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  1. #1
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    Default Conspiracy theories, spontaneous order, and the hermeneutics of suspicion

    A very good essay as to why so many people adhere to conspiracy theories, from a respected Philosophy professor. He also differentiates between credible conspiracy theories and absurd ones that defy Occam's Razor.
    http://edwardfeser.blogspot.com/2022...ies-occur.html

    "Spontaneous Order" is the new phrase of the week.

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    Default Re: Conspiracy theories, spontaneous order, and the hermeneutics of suspicion

    You are going to rustle some feathers with this post

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    Default Re: Conspiracy theories, spontaneous order, and the hermeneutics of suspicion

    Evidently that is the intention.

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    Default Re: Conspiracy theories, spontaneous order, and the hermeneutics of suspicion

    Hanlon's razor is also very true, some conspiracy theories can be debunked with this.

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    Default Re: Conspiracy theories, spontaneous order, and the hermeneutics of suspicion

    Quote Originally Posted by zguy View Post
    You are going to rustle some feathers with this post
    Or, not at all...

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    Default Re: Conspiracy theories, spontaneous order, and the hermeneutics of suspicion

    Quote Originally Posted by curious george View Post
    Or, not at all...
    The woke/intellectual/insightful among us might still comment.

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    Default Re: Conspiracy theories, spontaneous order, and the hermeneutics of suspicion

    Regarding the "Hermeneutics of Suspicion", it's natural to distrust those in positions of authority. But to automatically attribute everything that transpires to the machinations of an invisible cabal of malefactors ( Capitalists and "White Supremacists" if you are on the Left, or "The NWO" and Globalists if you are on the right) seems absurd. That' giving said groups too much credit Nd extending to them far more power influence and competence than they have. Think of any conspiracy theory then think how many people it requires to pull it off without error snd quiet about ut afterwards forever. Human error and our fallable nature would prevent that. Incompetence is part of human nature and all government agencies, some more than others.

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    Default Re: Conspiracy theories, spontaneous order, and the hermeneutics of suspicion

    Quote Originally Posted by Glockster View Post
    Evidently that is the intention.
    Nah, we are literally talking about an article written by a philosopher.
    Philosophy is not a science, his opinion carries no more weight than anybody else’s.

  9. #9
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    Default Re: Conspiracy theories, spontaneous order, and the hermeneutics of suspicion

    Quote Originally Posted by Johann du Toit View Post
    Regarding the "Hermeneutics of Suspicion", it's natural to distrust those in positions of authority. But to automatically attribute everything that transpires to the machinations of an invisible cabal of malefactors ( Capitalists and "White Supremacists" if you are on the Left, or "The NWO" and Globalists if you are on the right) seems absurd. That' giving said groups too much credit Nd extending to them far more power influence and competence than they have. Think of any conspiracy theory then think how many people it requires to pull it off without error snd quiet about ut afterwards forever. Human error and our fallable nature would prevent that. Incompetence is part of human nature and all government agencies, some more than others.
    You are right in that things aren't happening according to plans or to time frames that "theorists" proclaim due to a combo of incompetence,lack of compliance,due to errors,bad implementation,etc?

    BUT, to dismiss it all as "absurd" would be absurd,ignore at your own peril?

    Why would you ignore the openly stated goals of a bunch of weirdos who have demonstrated that they have the capacity to put "their people" in positions of power and influence, when suddenly a whole bunch of people in a seemingly coordinated fashion start implementing the same, or very similar policies and regulations,even using the same buzzwords,etc? All the very influential and most powerful decision makers getting together in secret behind closed doors should in the very least prick your interests, and perhaps even suspicion?

    Sure, it might be completely coincidental too that msm and big tech suddenly,also represented above, simultaneously shut down any counter narrative,or even just healthy discussion over far reaching policies?

    Is this the realm of "theory" or reality?

    Perhaps,calling it and dismissing it all as merely absurd would be the ultimate form of denial?

    When weird things happen,is scepticism really such a problem that you should just blindly accept all gov't measures? More so when it seems that many other authorities are using the same playbook? If you deny this, you haven't been paying attention to how eg, gun control legislation overlaps,gets authored by the very same people,etc or indeed how 15 days to flatten the curve turned into "opportunities for economic reset" across the globe. Or, how mandates should morph into digital ID's,paper money is dirty and we should only have digital currency,ie forced compliance tools, and social scores based on your level of compliance?

    Were these "measures" meant to absurd "conspiracy",or become established fact? It hasn't been all that successful,yet,prob due to all the reasons you mentioned. Power drunk hubris will have that as a consequence too.

    Another local expression of this globalist "program" for the lack of a better word, would be EWC. It is a very well packaged and marketed locally nuanced adaptation,a version of "you'll own nothing and you'll be happy" where the state locally and,or corporates, act as custodians of everything, a perfect return to feudal styled society of elites and indentured servitude or slavery based on your social score?

    Sure it might all be nothing and wouldn't that be great, and as stated before, you're allowed believe what you want to,it's entirely your own prerogative!

    Just ignoring it because you're too busy in the "empire building" phase of your life?

    It might come at huge costs to yourself, at least look at the possibility that it may affect your future freedom in most and inconceivable unimaginable ways, before dismissing stuff because it seems irrational. Admit that we aren't half as clever or cute as we may believe ourselves to be.These guys have realized some crackpot ideas that nobody would've believed possible even a few years ago,eg global lock down, voluntary house arrest? Maybe, even admitting to yourself, that maybe our preconceptions, or even misconceptions, of what religion is,what role it still plays in this 'modern" society, or prophecy may be completely wrong?

    For myself,I know I'm not clever enough to know most or any of the answers or even if I'm framing the questions correctly, but I have learnt that in the very least I should query or least interrogate the picture I'm being shown, even if my instincts are proven to be incorrect. It could be a leftover and bad coping mechanisms from being fucked over badly enough a few times because of dismissing warning signs and being too trusting? Too cynical and jaded? Perhaps, but life experience determines many of the filters we apply to dealing with society at large and people in authority in particular...

    People aren't rational creatures, and as proven again to the folks in Ukraine,nobody believes it will happen till it happens. Nobody believed last July's riots could happen and play out the way it did.

    Nobody says you must stop living the best life you can, or allow certain narratives(good or bad) to rule your life, but least as a supposedly freedom loving person do a threat assessment before labeling and dismissing others or questionable happenings because things might be too uncomfortable to admit to yourself?

    Ps: RE the OP,from varsity experience and exposure, philosophy profs aren't necessarily a group of people to be taken too seriously, dis soms,miskien actually gewoonlik,n baie baie deurmekaar plek daar bo en baie keer raas dit so bietjie meer as in my en jou se geval!

  10. #10
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    Default Re: Conspiracy theories, spontaneous order, and the hermeneutics of suspicion

    I get the impression that everything that is above some people's comprehension, both imaginary and actually verifiable facts, will be called a "conspiracy theory". This seems to overwhelm the actual conspiracy theories to such an extent, that they seem pretty rare these days. Yes, you can call that my own conspiracy theory...

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