Taking Conspiracy Theories Seriously (eBook, ePUB)

Redaktion: Dentith, Matthew R. X.

• Format: ePub

Produktbeschreibung

The contributors to this volume argue that whilst there is a commonplace superstition conspiracy theories are examples of bad beliefs (and that the kind of people who believe conspiracy theories are typically irrational), many conspiracy theories are rational to believe: the members of the Dewey Commission were right to say that the Moscow Trials of the 1930s were a sham; Woodward and Bernstein were correct to think that Nixon was complicit in the conspiracy to deny any wrongdoing in the Watergate Hotel break in; and if we either accept the terrorist events of 9/11 were committed by Al-Qaeda, or that the Bush Administration was responsible, then it seems we are endorsing some theory about a conspiracy to commit an act of terror on American soil. As such, there is no reason to reject conspiracy theories sui generis. This volume challenges the prima facie that conspiracy theories are irrational beliefs, arguing that we should treat conspiracy theories and the phenomena of conspiracy theories seriously. It presents fresh perspectives from the wider philosophical, sociological and psychological community on what is becoming an issue of increasing relevance in our time.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Bloomsbury eBooks US
• Seitenzahl: 266
• Erscheinungstermin: 16. November 2018
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9781786608307
• Artikelnr.: 56830899

Autorenporträt

Matthew R. X. Dentith is the author of The Philosophy of Conspiracy Theories (2014). He is currently a Fellow in the Institute for Research in the Humanities (ICUB) at the University of Burcharest, where he is working on a research project called "The Ethics of Investigation: When are we obliged to take conspiracy theories seriously?"

Inhaltsangabe

Part I The Particularist Turn in the Philosophy of Conspiracy Theories
Introduction M R. X. Dentith
1. When inferring to a conspiracy theory is the best explanation M R. X. Dentith
2. Suspicion and Reluctance: Beyond Particularism Patrick Stokes
3. Reply by Lee Basham
4. Conclusion: What particularism about conspiracy theories entails M R. X. Dentith
Part II: Diagnosing Conspiracy Theory Theorists
5. Introduction M R. X. Dentith
6. Seeking to Cure Everybody Lee Basham and M R. X. Dentith
7. Conceptual Confusions in Criticisms of Conspiracy Theorising Martin Orr and M R. X. Dentith
8. Conspiracy Theorists, Social Scientists and the Abuse of Reason Kurtis Hagen
9. To measure or not to measure? Psychometrics and conspriracy theories Marius Raab
10. Pathologizing Open Societies Lee Basham
11. By Virginia Husting
12. Conspiracy-baiting and anti-rumour campaigns as propaganda David Coady
13. On some moral costs of conspiracy theory Patrick Stokes
14. On the moral costs of conspiracy 'skepticism' Charles Pigden
15. What's right about conspiracy theorising and conspiracy theorists M R. X. Dentith