Uploaded June 2018 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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Can democracies arrive at truth – and if so, through which mechanisms?

In many nations, there is concern about whether democracies can arrive at truth - whether the issue involves questions of fact (the risks of immigration, climate change, tobacco, war) or policy and law (how best to address social problems, in terms of the precise relationship between means and ends).

PROGRAM
05:40 Welcome by Professor Sigmund Grønmo, Chair of the Holberg Board
09:44 Introduction by Professor Ellen Mortensen, Academic Director of the Holberg Prize
15:20 Introduction of the topic by Holberg Laureate Cass Sunstein
27:55 Associate Professor Tali Sharot, University College London: "Cognitive Obstacles to Truth"
56:37 Professor Tyler Cowen, George Mason University: "Which are the True Perils Facing Democracy?"
01:50:40 Professor Samantha Power, Harvard University: "Confronting Challenges to Democracy"
02:31:00 Professor Lawrence Lessig, Harvard University: "On How the People Speak"
03:11:50 Panel discussion and Q&A

You can read more about the symposium at https://holbergprisen.no/en/2018-holberg-symposium-democracy-and-truth