Wholesome skepticism differs fundamentally from conspiracism

Evidence

A romantic characterization has it that conspiracism is a skeptical disposition. Conspiracism, the argument goes, “disrupt[s] complacent, consensual, transparent theories of politics” and involves us “in a reiterative back-and-forth that mobilizes doubt and reassurance.… The narrative pivot … involves the step away from belief and into skepticism.” Conspiracy entrepreneurs encourage this description. They adopt the label of critical thinkers for themselves. — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying, 265 (#builds-on, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Assessing conspiracist claims requires dual suspension of disbelief and suspicion — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying: The New…, 40; Conspiracists falsely portray themselves as skeptical critical thinkers — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying: The New…, 265; Corporate misinformation can be refuted; hoax conspiracism cannot — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying: The New…, 243 (+1 more)

Related

• Conspiracists falsely portray themselves as skeptical critical thinkers (similarity 0.92)
• Conspiracist claims that sever assertion from verifiability also destroy genuine skepticism (similarity 0.84)
• New conspiracism replaces skeptical inquiry with certainty immune to correction (similarity 0.83)
• Assessing conspiracist claims requires dual suspension of disbelief and suspicion (similarity 0.83)
• Conspiracism undermines rather than expresses democratic skepticism about experts (similarity 0.80)
• New conspiracism differs from classic conspiracy theory in kind (similarity 0.80)
• New conspiracists are self-styled cognoscenti, not the intuitive people of populism. (similarity 0.80)
• Real knowledge rests on active doubt rather than certainty (similarity 0.80)
• Epistemic closure makes conspiracists unable to be true skeptics (similarity 0.79)
• Conspiracism is not bullshit because it cares about being affirmed as reality. (similarity 0.79)
• Disorienting targets, not explaining truth, is the conspiracists’ intended payoff (similarity 0.79)
• Studying conspiracy beliefs itself triggers defensive backlash from believers. (similarity 0.78)
• New conspiracism undermines legitimacy by attacking attitudes, not by proposing alternatives. (similarity 0.78)