Conspiracy Theories as Critique of Ideology

The current situation with regard to the covid-19 pandemic has given rise to an explosion of new conspiracy theories within the public debate. It is claimed that the virus was artificially created by the Chinese government to use as a weapon, that it is used as a ploy by our own government to secretly install harmful 5G radiation towers and that the vaccine against the virus contains a microchip by Bill Gates to track and control us. How do these wildly different stories relate? In this essay we will investigate what they have in common and how they work. Instead of simply dismissing conspiracy theories as lunacy, we will try to understand them and examine their claims and purpose. What exactly do they claim and why? Such a serious investigation into the concept of conspiracy theories is needed, as they do often seem to contain a kernel of truth. Conspiracy theories are rightly suspicious of authorities and the knowledge that is provided by these authorities. We will investigate...Show moreThe current situation with regard to the covid-19 pandemic has given rise to an explosion of new conspiracy theories within the public debate. It is claimed that the virus was artificially created by the Chinese government to use as a weapon, that it is used as a ploy by our own government to secretly install harmful 5G radiation towers and that the vaccine against the virus contains a microchip by Bill Gates to track and control us. How do these wildly different stories relate? In this essay we will investigate what they have in common and how they work. Instead of simply dismissing conspiracy theories as lunacy, we will try to understand them and examine their claims and purpose. What exactly do they claim and why? Such a serious investigation into the concept of conspiracy theories is needed, as they do often seem to contain a kernel of truth. Conspiracy theories are rightly suspicious of authorities and the knowledge that is provided by these authorities. We will investigate this suspicion and evaluate conspiracy theories. Most importantly, we will be focusing on the link between conspiracy theories and ideology. How do conspiracy theories resemble social theory that cites ideology as a factor, and are we justified to say that conspiracy theories embody a critique of ideology?Show less

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Conspiracy Theories as Critique of Ideology