Philosophy Radio! drlabasham777's Podcast
Society & Culture:Philosophy
Conspiracy Theory Strikes: Twice! Two powerful and seemingly well evidenced Conspiracy Theories. Your take?
Conspiracy Theory:
Hi Epistemologists!
Epistemology is the conceptual study of how we know what we do. “Episteme” means “to know”. “ology” means the way, the how, of “episteme”. So, we are “epistemologists”. This is my area of specialty (AOS) in Philosophy at this stage in my life but has always been a large portion of my studies and research. As it is for all of us asking the most basic questions about our lives, no matter how personal or how global.
Epistemology is how we use evidence to “know”. The word “know” in this context is to determine what is more likely to be true, or “warranted” or similarly, “evidentially justified” given the evidence. And what is less likely to be true. And when we cannot, given the evidence, tell which theory is which.
Conspiracy theory is probably the most powerful form of theorizing in all of human life. More powerful than even empirical science. At least equally influential when we realize the historical and current realities that entraps even our sciences and technological powers. Because science and technology are human and political tools. Conspiracy and its theory is one of the ultimate guides of how our science and technology powers are used. That’s why I study it. Once guided by a well evidenced conspiracy theory, anything can happen. For instance, every war ever lost or won involved basic, driving conspiracies and countering conspiracy theories.
Conspiracy theory is a uniquely human intellectual capacity which evolved to identify and protect us against conspiracies. It is that simple.
Consider these two conspiracy theories (below). One, naturally, concerns the Chinese Wuhan virus “Covid 19”, the other concerns events—or non-events, in the author’s view (Alexander Baker)— on 9/11/2001.
The conspiracy theory project: The challenge for epistemologists (Hi. That’s me. And my fellow epistemologists of conspiracy theory), whom the government has turned to, is to develop evidential, logical tools to separate conspiracy theories into 2 different heaps: Likely to be true verses Unlikely to be true. That is: “Warranted” verses “Unwarranted” or to use related language, “Justified by the evidence” verses “Unjustified by the evidence”.
One problem with this project is it is very, if rather silently, concerned about the real situation: What happens when we cannot tell if a conspiracy theory is true or not? And worse, what happens when we discover the most important ones are as likely to be true as not. The idea we simply have to put each theory into “likely” or “unlikely” so we can just move on is dishonest and an illusion. The real problem we face is absolutely correct doubt. The middle ground. I call this middle ground of “can’t tell if true or not” a “studied agnosticism”.
Many of the epistemologists I work with are frightened of this middle ground.
“Agnosticism” means I don’t know given the evidence. It’s an old concept, and a constant remark in our lives, “Hell if I know!”. Often words from the wise.
A lot has been written about agnosticism in the context of the existence of God. So we see a very strong parallel in the conspiracy theory debate to the debate over whether God is real or not. Theism is the doctrine that God exists, is real, and for most believers in theism, that the evidence shows this. Atheism is the doctrine that that God does not exist, is not real, and for most atheists, that the evidence shows this. Agnosticism is the doctrine that I do not know if God exists or not. All three of these options are valid and intellectually sound ones. Thoughtful people will find themselves in one group, Theists, or the other group, Atheists, or the last group, Agnostics. Conspiracy theory is the same. In summary,
(1) Some conspiracy theories are, given the evidence, likely to be true, (2) some conspiracy theories are unlikely to be true, given the evidence. (3) Also: Many conspiracy theories are theories that, given the evidence, we cannot determine if they are likely to be true or unlikely to be true.
So, the question before us is: Where in our 3 options do these two rather bold, globally important conspiracy theories fall? Which category fits them? And given the evidence why do you think that?
We’ll be chatting very soon.
Dr. Lee Basham
Theory One: Alexander (Ace) Baker AKA “Coliin Alexander” : No planes on 9/11
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rml2TL5N8ds&list=PLBgVyFmx_rhpViYF5nZfeYhQBopMVegtw&index=8&t=0s
Theory Two: Covid 19 as a proven Bioweapon.
https://www.peakprosperity.com/bombshell-covid-19-virus-lab-made-fauci-connected/
An analyst and specialist I have the pleasure of corresponding with comments,
Dr. Basham,
I'm finding that Chris Martenson to be one of the best sources for information for all things coronavirus-related. He's putting out videos like the ones below almost every day it seems. Some of them are quite interesting. They include some practical information about what seems to be helping in treatments, and also information suggesting where it came from--yes, a lab. He goes into much more detail and makes more sense than what I've seen in mainstream sources, which tend to give spurious arguments that purportedly debunk the lab theory. I don't know the truth--I'm just saying that, so far, I find Martenson's arguments to make the most sense. (He mentions "conspiracy theories" provocatively during the conclusion of the second video, at 30:10.)
Best,
...
So get to it, Epistemologists! Running Backs, Line Up! Categorize these two conspiracy theories to the best of your ability. This question will appear on your final, coming up quite soon!
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