Conspiracy Theories

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Conspiracy Theories

Author : Mark Fenster
Publisher : U of Minnesota Press
Page : 315 pages
File Size : 52,9 Mb
Release : 1999
Category : Social Science
ISBN : 9780816632428

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Conspiracy Theories by Mark Fenster Pdf

JFK, Karl Marx, the Pope, Aristotle Onassis, Queen Elizabeth II, Howard Hughes, Fox Mulder, Bill Clinton -- all have been linked to vastly complicated global (or even galactic) intrigues. In this enlightening tour of conspiracy theories, Mark Fenster guides readers through this shadowy world and analyzes its complex role in American culture and politics. Fenster argues that conspiracy theories are a form of popular political interpretation and contends that understanding how they circulate through mass culture helps us better understand our society as a whole. To that end, he discusses Richard Hofstadter's The Paranoid Style in American Politics, the militia movement, The X-Files, popular Christian apocalyptic thought, and such artifacts of suspicion as The Turner Diaries, the Illuminatus! trilogy, and the novels of Richard Condon. Fenster analyzes the "conspiracy community" of radio shows, magazine and book publishers, Internet resources, and role-playing games that promote these theories. In this world, the very denial of a conspiracy's existence becomes proof that it exists, and the truth is always "out there." He believes conspiracy theory has become a thrill for a bored subculture, one characterized by its members' reinterpretation of "accepted" history, their deep cynicism about contemporary politics, and their longing for a utopian future. Fenster's progressive critique of conspiracy theories both recognizes the secrecy and inequities of power in contemporary politics and economics and works toward effective political engagement. Probing conspiracy theory's tendencies toward scapegoating, racism, and fascism, as well as Hofstadter's centrist acceptance of a postwar American"consensus, " he advocates what conspiracy theory wants but cannot articulate: a more inclusive, engaging political culture.

Suspicious Minds

Author : Rob Brotherton
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
Page : 288 pages
File Size : 50,8 Mb
Release : 2015-11-19
Category : Psychology
ISBN : 9781472915641

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Suspicious Minds by Rob Brotherton Pdf

'A first class book' Sunday Times We're all conspiracy theorists. Some of us just hide it better than others. Conspiracy theorists do not wear tin-foil hats (for the most part). They are not just a few kooks lurking on the paranoid fringes of society with bizarre ideas about shape-shifting reptilian aliens running society in secret. They walk among us. They are us. Everyone loves a good conspiracy. Yet conspiracy theories are not a recent invention. And they are not always a harmless curiosity. In Suspicious Minds, Rob Brotherton explores the history and consequences of conspiracism, and delves into the research that offers insights into why so many of us are drawn to implausible, unproven and unproveable conspiracy theories. They resonate with some of our brain's built-in quirks and foibles, and tap into some of our deepest desires, fears, and assumptions about the world. The fascinating and often surprising psychology of conspiracy theories tells us a lot – not just why we are drawn to theories about sinister schemes, but about how our minds are wired and, indeed, why we believe anything at all. Conspiracy theories are not some psychological aberration – they're a predictable product of how brains work. This book will tell you why, and what it means. Of course, just because your brain's biased doesn't always mean you're wrong. Sometimes conspiracies are real. Sometimes, paranoia is prudent.

The Philosophy of Conspiracy Theories

Author : M R. X. Dentith
Publisher : Taylor & Francis
Page : 155 pages
File Size : 51,5 Mb
Release : 2024-02-15
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9781003859048

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The Philosophy of Conspiracy Theories by M R. X. Dentith Pdf

This book presents state of the art philosophical work on conspiracy theory research that brings in sharp focus on central and important insights concerning the supposed irrationality of conspiracy theory and conspiracy theory belief, while also proposing several novel solutions to long standing issues in the broader academic debate on these things called ‘conspiracy theories’. It features a critical history of conspiracy theory theory, emphasising the role of the ‘first generation’ of philosophers in conspiracy theory research. This book also includes discussions of a range of key issues such as: What counts as conspiracy theory? Who counts as a conspiracy theorist? How are these terms variously understood by academics and the wider public, and Are conspiracy theories automatically suspect, and is it ever reasonable to be a conspiracy theorist? The book then builds upon that work by looking at how people’s political views affect both the conspiracy theories they believe and their beliefs about conspiracy theories; how we might defend conspiracy theorising without endorsing mad, bad or dangerous conspiracy theories; and contains several proposals for unifying conspiracy theory research under one theoretical framework: particularism. This volume will be a key resource for philosophers and social scientists interested in recent work on the philosophy of conspiracy theory theory and its implications for conspiracy theory research. It will also appeal to members of the public, who want to know what, if anything, is wrong with these things called “conspiracy theories”. It was originally published as a special issue of Social Epistemology.

Conspiracy Theories

Author : David Coady
Publisher : Routledge
Page : 212 pages
File Size : 54,7 Mb
Release : 2019-03-11
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9781351949453

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Conspiracy Theories by David Coady Pdf

Conspiracy theories have a bad reputation. In the past, most philosophers have ignored the topic, vaguely supposing that conspiracy theories are obviously irrational and that they can be easily dismissed. The current philosophical interest in the subject results from a realisation that this is not so. Some philosophers have taken up the challenge of identifying and explaining the flaws of conspiracy theories. Other philosophers have argued that conspiracy theories do not deserve their bad reputation, and that conspiracy theorists do not deserve their reputation for irrationality. This book represents both sides of this important debate. Aimed at a broad philosophical community, including epistemologists, political philosophers, and philosophers of history. It represents a significant contribution to the growing interdisciplinary debate about conspiracy theories.

Conspiracy Theories

Author : Flame Tree Studio,Michael Robinson
Publisher : Flame Tree Illustrated
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 51,6 Mb
Release : 2018-11-29
Category : Travel
ISBN : 1786647974

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Conspiracy Theories by Flame Tree Studio,Michael Robinson Pdf

Cover-ups and mysteries, are they just a mix of wishful thinking and fantasy that grips the attention of millions of people: was JFK assassinated? Were the moon landings faked? Do secret societies such as the Illuminati control the world? Did Shakespeare write all of those incredible plays? Is global warming a hoax? Why did the all-powerful Mayans decline so rapidly? Is Area 51 really the site of an alien landing? All these and more are explored in this fascinating new book, a visual feast of mystery and imagination.

Conspiracy Theories

Author : Jamie King
Publisher : Penguin
Page : 266 pages
File Size : 52,6 Mb
Release : 2005-09-06
Category : History
ISBN : 9781101190579

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Conspiracy Theories by Jamie King Pdf

There are facts, and then there’s the truth. Just because you’re paranoid, doesn’t mean they’re not out to get you. Conspiracy theories. They have been a part of our social consciousness for as long as people have wanted to know the truth about the events and people who shape our world—beyond the lies told to us by the government and the smokescreens set up by those in power. For anyone who has wondered about the hidden facts behind the public facades, this is the ultimate compendium of conspiracy theories from A-to-Z, exposing some of the most famous—and infamous—conspiracies throughout history, including: • The JFK Assassination • Area 51 • The Death of Princess Diana • The Tragic Events of 9/11 • The Men in Black • The Murder of Tupac Shakur • And many more

The United States of Paranoia

Author : Jesse Walker
Publisher : Harper Collins
Page : 333 pages
File Size : 45,7 Mb
Release : 2014-10-14
Category : Social Science
ISBN : 9780062383228

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The United States of Paranoia by Jesse Walker Pdf

A comprehensive history and analysis of the origins, evolution, and current life, legacy, and impact of conspiracy theories in American culture and politics, from the colonial era to today. Conspiracies have been woven through America’s social tapestry since the beginning of its history. The United States of Paranoia is a unique and fascinating look at how these commonly held beliefs—true or not—have helped shape the American cultural imagination. Using examples from colonial times to today, Jesse Walker makes the compelling argument that paranoia doesn’t just exist on the fringe of society, but is at the core of our national identity. Walker doesn’t focus on proving or disproving a particular theory. Synthesizing intensive archival research in a pulp fiction narrative, he explores the myths that haunt our nation, breaking them into five distinct categories: The Enemy Outside, The Enemy Within, The Enemy Above, The Enemy Below, and The Benevolent Conspiracy. From J. Edgar Hoover’s FBI to Watergate, the “Matrix” phenomenon to the Birthers, Walker reveals how national myths have influenced our lives, including our view of ourselves and our government. He also identifies and explores the little-recognized rise of a subculture obsessed not with one single myth or another, but in the notion of the conspiracy phenomenon itself. This growing obsession, Walker attests, offers profound insight into what it means to be American. Provocative, well-reasoned, and utterly compelling, the United States of Paranoia will make you rethink the world and the nation in a new and different way.

The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories

Author : Jan-Willem van Prooijen
Publisher : Routledge
Page : 124 pages
File Size : 45,5 Mb
Release : 2018-04-09
Category : Psychology
ISBN : 9781315525396

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The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories by Jan-Willem van Prooijen Pdf

Who believes in conspiracy theories, and why are some people more susceptible to them than others? What are the consequences of such beliefs? Has a conspiracy theory ever turned out to be true? The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories debunks the myth that conspiracy theories are a modern phenomenon, exploring their broad social contexts, from politics to the workplace. The book explains why some people are more susceptible to these beliefs than others and how they are produced by recognizable and predictable psychological processes. Featuring examples such as the 9/11 terrorist attacks and climate change, The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories shows us that while such beliefs are not always irrational and are not a pathological trait, they can be harmful to individuals and society.

Conspiracy Theories

Author : J. Byford
Publisher : Springer
Page : 179 pages
File Size : 51,5 Mb
Release : 2011-10-12
Category : Psychology
ISBN : 9780230349216

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Conspiracy Theories by J. Byford Pdf

Through a series of specific questions that cut to the core of conspiracism as a global social and cultural phenomenon this book deconstructs the logic and rhetoric of conspiracy theories and analyses the broader social and psychological factors that contribute to their persistence in modern society.

Conspiracy Theories and the Nordic Countries

Author : Anastasiya Astapova,Eirikur Bergmann,Asbjørn Dyrendal,Annika Rabo,Kasper Grotle Rasmussen,Hulda Thórisdóttir,Andreas Önnerfors
Publisher : Routledge
Page : 159 pages
File Size : 40,9 Mb
Release : 2020-12-30
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9781000331103

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Conspiracy Theories and the Nordic Countries by Anastasiya Astapova,Eirikur Bergmann,Asbjørn Dyrendal,Annika Rabo,Kasper Grotle Rasmussen,Hulda Thórisdóttir,Andreas Önnerfors Pdf

This book explores the relevance of conspiracy theories in the modern social and political history of the Nordic countries. The Nordic countries have traditionally imagined themselves as stable, wealthy, egalitarian welfare states. Conspiracy theories, mistrust and disunity, the argument goes, happened elsewhere in Europe (especially Eastern Europe), the Middle East or in the United States. This book paints a different picture by demonstrating that conspiracy theories have always existed in the Nordic region, both as a result of structural tensions between different groups and in the aftermath of traumatic events, but seem to have become more prominent over the last 30 or 40 years. While the book covers events and developments in each of the Nordic countries (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland and Finland), it is not a comparative country analysis. Rather, the book focuses on conspiracy theories in and about the Nordic region as a region, arguing that similarities in the trajectories of conspiratorial thinking are interesting to examine in cultural, social, and political terms. The book takes a thematic approach, including looking at states and elites; family, gender and sexuality; migration and the outside view on the Nordic region; conspiracy theories about the Nordic countries; and Nordic noir. This book will be of great interest to researchers on extremism, conspiracy theories and the politics of the Nordic countries.

Conspiracy Theories

Author : Quassim Cassam
Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
Page : 86 pages
File Size : 55,6 Mb
Release : 2019-11-01
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9781509535842

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Conspiracy Theories by Quassim Cassam Pdf

9/11 was an inside job. The Holocaust is a myth promoted to serve Jewish interests. The shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School were a false flag operation. Climate change is a hoax perpetrated by the Chinese government. These are all conspiracy theories. A glance online or at bestseller lists reveals how popular some of them are. Even if there is plenty of evidence to disprove them, people persist in propagating them. Why? Philosopher Quassim Cassam explains how conspiracy theories are different from ordinary theories about conspiracies. He argues that conspiracy theories are forms of propaganda and their function is to promote a political agenda. Although conspiracy theories are sometimes defended on the grounds that they uncover evidence of bad behaviour by political leaders, they do much more harm than good, with some resulting in the deaths of large numbers of people. There can be no clearer indication that something has gone wrong with our intellectual and political culture than the fact that conspiracy theories have become mainstream. When they are dangerous, we cannot afford to ignore them. At the same time, refuting them by rational argument is difficult because conspiracy theorists discount or reject evidence that disproves their theories. As conspiracy theories are so often smokescreens for political ends, we need to come up with political as well as intellectual responses if we are to have any hope of defeating them.

American Conspiracy Theories

Author : Joseph E. Uscinski,Joseph M. Parent
Publisher : Oxford University Press, USA
Page : 235 pages
File Size : 45,9 Mb
Release : 2014
Category : History
ISBN : 9780199351817

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American Conspiracy Theories by Joseph E. Uscinski,Joseph M. Parent Pdf

Conspiracies theories are some of the most striking features in the American political landscape: the Kennedy assassination, aliens at Roswell, subversion by Masons, Jews, Catholics, or communists, and modern movements like Birtherism and Trutherism. But what do we really know about conspiracy theories? Do they share general causes? Are they becoming more common? More dangerous? Who is targeted and why? Who are the conspiracy theorists? How has technology affected conspiracy theorising? This book offers the first century-long view of these issues.

Conspiracy Encyclopedia

Author : Thom Burnett
Publisher : Franz Steiner Verlag
Page : 638 pages
File Size : 44,6 Mb
Release : 2006
Category : Conspiracies
ISBN : 1843403811

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Conspiracy Encyclopedia by Thom Burnett Pdf

Conspiracies are everywhere. they are the lifeblood of politics, business and our daily lives. this truly international and all-embracing encyclopedia explains the details of the world's major popular conspiracies, listing them chronologically under subject matter and cross-referencing them continually (because so many conspiracy theories interact on some level). Conspiracies are often international in their sweep and their impact. the brutal stabbing of Julius Caesar (the conspiracy which has defined political assassinations ever since) plunged the Roman Empire into civil war, which then engulfed much of the known western world. More recently the Cambridge spies (Philby, Blunt, MacLean and Burgess) helped Russia throughout WWII and then re-defined the Cold War afterwards, Philby's defection casting a 30-year shadow over CIA/Anglo-American relations. though conspiracies define our everyday lives, there is no body of serious academic research to understand their role, nature or defining characteristics. Most historians prefer to adhere to the cock-up theory of history, in which everything happens by accident or incompetence. Although this view is favoured by academics and historians, it is rejected by a large part of the general public who prefer the evidence of their own lives. However they consume their media, what they see is a mesh of conspiracies that define the texture of their everyday lives, often for the worst. Most people believe that there is a grain of truth in most theories about conspiracies. this book is for them.

Conspiracy Theories

Author : Joseph E Uscinski,Adam M Enders
Publisher : Rowman & Littlefield
Page : 247 pages
File Size : 50,7 Mb
Release : 2023-03-15
Category : Electronic
ISBN : 9781538173268

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Conspiracy Theories by Joseph E Uscinski,Adam M Enders Pdf

The second edition, updated throughout and now including Covid-19 and the 2020 presidential election and aftermath, introduces students to the research into conspiracy theories and the people who propagate and believe them. In doing so, it addresses the psychological, sociological, and political sources of conspiracy theorizing.

Conspiracy Theories and the Failure of Intellectual Critique

Author : Kurtis Hagen
Publisher : University of Michigan Press
Page : 353 pages
File Size : 40,9 Mb
Release : 2022-07-20
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9780472133109

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Conspiracy Theories and the Failure of Intellectual Critique by Kurtis Hagen Pdf

Conspiracy Theories and the Failure of Intellectual Critique argues that conspiracy theories, including those that conflict with official accounts and suggest that prominent people in Western democracies have engaged in appalling behavior, should be taken seriously and judged on their merits and problems on a case-by-case basis. It builds on the philosophical work on this topic that has developed over the past quarter century, challenging some of it, but affirming the emerging consensus: each conspiracy theory ought to be judged on its particular merits and faults. The philosophical consensus contrasts starkly with what one finds in the social science literature. Kurtis Hagen argues that significant aspects of that literature, especially the psychological study of conspiracy theorists, has turned out to be flawed and misleading. Those flaws are not randomly directed; rather, they consistently serve to disparage conspiracy theorists unfairly. This suggests that there may be a bias against conspiracy theorists in the academy, skewing “scientific” results. Conspiracy Theories and the Failure of Intellectual Critique argues that social scientists who study conspiracy theories and/or conspiracy theorists would do well to better absorb the implications of the philosophical literature.