Philosophy of Conspiracy Theories
Course description: The US Government faked the 1969 Moon landing. The white trail in the sky that is left behind by high-flying jets is a cocktail of chemicals used to control human population growth. Select members of the US government orchestrated the attacks on 9/11. The AIDS virus was created by the CIA to wipe out members of the LGBT and African American communities. The JFK assassination was the result of plot hatched by members of the US mafia. These are examples of explanations that are often referred to as "conspiracy theories." But what makes an explanation of worldly events a conspiracy theory? Moreover, since we know that conspiracies have been responsible for some events (e.g. Watergate), when are we warranted in accepting such theories? When should we not accept them?
In this course, we will try to answer these questions using the tools of contemporary epistemology. Epistemology is the study of knowledge and justification. There are several topics addressed by epistemologists that are relevant to questions about conspiracy theories: How do we get knowledge from others' testimony? When should we defer to the opinion of experts? How can we control what we believe, if at all? Can practical (even political) considerations give us genuine reasons to believe something? The course assignments consist in contributions to a collaborative research project (a class wiki) in which students use their understanding of these epistemological issues to identify and evaluate various (putative) conspiracy theories.
In this course, we will try to answer these questions using the tools of contemporary epistemology. Epistemology is the study of knowledge and justification. There are several topics addressed by epistemologists that are relevant to questions about conspiracy theories: How do we get knowledge from others' testimony? When should we defer to the opinion of experts? How can we control what we believe, if at all? Can practical (even political) considerations give us genuine reasons to believe something? The course assignments consist in contributions to a collaborative research project (a class wiki) in which students use their understanding of these epistemological issues to identify and evaluate various (putative) conspiracy theories.