in itself is of course good news for the ...
Dave & Buster's Entertainment (PLAY) Stock Sinks Deeper Into Losses As Margins Shrink
Dave & Buster’s Entertainment just saw its stock hit the floor, dropping 19% to US$6.86. Yet the real story is not a one day slide; the headline is a sharp earnings hit. Q2 delivered a net loss of US$12.5 million on US$544.1 million of revenue, pulling trailing twelve month earnings deeper into the red and keeping interest coverage under pressure. For traders, this is a clean miss. For anyone thinking beyond this quarter, the question is how long the balance sheet can carry an unprofitable...
Sutter Health and Presidio Trust Launch Partnership
Founding partnership creates new model for sustaining public spaces and advancing community health through nature Media can access downloadable photos, fact sheets and additional resources here. SAN FRANCISCO (Sept. 15, 2026) — As communities look for new ways to improve health, strengthen social connection and sustain treasured public spaces, not-for-profit health system Sutter Health and […]
Sports luminaries Brandi Chastain, Candace Parker to speak at UC Davis symposium
Two of the most celebrated and influential athletes in women’s sports, Olympic gold medalists Brandi Chastain and Candace Parker, will headline an Oct. 4 symposium at the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts on leadership, resilience and the future of women’s professional sports. Tickets are on sale now.
3 Questions: Putting nuclear waste into perspective
MIT Professor Haruko Wainwright describes why she believes an expansion of the nuclear power sector in the United States will benefit the environment, despite the fact that a solution to the permanent disposal of nuclear wastes has yet to be demonstrated.
Polk County Women Mean Business Builds a Community Around Women Entrepreneurs
The new organization pairs traditional business networking with mentorship, mental health resources, professional clothing and a monthly market.
Maine Center for Entrepreneurs joins UMaine
The Maine Center for Entrepreneurs is merging with the UMaine Graduate and Professional Center in Portland to join its programs with the university’s research opportunities. Anyone involved with the MCE will see continuity in staff and programming.
Half of Voters Dislike Socialism Amid Progressive Wins, New Poll Finds
Zohran Mamdani, the New York City mayor and democratic socialist, was viewed more favorably than Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a fellow high-profile member of the movement.
Detroit nonprofits team up to create family services hubs
Starfish Family Services and Brilliant Detroit set up shop next door to each other to build a pipeline of services in Detroit neighborhoods.
5 major sports leagues and players associations ask for protections from sports bettors' threats
ATLANTA (AP) — Five professional sports leagues and their players associations have aligned forces to ask for protections for players and staff who face threats and harassment from sports bettors.
Sports leagues, players associations ask for protections from sports bettors' threats
Five professional sports leagues and their players associations have aligned forces to ask for protections for players and staff who face threats and harassment from sports bettors
Hollywood Prayer Network celebrates 25 years of praying for entertainment professionals
Founder Karen Covell says Christian community gathers together to encourage each other to use God-given talents in a difficult industry.
Iowa Craft Meats refreshes brand as premium pork business grows
Company’s growing profile was visible this summer at the Iowa State Fair, where 8,700 Duroc pork burgers were served at the Iowa Pork Tent.
Here's What Shapiro's Huge Edge Over Garrity In National Campaign Contributions Looks Like
by Charlie Wolfson, Pittsburgh's Public SourceSeptember 14, 2026 Pittsburgh's Public Source is an independent nonprofit newsroom serving the Pittsburgh region. Sign up for our free newsletters. Gov. Josh Shapiro is barrelling toward Election Day Nov. 3 with an overwhelming financial advantage over his challenger, state Treasurer Stacy Garrity. Shapiro, a…
Parking meter owners offer Chicago $75M in bid to revive stalled $2.53B sale
The city would also get 5% of annual profits and a cut of any future sale under the proposed deal.
Parking meter owners offer Chicago $75M in bid to revive stalled $2.53B sale
The city would also get 5% of annual profits and a cut of any future sale under the proposed deal.
Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance promotes nonprofits
The first Community Impact Showcase was hosted by the alliance to bring the nonprofit and business communities together.