Conspiracy theories and reasonable pluralism
The result's identifiers
Result code in IS VaVaI
<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216275%3A25210%2F22%3A39919386" target="_blank" >RIV/00216275:25210/22:39919386 - isvavai.cz</a>
Alternative codes found
RIV/00216275:25210/20:39916469
Result on the web
<a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1474885119899232" target="_blank" >https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1474885119899232</a>
DOI - Digital Object Identifier
<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1474885119899232" target="_blank" >10.1177/1474885119899232</a>
Alternative languages
Result language
angličtina
Original language name
Conspiracy theories and reasonable pluralism
Original language description
The popularity of conspiracy theories poses a clear challenge for contemporary liberal democracies. Conspiracy theories undermine rational debate, spread dangerous false-hoods and threaten social cohesion. However, any possible public policy response, which would try to contain their spread, needs to respect the liberal commitment to protect pluralism and free speech. A successful justification of such a policy must therefore: 1) clearly identify the problematic class of conspiracy theories; and 2) clarify the grounds on which the state is justified in acting against them. This article argues that the prevailing epistemic approaches to conspiracy theorizing cannot fulfil these criteria. Defining conspiracy theories by their flaws in reasoning, questionable coherence or factual mistakes can neither sharply distinguish problematic conspiracy theories from other, non-problematic worldviews nor justify state action. Thus, we propose to understand conspiracy theories through their ethical unreasonableness. We hold that containment of conspiracy theories is justifiable insofar as they undermine the liberal-democratic ideals of mutual respect, freedom and equality. We then show that such 'ethical' criteria for conspiracy theories can be sufficiently robust and clear-cut so that they can serve as a useful guide for public policy.
Czech name
—
Czech description
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Classification
Type
J<sub>imp</sub> - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database
CEP classification
—
OECD FORD branch
50601 - Political science
Result continuities
Project
<a href="/en/project/EF15_003%2F0000425" target="_blank" >EF15_003/0000425: Centre for Ethics</a><br>
Continuities
P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)
Others
Publication year
2022
Confidentiality
S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů
Data specific for result type
Name of the periodical
European Journal of Political Theory
ISSN
1474-8851
e-ISSN
1741-2730
Volume of the periodical
21
Issue of the periodical within the volume
3
Country of publishing house
GB - UNITED KINGDOM
Number of pages
21
Pages from-to
445-465
UT code for WoS article
000586909600001
EID of the result in the Scopus database
2-s2.0-85083211189