Cited by 1,050Misinformation and Its ImpactsEpistemology, Ethics, and MetaphysicsTerrorism, Counterterrorism, and Political Violence

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Conspiracy theories: Causes and cures

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Sunstein, Cass R., Vermeule, Adrian·2009·Journal of Political Philosophy

DOI 10.1111/j.1467-9760.2008.00325.x

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Abstract

Many millions of people hold conspiracy theories; they believe that powerful people have worked together in order to withhold the truth about some important practice or some terrible event. A recent example is the belief, widespread in some parts of the world, that the attacks of 9/11 were carried out not by Al Qaeda, but by Israel or the United States. Those who subscribe to conspiracy theories may create serious risks, including risks of violence, and the existence of such theories raises significant challenges for policy and law. The first challenge is to understand the mechanisms by which conspiracy theories prosper; the second challenge is to understand how such theories might be undermined. Such theories typically spread as a result of identifiable cognitive blunders, operating in conjunction with informational and reputational influences. A distinctive feature of conspiracy theories is their self-sealing quality. Conspiracy theorists are not likely to be persuaded by an attempt to dispel their theories; they may even characterize that very attempt as further proof of the conspiracy. Because those who hold conspiracy theories typically suffer from a crippled epistemology, in accordance with which it is rational to hold such theories, the best response consists in cognitive infiltration of extremist groups. Various policy dilemmas, such as the question whether it is better for government to rebut conspiracy theories or to ignore them, are explored in this light.

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Authors: Sunstein, C. R., & Vermeule, A.
Affiliations: Harvard University (US)
ORCID: Sunstein, Cass R.
Vermeule, Adrian
Venue: Journal of Political Philosophy
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2009-04-13
Volume: 17
Issue: 2
Pages: 202-227
ISSN: 0963-8016 (ISSN-L)
1467-9760
DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9760.2008.00325.x
OpenAlex: W2009369609
Cited by: 1,050
References: 7
Citations by year: 2026: 92 · 2025: 90 · 2024: 98 · 2023: 109 · 2022: 161 · 2021: 107 · 2020: 102 · 2019: 78 · 2018: 63 · 2017: 39 · 2016: 33 · 2015: 31 · 2014: 23 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 10
FWCI: 2.31
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: green
nrs.harvard.edu
Licence: cc-by
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations: Journal of Political Philosophy (publishedVersion)
Digital Access to Scholarship at Harvard (DASH) (Harvard University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Topics: Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Misinformation and Its Impacts
Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › Epistemology, Ethics, and Metaphysics
Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and Political Violence
Keywords: conspiracy theories, 9/11 conspiracy theories, cognitive errors, epistemology, misinformation, extremist groups, countering disinformation, public policy

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