Dr. Mary Magada-Ward, chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies in the College of Liberal Arts, discusses the need to separate fact from “fake news” on the May 11 broadcast of the “MTSU On the Record” program with host Gina Logue on WMOT-FM Roots Radio 89.5 and www.wmot.org. (Background photo by Joshua Miranda/Pexels)

A professor’s exploration of society’s current struggle to separate facts from half-truths, political spin and outright lies was the topic of discussion on a recent “MTSU On the Record” radio program. 

Host Gina Logue’s interview with Dr. Mary Magada-Ward, chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies in the College of Liberal Arts, first aired May 11 on WMOT-FM Roots Radio 89.5 and www.wmot.org.

You can listen to their conversation via the Soundcloud link above.

Gina K. Logue

Dr. Mary Magada-Ward

The premise of Magada-Ward’s research is that the connection between rational belief and truth can best be illustrated in understanding how success at the local level contributes to a greater national sense of societal well-being.

She explained that fear, anger, blame and disgust are four qualities that impede the realization of genuine community, which makes the need to pursue critical thinking with other people, especially in our respective local areas, important.

“We all have our own particular histories,” Magada-Ward said. “We all have our own idiosyncrasies, most of which we’re blind to until we can’t transact successfully with our environment or until we meet someone who believes differently than we do.”

Magada-Ward’s article, “Neither Yours Nor Mine But Ours: On the Communal Nature of Truth and Rational Belief,” was published in the Journal of Speculative Philosophy in 2020.

To hear previous “MTSU On the Record” programs, visit the searchable “Audio Clips” archives at www.mtsunews.com.

For more information about the radio program, contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.