Conspiracy Theories

[Dave Monroe]

Coady, David, ed.  Conspiracy Theories:
   The Philosophical Debate.  Burlington, VT:
   Ashgate, 2006.

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.

Contents
Foreword; An Introduction to the Philosophical Debate
about Conspiracy Theories, David Coady; The Conspiracy
Theory of Society, Karl R. Popper; Popper revisited,
or What is Wrong with Conspiracy Theories?, Charles
Pigden; Of conspiracy theories, Brian L. Keeley;
Living with the conspiracy, Lee Basham; Conspiracy
Theories and Conspiracy Theorizing, Steve Clarke;
Malevolent global conspiracy, Lee Basham; Nobody
expects the Spanish Inquisition! More Thoughts on
Conspiracy Theory, Brian L. Keeley; Conspiracy
Theories and Official Stories, David Coady; Appealing
to the Fundamental Attribution Error: Was it All a Big
Mistake?, Steve Clarke; Afterthoughts on conspiracy
theory: resilience and ubiquity, Lee Basham; Complots
of mischief, Charles Pigden; The Pragmatic Rejection
of Conspiracy Theories, David Coady; Index.

https://www.ashgate.com/shopping/title.asp?isbn=0%207546%205250%205

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