Kierkegaard warned that the modern press manufactures a faceless “public” that levels truth and turns citizens into spectators. This piece traces that critique to today—and shows how HastingsNow.com in Hastings, MN counters it with Soundbites: 30-second, verified local voice posts labeled with How We Know evidence, a Provenance Chip, and a Reliability Score, each tied to one measurable outcome. The result is accountable, local speech that converts attention into action—rebuilding trust where people actually live.

Comparative epistemology studies how different cultures define, justify, and use knowledge—contrasting Western analysis (justified true belief, skepticism) with Eastern approaches (pramāṇa, Dao/heart-mind, virtue and practice). This guide maps core issues—knowledge, belief, justification, skepticism—across Plato, Descartes, Kant, Nyāya, Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism, and more, with clear takeaways for learners, educators, and curious readers in Hastings, Minnesota and beyond.