Browse Book and Journal Content on Project MUSE
OR
Are Conspiracy Theorists Irrational?

From: Episteme: A Journal of Social Epistemology
Volume 4, Issue 2, 2007
pp. 193-204 | 10.1353/epi.2007.0020

Abstract

It is widely believed that to be a conspiracy theorist is to suffer from a form of irrationality. After considering the merits and defects of a variety of accounts of what it is to be a conspiracy theorist, I draw three conclusions. One, on the best definitions of what it is to be a conspiracy theorist, conspiracy theorists do not deserve their reputation for irrationality. Two, there may be occasions on which we should settle for an inferior definition which entails that conspiracy theorists are after all irrational. Three, if and when we do this, we should recognise that conspiracy theorists so understood are at one end of a spectrum, and the really worrying form of irrationality is at the other end.



Access your Project MUSE content using one of the login options below

Athens

Please see your librarian for assistance with Athens authentication.

Shibboleth

Shibboleth authentication is only available to registered institutions.

Project MUSE

Research Areas

Recommend

  • You have access to this content
  • Free sample
  • Open Access
  • Restricted Access