Conspiracy Theories

David Coady is Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Tasmania, Australia

• Foreword David Coady1. An Introduction to the Philosophical Debate about Conspiracy Theories David Coady2. The Conspiracy Theory of Society Karl R. Popper 3. Popper revisited, or What is Wrong with Conspiracy Theories? Charles Pigden4. Of Conspiracy Theories Brian L. Keeley5. Living with the Conspiracy Lee Basham6. Conspiracy Theories and Conspiracy Theorizing Steve Clarke7. Malevolent Global Conspiracy Lee Basham 8. Nobody Expects the Spanish Inquisition! More Thoughts on Conspiracy Theory Brian L. Keeley 9. Conspiracy Theories and Official Stories David Coady 10. Appealing to the Fundamental Attribution Error: Was it All a Big Mistake? Steve Clarke 11. Afterthoughts on Conspiracy Theory: Resilience and Ubiquity Lee Basham12. Complots of Mischief Charles Pigden 13. The Pragmatic Rejection of Conspiracy Theories David Coady

"This is an important contribution to a neglected area of applied, public epistemology. The essays, along with Coady’s useful introduction, clearly set out the critical shortcomings of conspiracy theories via central epistemological concepts like evidence, warrant, and testability. But authors also uncover rich layers of complexity beneath our everyday talk, and in performing that philosophical task, they expose shortcomings of any attempt at simple dismissal of conspiracy theories. Coady has selected essays that display a surprising and attractive balance." -- Jonathan Adler, City University of New York"The book offers some useful definitions of both conspiracy and conspiracy theory." -- Scientific and Medical Network