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

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 is our sponsor.

But 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: [e-mail]

Be grace-full to each other.