The more sweeping a conspiracy theory’s claims, the less relevant evidence becomes.

Evidence

But the obsessive quest for proof masks a deeper problem: the more sweeping a conspiracy theory’s claims, the less relevant evidence becomes, notwithstanding the insistence that the theory is empirically sound. This paradox occurs because conspiracy theories are at their heart nonfalsifi able. No matter how much evidence their adherents accumulate, belief in a conspiracy theory ultimately becomes a matter of faith rather than proof. — Michael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy, 93

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Weak suppression evidence reinforces rather than weakens conspiracy belief. — Michael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy: Apocalyptic…, 433; Insider-status claims outweigh lack of evidence for believers. — Michael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy: Apocalyptic…, 451; Conspiracy theories become unfalsifiable by dismissing skeptic evidence as planted (+3 more)

Broader Connections

• Conspiracy theories become unfalsifiable by dismissing skeptic evidence as planted #exemplifies (0.85)
• Conspiracists reinterpret disconfirming evidence as planted by the conspirators. #exemplifies (0.80) — Michael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy, 95
• A secret-government claim makes conspiracy theories unfalsifiable to their audiences #expands (0.75) — Michael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy, 443