Conspiracism’s purpose is delegitimizing opponents, not correcting error

Evidence

The effect of conspiracist thinking once it ceases to function as any sort of explanation is delegitimation. The new conspiracists seek not to correct those they accuse but to deny their standing in the political world to argue, explain, persuade, and decide. And from attacking malevolent individuals, conspiracists move on to assaulting institutions. Conspiracism corrodes the foundations of democracy. — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying, 16

Categorization

• XREF: Parallels the point that silencing/delegitimation rather than persuasion is the aim — echoes work on how states and movements attack epistemic standing. — connects to: Disorienting targets, not explaining truth, is the conspiracists’ intended payoff — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying: The New…, 94; Conspiracism offers greater coherence than reality by excluding chance and ambiguity — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying: The New…, 117; Factual correction of conspiracism usually fails or backfires — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying: The New…, 119 (+6 more)

Broader Connections

• Disorienting targets, not explaining truth, is the conspiracists’ intended payoff #corroborates (0.96) — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying, 94
• Conspiracism offers greater coherence than reality by excluding chance and ambiguity #expands (0.80) — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying, 117
• Factual correction of conspiracism usually fails or backfires #expands (0.78) — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying, 119