TASK 1 - COMMON SENSE + CONSPIRACIES

Question 1

classical logic

Answer 1

= aimed at understanding how we achieve knowledge + attempt to express this understanding

• thinking in concepts
• Aristotle = founder

Question 2

concept

Answer 2

= representation of something in our mind; knowledge categories

• we connect a label to a concept that reminds us how we can direct our attention to a particular feature of concept
• concept applies to many cases

Question 3

label

Answer 3

≈ word, image

• labels may become detached from a representation (just a cue, without actual concept)
• can become automated solutions: one can manipulate labels without needing to care about specific contents

Question 4

concept

- generalisation vs. abstractness

Answer 4

1) generalisation: applicability to multitude of individual cases
- -> useful, based on abstractness
2) abstractness: we only understand things in a particular way
- -> limitation

Question 5

history

- xenophiles + popper

Answer 5

• we have no certain knowledge
• we can acquire uncertain knowledge
• this knowledge approaches the truth

Question 6

today

- attitudes in a non-critical society

Answer 6

• magical attitude towards language
• protective attitude towards current category system
• positive attitude towards past
• negative attitude towards present + future

Question 7

conspiracy theories

- structure

Answer 7

1) who
2) is doing what
3) with what
4) to whom
5) for what purpose

Question 8

conspiracy theories

- definition

Answer 8

• powerful people + organisations –> group of actors
• secretly
• mostly at expense of common good
• insufficient evidence
• resist falsification –> not scientific

Question 9

conspiracy theories

- causes

Answer 9

• adaptive conspiracism
• evolutionary advantage –> survival
• ‘us’ vs. ‘them’
• conspiracy cascades: role of info, reputation, availability, emotions
• crippled epistemologies
• media –> algorithms
• ramsey theory

Question 10

ramsey theory

Answer 10

= given enough elements in a set/structure some particular interesting pattern among them is guaranteed to emerge

Question 11

conspiracy theories

- predispositions

Answer 11

• conspiracy mindset
• low self-esteem, low level of education, low income
• schizotypal personality, paranoid
• anxious
• negative attitudes towards authority

Question 12

conspiracy theories

- negative effects

Answer 12

• violence
• reduces sense of autonomy
• people take less action –> feel powerless
• heightens paranoia

Question 13

conspiracy theories

- positive effects

Answer 13

• questions dominance
• opens discussions
• reveals real conspiracies
• gives sense of community