New conspiracism is a closed system that abandons explanation entirely

Evidence

Classic conspiracy theories are often self-sealed systems of thought that, once one is on the inside, permit no exit; in this respect they can constitute a “crippled epistemology.” The new conspiracism too is a closed system. It is epistemologically flawed and self-validating in a different way, however. It is unconcerned with explanation and encourages assent to and action on the basis of claims that are not disproved and are not impossible, and are therefore “true enough.” — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying, 109

Categorization

• DEFINE: Distinguishes the new conspiracism’s epistemic structure from classic conspiracy theory’s crippled epistemology.
• XREF: connects to: A new conspiracism form drops explanation and aims at disorientation. — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying: The New…, 49; New conspiracism offers no vision of what should replace delegitimized government — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying: The New…, 74; New conspiracism operates without theory because its sole product is delegitimation — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying: The New…, 82 (+6 more)

Broader Connections

• New conspiracism drops explanation and evidence in favor of bare assertion #expands (0.95) — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying, 14
• New conspiracism abandons explanatory theory and targets democratic legitimacy #corroborates (0.90) — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying, 11
• New conspiracism is monologic and untethered to shared facts and experience #corroborates (0.85) — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying, 279
• New conspiracism abandons evidence while classic conspiracism theorizes it #corroborates (0.80)
• Conspiracy believers abandon specific claims while retaining a core that something must be wrong #corroborates (0.75) — Sander van der Linden, Foolproof, 214