Autore: Cardella, Valentina
Titolo: Conspiracy Theories: The Demarcation Problem
Periodico: Reti, saperi, linguaggi
Anno: 2025 - Fascicolo: 1 - Pagina iniziale: 137 - Pagina finale: 152

The debate about the definition and nature of conspiracy theories remains controversial, especially in philosophy. The divide between generalists, who focus on implausible theories, and particularists, who take a neutral stance, leads to an impasse. Generalists dismiss theories as epistemically suspect, while particularists risk overlooking the troubling aspects of these theories. I argue for preserving some elements of the folk notion of conspiracy theories without endorsing its pejorative definition. In my view, it’s not the content of most conspiracy theories that makes them suspect, but the way they are often held and supported. Conspiracy theories, like other epistemically suspect beliefs (for example, delusional ideas or paranormal beliefs) are typically resistant to counterarguments. I am fully aware that the generalist notion of conspiracy theories may stigmatize those who challenge conventional authorities, but I think that, even if the expression «conspiracy theory» were eliminated, its problematic nature would still persist.




SICI: 2279-7777(2025)1<137:CTTDP>2.0.ZU;2-4
Testo completo: https://www.rivisteweb.it/download/article/10.12832/117341
Testo completo alternativo: https://www.rivisteweb.it/doi/10.12832/117341

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