UN VIRUS FRA SCIENZA, DEMOCRAZIA E FAKE NEWS. ALCUNE PRECISAZIONI EPISTEMOLOGICHE

A virus between science, democracy and fake news. Some epistemological clarifications. In the debate on public communication regarding Covid-19, a logically confused picture has been created. On the one hand, fake news is denounced in the name of science, on the other hand, the leading role of science is criticized in the name of democracy. It should be noted that on issues of global public interest, in which not only the health (in which of doctors are experts) is involved, but also the economy and politics, it would be necessary to decide together, without a comfortable delegating to an enlightened minority. However, the feeling remains that, by enlarging the audience of non-expert decision-makers, we end up recklessly moving away from that scientific objectivity which is the more required, in the medical field, the more the stake appears urgent, vital and indispensable, i.e. the health. This article proposes a reflection on the Covid-19 phenomenon between science, truth and public communication, with particular reference to the concepts of “fake news” and “debunking”. The thesis supported is that an honest search for truth in the field of social communication cannot be reduced to a simple contrast between science and public opinion, but also implies an enhancement of the critical doubt of which science itself is an expression.