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Linda M. G. ZerilliA Democratic Theory of Truth
Monday, April 28, 2025, 5:00–6:30pm
Presented in conjunction with the publication of her new book, A Democratic Theory of Truth (University of Chicago Press, 2025), this lecture by Linda M. G. Zerilli offers a critique of the concept of truth presupposed by the post-truth debate—and a bold new vision for a more pluralistic citizenry.
We say that we live in a “post-truth” era because disinformation threatens our confidence in the existence of a shared public world. Affirming objective truth may, therefore, seem necessary to save democracy. According to political theorist Linda M. G. Zerilli, such affirmation can stifle political debate and silence dissent. In fact, Zerilli argues that the unqualified insistence on objective truth is as dangerous for democracy as denying it.
Drawing on Arendt, Foucault, and Wittgenstein, A Democratic Theory of Truth argues that we, the people, have an essential role in discovering and evaluating any truth relevant to the political realm. The result is a striking defense of plurality, dissent, and opinion in contemporary democratic societies.
Linda Zerilli is the Charles E. Merriam Distinguished Service Professor of Political Science and the College. She was the 2010-16 Faculty Director of the Center for the Study of Gender and Sexuality, where she continues in her capacity as a leading scholar and teacher in the field. Zerilli is the author of Signifying Woman (Cornell University Press, 1994), Feminism and the Abyss of Freedom (University of Chicago Press, 2005), A Democratic Theory of Judgment (University of Chicago Press, 2016), and the forthcoming A Democratic Theory of Truth (University of Chicago Press, 2025).
Presented in partnership with the University of Chicago Press and the Seminary Co-op Bookstores
This event is free and open to the public, and registration is recommended. Please email us at ccct@uchicago.edu if you require any accommodations to enable your full participation.
