Description
Book SynopsisMicrochips, government-replaced bird drones, QAnon and vaccine tracers: these are just a few of the most common conspiracies we have heard over and over again throughout most of 2020-2021's news cycles. There are common categories of conspiracy theories, variants of which pop up over and over again, and new and outrageous theories that seemingly appear overnight. While most of them are easily debunked, conspiracy theories and their root causes can be used to closely track people’s most significant philosophical concerns at a point in time. In this up-to-date study of conspiracy theories, the authors look at the history of conspiracy theories, discuss the history and hallmarks of such theories, and examine what counts as a conspiracy theory--and what doesn’t.
Trade Reviewskip to conteWSU & USU professors examine popular conspiracy theories in new book
June 8, 2022
OGDEN, Utah – In a time when conspiracy theories have made their way into mainstream media in unprecedented amounts, two Utah professors are exploring the impact conspiracy theories have on society with their new book “Conspiracy Theories in the Time of Coronavirus: A Philosophical Treatment.”
Conspiracy theories meet at the intersection of the specialties of Weber State University philosophy professor Richard Greene and Utah State University philosophy professor Rachel Robison-Greene. The couple began writing “Conspiracy Theories in the Time of Coronavirus” before the 2020 presidential election, just as the conspiracy theory landscape began to change rapidly. Greene specializes in the best practices of belief formation and the study of epistemology - theories of knowledge, while Robison-Greene is an expert on ethics and moral psychology. Both also study pop culture and their publisher thought they were well suited to research the impact of conspiracy theories on society.
“Our account of what a conspiracy theory was didn’t change very much,” Richard Greene said. “However, all the social implications and the ways conspiracy theories spread and affected society changed quite a bit during the time of the election. We had to rethink a lot of our previous research.”
According to Richard and Rachel, conspiracy theories have almost always existed and will continue to exist, but harmful conspiracy theories being shared in unprecedented amounts on social media affects people’s health, lives and political leanings.
“The conspiracy theories surrounding the pandemic had significant real world implications,” Richard Greene said. “We're talking about people's lives here, and as we note in the book, conspiracy theories are being passed about in unprecedented ways and numbers — it’s a public health crisis really. So that’s why we wanted to focus on it in the book. We knew it was the case that everyone was being impacted by conspiracy theories related to the pandemic.”
Each chapter of the book begins with discussing different conspiracy theories that have been popular at various points throughout history such as birds not being real, the Illuminati and the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
“So many conspiracy theories employ racsist and antisemitic motifs,” said Richard and Rachel. “We hope to help people avoid becoming susceptible to that mindset.”
Richard and Rachel also hope that readers get a clearer understanding of what conspiracy theories are and how they’ve been used over time. Though the book covers lighter and heavier material, it is written for all ages.
“I think conspiracy theories at their core are about people feeling marginalized and frustrated at power imbalances,” Rachel Robison-Greene said. “If we constructed social systems where people felt less marginalized and focused on societal inequalities, we could mitigate some of the harmful conspiracy theories we’re seeing now.”
“Conspiracy Theories in the Time of Coronavirus: A Philosophical Treatment” launches on June 14. It will be available globally at Target, Walmart, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and is currently available for Kindle download.
Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.
- Author:
Kennedy Jones, Marketing & Communications
801-626-7948 • kennedyjones1@weber.edu
- Contact:
-
-
Richard Greene, philosophy professor
801-626-6694 • rgreene@weber.edu
Rachel Robison-Greene, philosophy professor
rachel.robison@usu.edu
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WSU & USU professors examine popular conspiracy theories in new book
June 8, 2022
OGDEN, Utah – In a time when conspiracy theories have made their way into mainstream media in unprecedented amounts, two Utah professors are exploring the impact conspiracy theories have on society with their new book “Conspiracy Theories in the Time of Coronavirus: A Philosophical Treatment.”
Conspiracy theories meet at the intersection of the specialties of Weber State University philosophy professor Richard Greene and Utah State University philosophy professor Rachel Robison-Greene. The couple began writing “Conspiracy Theories in the Time of Coronavirus” before the 2020 presidential election, just as the conspiracy theory landscape began to change rapidly. Greene specializes in the best practices of belief formation and the study of epistemology - theories of knowledge, while Robison-Greene is an expert on ethics and moral psychology. Both also study pop culture and their publisher thought they were well suited to research the impact of conspiracy theories on society.
“Our account of what a conspiracy theory was didn’t change very much,” Richard Greene said. “However, all the social implications and the ways conspiracy theories spread and affected society changed quite a bit during the time of the election. We had to rethink a lot of our previous research.”
According to Richard and Rachel, conspiracy theories have almost always existed and will continue to exist, but harmful conspiracy theories being shared in unprecedented amounts on social media affects people’s health, lives and political leanings.
“The conspiracy theories surrounding the pandemic had significant real world implications,” Richard Greene said. “We're talking about people's lives here, and as we note in the book, conspiracy theories are being passed about in unprecedented ways and numbers — it’s a public health crisis really. So that’s why we wanted to focus on it in the book. We knew it was the case that everyone was being impacted by conspiracy theories related to the pandemic.”
Each chapter of the book begins with discussing different conspiracy theories that have been popular at various points throughout history such as birds not being real, the Illuminati and the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
“So many conspiracy theories employ racsist and antisemitic motifs,” said Richard and Rachel. “We hope to help people avoid becoming susceptible to that mindset.”
Richard and Rachel also hope that readers get a clearer understanding of what conspiracy theories are and how they’ve been used over time. Though the book covers lighter and heavier material, it is written for all ages.
“I think conspiracy theories at their core are about people feeling marginalized and frustrated at power imbalances,” Rachel Robison-Greene said. “If we constructed social systems where people felt less marginalized and focused on societal inequalities, we could mitigate some of the harmful conspiracy theories we’re seeing now.”
“Conspiracy Theories in the Time of Coronavirus: A Philosophical Treatment” launches on June 14. It will be available globally at Target, Walmart, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and is currently available for Kindle download.
Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.
- Author:
Kennedy Jones, Marketing & Communications
801-626-7948 • kennedyjones1@weber.edu
- Contact:
-
-
Richard Greene, philosophy professor
801-626-6694 • rgreene@weber.edu
Rachel Robison-Greene, philosophy professor
rachel.robison@usu.edu
Share this article:
- Facebook
- Twitter
- LinkedIn
- Google +
Ogden, Utah 844081-801-626-6000
Contact Us Popular
- Majors, Minors & Programs
- Admissions
- Bookstore
- Stewart Library
- Jobs at Weber
- Weber State Tickets
- eWeber
Directories
- Class Schedule
- Calendars
- Catalog
- Campus Directory
- Maps & Locations
Resources
- CARES Act - HEERF Report
- Safe@Weber
- Nondiscrimination & Accessibility
- Public Disclosures
- WSU Terms of Use and Privacy
© Copyright 2022 All Rights Reserved | Google Translate ShareThis Copy and Past
Reviewer's Choice
Conspiracy Theories in the Time of Coronavirus
Richard Greene and Rachel Robison-Greene
Carus Books
www.carusbooks.com
9781637700068, $19.95 PB, $8.99 Kindle, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/Conspiracy-Theories-Coronavirus-Richard-Greene/dp/1637700067
Conspiracy Theories in the Time of Coronavirus is recommended not just for philosophy and political science students, but for students of medical history and social issues who receive a powerful philosophy-based assessment of conspiracy theories. Its timely discussions range from the harm in politically weaponizing pandemic concerns to considering the underlying messages in conspiracy charges and how they change and grow beyond their initial incarnation. Readers interested in conspiracy ideas and their political and social impact will find no better contemporary assessment than Conspiracy Theories in the Time of Coronavirus, which should not just be in library holdings, but used as classroom discussion points and for debates.
Table of ContentsPart I
Understanding Conspiracy Theories 1
1. Conspiracy Theories Past and Present 3
2. Conspiracy and Theory 15
3. What Are Conspiracy Theories? 27
4. The Various Natures of Conspiracy Theories 39
5. The Epistemology of Conspiracy Theories 51
6. A Puzzle about Identity 67
Part II
Conspiracy Theories in the Modern World 79
7. Conspiracy Theories as Jokes 81
8. The Politics of Conspiracy Theories 91
9. Conspiracy Theories, Social Media, and the
Internet 103
10. Existential Matters and Categories of
Conspiracy 115
11. The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories 135
Part III
Conspiracy Theories and Values 151
12. The Ethics of Belief 153
13. Conspiracy Theories and Human Virtues 163
14. What’s at Stake When We Believe Conspiracy
Theories? 183
15. Conspiracy Theories as a Social Problem 195
References 209
Index 215
