New conspiracism replaces skeptical inquiry with certainty immune to correction

Evidence

In fact, the new conspiracism is the enemy of skepticism, of intellectual humility and openness to the possibility of error and correction. As we’ve seen, its proponents deny the standing of knowledge-producing institutions and reject simple facts, expert judgment, and the reliability of researchers and journalists. They reject the resources necessary for testing their assumptions. Their certainty is at odds with skepticism; they are without residual doubt that things are as they represent them. So the new conspiracism doubles down: it corrodes both knowledge and skepticism. — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying, 266

Categorization

• DEFINE: Offers the crux definition distinguishing cynicism/skepticism (inquiry into error) from conspiracism (immune certainty).
• XREF: connects to: New conspiracism lowers the assent bar to mere possibility, without evidence — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying: The New…, 122; Conspiracist validation replaces evidence with communal repetition and affirmation. — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying: The New…, 303; New conspiracism offers cheap knowingness as an elite status — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying: The New…, 95 (+4 more)

Broader Connections

• New conspiracism drops explanation and evidence in favor of bare assertion #corroborates (0.90) — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying, 14
• Conspiracist validation replaces evidence with communal repetition and affirmation. #corroborates (0.85) — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying, 303
• New conspiracism floats allegations disconnected from observable reality #expands (0.85) — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying, 64
• Conspiracists reinterpret disconfirming evidence as planted by the conspirators. #expands (0.85) — Michael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy, 95
• New conspiracism abandons evidence while classic conspiracism theorizes it #expands (0.85)
• New conspiracism offers cheap knowingness as an elite status #expands (0.70) — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying, 95