Real governmental conspiracies make dismissing all conspiracy theories irrational

Evidence

Sorting out what is plausible from what’s not would be easier if all conspiracist claims could be dismissed as wholly unwarranted or as delusional. But there is nothing that makes conspiracy theories as such irrational or erroneous. To consult the recent history of actual governmental conspiracies—Iran-Contra, Watergate, or Tuskegee, for starters—is to confront the fact that “there are elements of treachery in the contemporary political and economic order.” Government officials do lie and do conspire, sometimes for what they see as protecting the public interest, often in the name of national security. — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying, 35

Categorization

• XREF: Resonates with the city-strangers material: urbanites rationally treat danger warnings as true because avoidance costs nothing—here, warranted suspicion of state secrecy. — connects to: Real past government conspiracies make continued belief in secret plots rational — Anna Merlan, Republic of Lies, 80; Conspiracies refer to actual events while conspiracy theories are unverified accusations. — Joseph E. Uscinski and Joseph M. Parent, American Conspiracy Theories, 170

Broader Connections

• Conspiracies refer to actual events while conspiracy theories are unverified accusations. #expands (0.85) — Joseph E. Uscinski and Joseph M. Parent, American Conspiracy Theories, 170