Why conspiracy theories?
Why do we have a relatively small number of people relying on conspiracy theories?
My short answer is fear, which in turn triggers insecurity and a self-centred behavior.
According to Wiki, a conspiracy theory is an explanation for an event or situation that invokes a conspiracy by sinister and powerful groups, often political in motivation, when other explanations are more probable. The term has a negative connotation, implying that the appeal to a conspiracy is based on prejudice or insufficient evidence. A conspiracy theory is not the same as a conspiracy; instead, it refers to a hypothesized conspiracy with specific characteristics, such as an opposition to the mainstream consensus among those people (such as scientists or historians) who are qualified to evaluate its accuracy.
Conspiracy theories resist falsification and are reinforced by circular reasoning: both evidence against the conspiracy and an absence of evidence for it are re-interpreted as evidence of its truth, whereby the conspiracy becomes a matter of faith rather than something that can be proven or disproven. [1]
For example, a flat Earth is still believed to exist by some. Other believe that Covid vaccines are made by aliens to control us and they contains micro-chips to spy us.
Some researchers suggest that conspiracist ideation—belief in conspiracy theories—may be psychologically harmful, or pathological, and that it is correlated with lower analytical thinking, low intelligence, psychological projection, paranoia.
Paranoia is an instinct or thought process that is believed to be heavily influenced by anxiety or fear, often to the point of delusion and irrationality. Paranoid thinking typically includes persecutory beliefs, or beliefs of conspiracy concerning a perceived threat towards oneself. [1]
Historically, conspiracy theories have been closely linked to prejudice, propaganda, witch hunts, wars, and genocides. They are often strongly believed by the perpetrators of terrorist attacks, and were used as justification by Timothy McVeigh and Anders Breivik, as well as by governments such as Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union, and Turkey. AIDS denialism by the government of South Africa, motivated by conspiracy theories, caused an estimated 330.000 deaths from AIDS, QAnon and denialism about the 2020 United States presidential election results led to the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol. [1]
On top of that, we need to consider that according to the Indian calendar, this is the age of Kali which is characterized by darkness. [2]
So, it no surprise to have multiple conflicts and fake news that are typical of this age.
My suggestion to overcome the present crisis is to go back to the root of the individual and develop the human values that every human being is capable to manifest. This requires desires and fears to be seen in perspective, so that the individual can evolve and move safely towards the vast expanse of peace and love that is at the root of the universe. [3]
There is no need to travel in space and to colonize Mars when such peace is inside us, free and always available.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conspiracy_theory
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kali_Yuga
[3] https://www.fempton.com/uxton/human-values
My short answer is fear, which in turn triggers insecurity and a self-centred behavior.
According to Wiki, a conspiracy theory is an explanation for an event or situation that invokes a conspiracy by sinister and powerful groups, often political in motivation, when other explanations are more probable. The term has a negative connotation, implying that the appeal to a conspiracy is based on prejudice or insufficient evidence. A conspiracy theory is not the same as a conspiracy; instead, it refers to a hypothesized conspiracy with specific characteristics, such as an opposition to the mainstream consensus among those people (such as scientists or historians) who are qualified to evaluate its accuracy.
Conspiracy theories resist falsification and are reinforced by circular reasoning: both evidence against the conspiracy and an absence of evidence for it are re-interpreted as evidence of its truth, whereby the conspiracy becomes a matter of faith rather than something that can be proven or disproven. [1]
For example, a flat Earth is still believed to exist by some. Other believe that Covid vaccines are made by aliens to control us and they contains micro-chips to spy us.
Some researchers suggest that conspiracist ideation—belief in conspiracy theories—may be psychologically harmful, or pathological, and that it is correlated with lower analytical thinking, low intelligence, psychological projection, paranoia.
Paranoia is an instinct or thought process that is believed to be heavily influenced by anxiety or fear, often to the point of delusion and irrationality. Paranoid thinking typically includes persecutory beliefs, or beliefs of conspiracy concerning a perceived threat towards oneself. [1]
Historically, conspiracy theories have been closely linked to prejudice, propaganda, witch hunts, wars, and genocides. They are often strongly believed by the perpetrators of terrorist attacks, and were used as justification by Timothy McVeigh and Anders Breivik, as well as by governments such as Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union, and Turkey. AIDS denialism by the government of South Africa, motivated by conspiracy theories, caused an estimated 330.000 deaths from AIDS, QAnon and denialism about the 2020 United States presidential election results led to the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol. [1]
On top of that, we need to consider that according to the Indian calendar, this is the age of Kali which is characterized by darkness. [2]
So, it no surprise to have multiple conflicts and fake news that are typical of this age.
My suggestion to overcome the present crisis is to go back to the root of the individual and develop the human values that every human being is capable to manifest. This requires desires and fears to be seen in perspective, so that the individual can evolve and move safely towards the vast expanse of peace and love that is at the root of the universe. [3]
There is no need to travel in space and to colonize Mars when such peace is inside us, free and always available.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conspiracy_theory
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kali_Yuga
[3] https://www.fempton.com/uxton/human-values
