Philosophy
The Epistemology of Conspiracy Theories and Rational Belief
Quick fact
The core epistemic problem with conspiracy theories is not that they lack evidence, but that they are often structured to be unfalsifiable—any counter-evidence can be reinterpreted as part of the conspiracy itself.
Why this is interesting
We all like to think our beliefs are rational, but what if the very structure of a conspiracy theory—even a false one—feels more rational than the truth? Why do some claims, despite overwhelming evidence against them, still seem convincing?