University of Chicago Law School Law & Economics Research Paper Series Paper No. 387 Conspiracy Theories CASS R. SUNSTEIN University of Chicago - Law School ADRIAN VERMEULE Harvard University - Harvard Law School This paper can be downloaded free of charge from the Social Science Research Network at: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1084585 Electronic copy available at: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1084585Preliminarydraft 1/15/08  Conspiracy Theories Cass R. Sunstein* Adrian Vermeule** 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 a 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 of whether it is better for the government to rebut conspiracy theories. Please help support the show because we can’t openly talk about controversial topics without your help. We adhere to the Value for Value model. If you value this content with 0 ads, 0 sponsorships, 0 breaks, 0 portals and links to corporate websites, please assist. Many hours of unlimited content for free. Thanks for listening!!   Support the show directly: http://www.grimericaoutlawed.ca/support https://www.patreon.com/grimericaoutlawed   Get your Magic Mushrooms delivered from: Mushroom Spores, Spore Syringes, Best Spore Syringes, Grow Mushroom Spores Lab   Other affiliated shows: https://www.13questionspodcast.com/ Our New Podcast - 13 Questions www.grimerica.ca The OG Grimerica Show   Join the chat / hangout with a bunch of fellow Grimerican’s  www.grimerica.ca/chats   1-403-702-6083 Call and leave a voice mail or send us a text   GrimericaFM https://s2.radio.co/s053ed3122/listen   Check out our next trip/conference/meetup - Contact at the Cabin www.contactatthecabin.com   Leave a review on iTunes and/or Stitcher: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/grimerica-outlawed http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/grimerica-outlawed   Sign up for our newsletter http://www.grimerica.ca/news   SPAM Graham = and send him your synchronicities, feedback, strange experiences and psychedelic trip reports!! graham@grimerica.com   InstaGRAM https://www.instagram.com/the_grimerica_show_podcast/    Tweet Darren https://twitter.com/Grimerica   Connect through other platforms: https://www.reddit.com/r/grimerica/  https://gab.ai/Grimerica    Purchase swag, with partial proceeds donated to the show www.grimerica.ca/swag Send us a postcard or letter http://www.grimerica.ca/contact/   Napolean Duheme's site http://www.lostbreadcomic.com/  Felix’s Site sirfelix.bandcamp.com