Conspiracy Theories
Cass R. Sunstein
Harvard Law School
Adrian Vermeule
Harvard Law School
January 15, 2008
Harvard Public Law Working Paper No. 08-03
U of Chicago, Public Law Working Paper No. 199
U of Chicago Law & Economics, Olin Working Paper No. 387
Abstract:
Many millions of people hold conspiracy theories; they believe that powerful people have worked together in order to withhold the truth about some important practice or some terrible event. A recent example is the belief, widespread in some parts of the world, that the attacks of 9/11 were carried out not by Al Qaeda, but by Israel or the United States. Those who subscribe to conspiracy theories may create serious risks, including risks of violence, and the existence of such theories raises significant challenges for policy and law. The first challenge is to understand the mechanisms by which conspiracy theories prosper; the second challenge is to understand how such theories might be undermined. Such theories typically spread as a result of identifiable cognitive blunders, operating in conjunction with informational and reputational influences. A distinctive feature of conspiracy theories is their self-sealing quality. Conspiracy theorists are not likely to be persuaded by an attempt to dispel their theories; they may even characterize that very attempt as further proof of the conspiracy. Because those who hold conspiracy theories typically suffer from a crippled epistemology, in accordance with which it is rational to hold such theories, the best response consists in cognitive infiltration of extremist groups. Various policy dilemmas, such as the question whether it is better for government to rebut conspiracy theories or to ignore them, are explored in this light.
.....
Those who subscribe to conspiracy theories (i.e.: that the attacks of 9/11 were carried out not by Al Qaeda, but by Israel or the United States.)
may create serious risks,
including risks of violence,
and the existence of such theories raises significant challenges for policy and law.

the existence of a theory "raises significant challenges for policy and law"
okay....
The first challenge is to understand the mechanisms by which conspiracy theories prosper;
the second challenge is to understand how such theories might be undermined.

making a plan to undermine theories?
why on earth is that necessary?
that sounds like a conspiracy.
"Because those who hold conspiracy theories typically suffer from a crippled epistemology
in accordance with which it is rational to hold such theories,
the best response consists in cognitive infiltration of extremist groups.
oh....this....is....rich.
conspire to undermine conspiracy theories through cognitive infiltration of conspir.....HEY...HOLD ON....WHAT? now he said EXTREMIST groups!
wow.
so, Mr. Sunstein, who apparently does not suffer from a crippled epistemology, needs to know how he can know what conspiracy theorists think they know but don't know since the attacks of 9/11 were carried out by Al Qaeda, not by Israel or the United States.
he has a dilemma because, as he points out:
"Conspiracy theories are by no means a strictly domestic phenomenon; they can
easily be found all over the world. Among sober-minded Canadians, a September 2006
poll found that 22 percent believe that “the attacks on the United States on September 11,
2001 had nothing to do with Osama Bin Laden and were actually a plot by influential
Americans.”5 In a poll conducted in seven Muslim countries, 78 percent of respondents
said that they do not believe the 9/11 attacks were carried out by Arabs.6 The most
popular account, in these countries, is that 9/11 was the work of the U.S. or Israeli
governments.7
Conspiracy Theories by Cass R. Sunstein, Adrian Vermeule :: SSRN < click
what a riot. download that pdf and you can just see sunstein sweating.
just grinding that thing out.
arg. it's excruciating. in the process making clear the very things that need covering up.
because people just will not shut up.
just desperate to shut people up.
by any means......why?
what's the big scary deal?
that's a lot of crippled epistemology, you got on your hands cass.
i guess that's why you're talking LAW now.
2+2 will always be 4, cass.
Oh what a tangled web we weave,
When first we practice to deceive!
Cass R. Sunstein
Harvard Law School
Adrian Vermeule
Harvard Law School
January 15, 2008
Harvard Public Law Working Paper No. 08-03
U of Chicago, Public Law Working Paper No. 199
U of Chicago Law & Economics, Olin Working Paper No. 387
Abstract:
Many millions of people hold conspiracy theories; they believe that powerful people have worked together in order to withhold the truth about some important practice or some terrible event. A recent example is the belief, widespread in some parts of the world, that the attacks of 9/11 were carried out not by Al Qaeda, but by Israel or the United States. Those who subscribe to conspiracy theories may create serious risks, including risks of violence, and the existence of such theories raises significant challenges for policy and law. The first challenge is to understand the mechanisms by which conspiracy theories prosper; the second challenge is to understand how such theories might be undermined. Such theories typically spread as a result of identifiable cognitive blunders, operating in conjunction with informational and reputational influences. A distinctive feature of conspiracy theories is their self-sealing quality. Conspiracy theorists are not likely to be persuaded by an attempt to dispel their theories; they may even characterize that very attempt as further proof of the conspiracy. Because those who hold conspiracy theories typically suffer from a crippled epistemology, in accordance with which it is rational to hold such theories, the best response consists in cognitive infiltration of extremist groups. Various policy dilemmas, such as the question whether it is better for government to rebut conspiracy theories or to ignore them, are explored in this light.
.....
Those who subscribe to conspiracy theories (i.e.: that the attacks of 9/11 were carried out not by Al Qaeda, but by Israel or the United States.)
may create serious risks,
including risks of violence,
and the existence of such theories raises significant challenges for policy and law.
the existence of a theory "raises significant challenges for policy and law"
okay....
The first challenge is to understand the mechanisms by which conspiracy theories prosper;
the second challenge is to understand how such theories might be undermined.
making a plan to undermine theories?
why on earth is that necessary?
"Because those who hold conspiracy theories typically suffer from a crippled epistemology
in accordance with which it is rational to hold such theories,
the best response consists in cognitive infiltration of extremist groups.
oh....this....is....rich.
conspire to undermine conspiracy theories through cognitive infiltration of conspir.....HEY...HOLD ON....WHAT? now he said EXTREMIST groups!
wow.
so, Mr. Sunstein, who apparently does not suffer from a crippled epistemology, needs to know how he can know what conspiracy theorists think they know but don't know since the attacks of 9/11 were carried out by Al Qaeda, not by Israel or the United States.
he has a dilemma because, as he points out:
"Conspiracy theories are by no means a strictly domestic phenomenon; they can
easily be found all over the world. Among sober-minded Canadians, a September 2006
poll found that 22 percent believe that “the attacks on the United States on September 11,
2001 had nothing to do with Osama Bin Laden and were actually a plot by influential
Americans.”5 In a poll conducted in seven Muslim countries, 78 percent of respondents
said that they do not believe the 9/11 attacks were carried out by Arabs.6 The most
popular account, in these countries, is that 9/11 was the work of the U.S. or Israeli
governments.7
Conspiracy Theories by Cass R. Sunstein, Adrian Vermeule :: SSRN < click
what a riot. download that pdf and you can just see sunstein sweating.
just grinding that thing out.
arg. it's excruciating. in the process making clear the very things that need covering up.
because people just will not shut up.
just desperate to shut people up.
by any means......why?
what's the big scary deal?
that's a lot of crippled epistemology, you got on your hands cass.
i guess that's why you're talking LAW now.
2+2 will always be 4, cass.
Oh what a tangled web we weave,
When first we practice to deceive!