Modern Conspiracy: The Importance of Being Paranoid

ISBN-13: 9781623566814 / Angielski / Twarda / 2014 / 184 str.

Chris Fleming; Emma A. Jane

Opis

While conspiracy theory is often characterized in terms of the collapse of objectivity and Enlightenment reason, Modern Conspiracy traces the important role of conspiracy in the formation of the modern world: the scientific revolution, social contract theory, political sovereignty, religious paranoia and mass communication media. Rather than seeing the imminent death of Enlightenment reason and a regression to a new Dark Age in conspiratorial thinking, Modern Conspiracy suggests that many characteristic features of conspiracies tap very deeply into the history of the Enlightenment: its vociferous critique of established authorities and a conception of political sovereignty fuelled by fear of counter-plots, for example. Perhaps, ultimately, conspiracy theory affords us a renewed opportunity to reflect on our very relationship to the truth itself.

Spis treści

Acknowledgements Introduction – Running Dogs and the ‘Rightness’ of Conspiracy Chapter One: Powerful Secrets Chapter Two: Impossible Things Chapter Three: A Short History of an Epistemic Ambience Chapter Four: Pleasures, Sorrows, and Doubling Chapter Five: Cultural Ramifications and Reflections Chapter Six: Conspiracy and Theory Conclusion: Where to Now?