Persuasive discourse and post-truth appeals in times of misinformation and fake news

Abstract

This paper seeks to analyze the contributions of the Sophists to the study of language and philosophical thought, as well as the effects of sophistic relativism on the status of post-truth. Furthermore, it aims to understand how the term fake news has been used and defined by different authors, as fake news expands or (re)affirms what is already contained in the concept of post-truth. Finally, a case study is presented to demonstrate how fake news operates in the information chain and is capable to influence the subject-reader in their decision-making.