Task 1

Question 1

What is the definition of Conspiracy ?

Answer 1

• a conspiracy is a secret plot or agreement between two or more parties for an illegal or dishonest purpose

Question 2

What is a contention ?

Answer 2

• somebody claims to be true

- but there is no reason

Question 3

What is a reason/premise ?

Answer 3

• Evidence for a contention

Question 4

What is a conclusion ?

Answer 4

• A contention supported by a reason

Question 5

What is a single argument ?

Answer 5

• is a contention which is justified using a single premise or opposed by a single objection

Question 6

What is a composite argument ?

Answer 6

• using more than one objection or premise to support the contention

Question 7

What is a convergent argument ?

Answer 7

• Two premises supporting a conclusion separately and independently from one another
• part of a composite argument

Question 8

What is a chain of reasoning ?

Answer 8

• Different lvl of premises building up on each other towards the contention
• part of o a composite argument

Question 9

What is meant by a Co premises ?

Answer 9

• Syllogisms/dependent data

- 2 Premises have to go together otherwise they would not make any sense

Question 10

What is meant by the golden rule ?

Answer 10

• Each single argument really consists of two or more co premises

Question 11

What is meant by the rabbit rule ?

Answer 11

• Each significant term that is part of the conclusion should also be part of one of the premises.

Question 12

What is meant by the holding hands rule

Answer 12

• ensures that a co-premise has a connection with another co-premise.
• having identical terms between co premises which are not given in the conclusion

Question 13

What are the motives to believe in conspiracy theories ?

Answer 13

• Hard to falsify
• epistemic
• Existential
• Social reasons

Question 14

What are some characteristics of people which use conspiracy theories ?

Answer 14

• Low education
• Lower levels of analytic thinking
• Likely to turn to a conspiracy when anxious
• Believing in paranormal and supernatural phenomena
• Feelings of uncertainty, powerlessness
• narcissism, Machiavellianism
• Extreme political ideology
• Minorities

Question 15

What are the causes of conspiracy theories ?

Answer 15

• Evolutionary by-product hypothesis
• State of affairs (disaster, war)
• Development of technologies (wiretapping)
• Adaptive-conspiracism hypothesis
• Error-management theory

Question 16

What does epistemic mean ?

Answer 16

Desire for understanding

Question 17

What does Existential mean ?

Answer 17

Desire for control over own life

Question 18

What is meant by the by-product hyothesis ?

Answer 18

• it had no purpose it is just a by product effect of evolution

Question 19

What is meant by the Adaptive-conspiracism hypothesis / Error-management theory ?

Answer 19

• It had a purpose

- By product tehory: It is better to have have a typ 1 error then a typ2 !!

Question 20

What are some charcteritics of critical societys ?

Answer 20

1. No absolute respect for established views

2. No fear of challenges to an existing theory

Question 21

What are some charcteritics of non critical societys ?

Answer 21

• A protective attitude with respect to the current category system. Everything that is not in line with it is taboo
• positive attitude regrading the past

Question 22

How do u become a society with critical tradition ?

Answer 22

• The availability of a simple writing system and sufficient people who are able to read and write
• Culturally heterogeneous communities
• Trade-travel-exploration complex (Horton)

Question 23

What is the definition of the Ramsey theory ?

Answer 23

• Given enough elements in a set or structure, some particular interesting pattern among them is guaranteed to emerge ! (mathematical principle) One example would be: star sign

Question 24

What is meant by an objection ?

Answer 24

• evidence against a contention