Conspiracy theories and reasonable pluralism
Identifikátory výsledku
Kód výsledku v 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>
Nalezeny alternativní kódy
RIV/00216275:25210/20:39916469
Výsledek na webu
<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>
Alternativní jazyky
Jazyk výsledku
angličtina
Název v původním jazyce
Conspiracy theories and reasonable pluralism
Popis výsledku v původním jazyce
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.
Název v anglickém jazyce
Conspiracy theories and reasonable pluralism
Popis výsledku anglicky
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.
Klasifikace
Druh
J<sub>imp</sub> - Článek v periodiku v databázi Web of Science
CEP obor
—
OECD FORD obor
50601 - Political science
Návaznosti výsledku
Projekt
<a href="/cs/project/EF15_003%2F0000425" target="_blank" >EF15_003/0000425: Centrum pro etiku</a><br>
Návaznosti
P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)
Ostatní
Rok uplatnění
2022
Kód důvěrnosti údajů
S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů
Údaje specifické pro druh výsledku
Název periodika
European Journal of Political Theory
ISSN
1474-8851
e-ISSN
1741-2730
Svazek periodika
21
Číslo periodika v rámci svazku
3
Stát vydavatele periodika
GB - Spojené království Velké Británie a Severního Irska
Počet stran výsledku
21
Strana od-do
445-465
Kód UT WoS článku
000586909600001
EID výsledku v databázi Scopus
2-s2.0-85083211189