KNOWLEDGE, DOUBT, AND THE HUMAN MIND
- Sooike Stoops
- Jun 26
- 9 min read
Updated: Jun 27
What happens when facts alone no longer convince? Philosopher Johan Braeckman has spent decades studying how beliefs are formed, how misinformation spreads, and how we might address it. In this conversation, we ask him, among other things, about the responsibilities and blind spots of science communication today.
Johan, you’ve long been active in the public debate about science, especially when it comes to pseudoscience and misinformation. How did that become such a strong focus in your career?
“I’ve always been intrigued by misinformation, even fascinated by it. That fascination led me into debates about evolution, creationism, and intelligent design, already more than twenty years ago. I began to ask: how can it be that so many people reject scientific findings? What is it that makes them believe these alternative views so strongly?”
“This interest is closely tied to evolutionary theory, but not only in a biological sense. I also approach it through anthropology, psychology, and philosophy. For me, it’s about understanding the broader context: how people think, what makes an idea stick, and why we sometimes cling to views that are demonstrably false.”
