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Investigate Conspiracy Theories with M.R.X Dentith Dec. 5

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Why We Should Investigate Conspiracy Theories
Philosopher Dr. Matthew R. X. Dentith, renowned “conspiracy theory theorist,” asks the question: “What would happen if we treated ‘conspiracy theories’ seriously enough to engage in a systematic investigation of them?”
December 5, 2017 4:30p.m. RFH 105
Sponsored by the Arts and Humanities Institute, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Honors College, the School of Public Service, and the Departments of Communications, History, Philosophy, and Sociology.

The term “conspiracy theory” gets a bad rap, but conspiracies do occur. In fact, many conspiracy theories have turned out to be warranted. What would happen if we treated conspiracy theories seriously enough to engage in a systematic investigation of them? How do we sort good theories from the bad ones more generally? What counts as evidence for or against a conspiracy? Just who would investigate such theories?

Conspiracy theory theorist M.R.X Dentith argues that we ought to treat conspiracy theories seriously, and he will offer his thoughts during a campus presentation at 4:30 p.m. Dec. 5 in Riverfront Hall, Room 105.

Dentith is author of “The Philosophy of Conspiracy Theories,” a foundational contribution to the epistemology of conspiracy theories. Dentith’s research interest is in developing both a framework for the investigation of conspiracy theories and the nature of secrecy generally. Dentith has presented at TEDx Christchurch, the Latvian PR Awards, are is a frequent media commentator on the issue of weird beliefs both in Aotearoa (New Zealand) and abroad.

The presentation is sponsored by the Arts and Humanities Institute, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Honors College, the School of Public Service, and the departments of communication, history, philosophy and sociology.

BY: BRADY W MOORE   PUBLISHED 3:16 PM / NOVEMBER 28, 2017