EP74: How to Handle Conspiracy Theories - Gracearchy with Jim Babka

Do you know how to analyze conspiracy theories?

Do you know when the term 'conspiracy theorist' was launched and popularized?

Have you heard what Edward Snowden has to say about conspiracy theories?

Do you know why a conspiracy fantasy gets legs and runs around the world before the truth can catch up?

You will once you watch this episode!

This is the first of a series on conspiracies. We start with some evergreen episodes on how to test conspiracy theories, recognize the real conspiracies, and show grace regardless because...

Conspiracy theories are inherently a signal of a certain social condition.

We discuss which conspiracies get the most attention and why.

We speak out against anti-intellectualism and tribalism, but on the flip side, we also speak up for an open-mind. This is an episode that features intellectual tools, including various taxonomies of conspiracy theories because...

Conspiracies happen.

Other topics covered: tribal devotion, the steel man, bias, and historical revisionism.

Timeline
0:00 - Theme
0:44 Where angels fear to tread
3:48 Origin of term "conspiracy theorist"
5:20 Sign of powerlessness
7:02 Conspiracy Practice vs Conspiracy Theory
8:20 Snowden unappreciated conspiracies
11:45 Conspiracy fantasies get more attention
16:00 Real investigation is daunting
17:50 Historical revisionism
20:10 Proving devotion to your tribe
22:42 Commitment to truth wherever it leads
23:42 Walker's Taxonomy
26:58 Barkun's Taxonomy
27:32 Rothbard's Shallow vs Deep
31:10 Snowden's classification challenge
32:40 Get me the references
34:07 Edward Snowden took up the cross
36:23 Humility because error is easy
41:56 Recognize your bias
44:35 The Steel Man
47:39 Practice Human Respect
51:49 Bring truth and avoid ridicule

Bill Protzmann is your moderator.

ZERO AGGRESSION PROJECT - https://zeroaggressionproject.org/ - is our sponsor. The views expressed are exclusively those of the participants, and not necessarily those of the board, staff, or supporters of the Zero Aggression Project.

Thank you to Randy Garbin for our amazing thumbnails: http://randygarbin.com/

We are grateful to Sergio at https://www.youtube.com/@KeysofMoonMusic for our intro theme.
► https://www.patreon.com/user?u=10500501
or
you can purchase his music on BandCamp:
► https://keysofmoon.bandcamp.com/
► If you have any questions please feel free to write to Sergio at: serjo.de.lua.music@gmail.com

Be grace-full to each other.