{"product_id":"conspiracy-theories-hardback-9781509535828","title":"Conspiracy Theories (Hardback) 9781509535828","description":"\u003cfont face=\"Georgia\"\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"6\"\u003eConspiracy Theories\u003c\/font\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eQuassim Cassam (Author)\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e9781509535828, Polity Press\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eHardback, published 13 September 2019\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e140 pages\u003cbr\u003e19.3 x 12.7 x 1.8 cm, 0.245 kg\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e\"Quassim Cassam has done the world a great service. This short, bracing and easily accessible book is not only a compelling read - it is also a much-needed weapon in the war against lies and the battle for truth. Methodically, he takes apart the mindset of the conspiracy theorist and shows why such theories arise, why they appeal and why they cause real damage. Truth has taken a battering in recent years. Now, thanks to Cassam, the truth is hitting back.\"\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eJonathan Freedland\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\"Those who engage in [conspiracy theory]... need to protect themselves against its corrupting effects. The philosopher Quassim Cassam is, I think, our wisest writer on this matter. I’d heartily recommend his work...\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eMatthew Sweet, \u003ci\u003eBBC Radio Presenter\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\"Interesting and informative\" \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eQuest Magazine\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\"Beautifully clear, thoroughly researched, rigorous and wide-ranging.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eSociety\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9\/11 was an inside job. The Holocaust is a myth promoted to serve Jewish interests. The shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School were a false flag operation. Climate change is a hoax perpetrated by the Chinese government.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e These are all conspiracy theories. A glance online or at bestseller lists reveals how popular some of them are. Even if there is plenty of evidence to disprove them, people persist in propagating them. Why? Philosopher Quassim Cassam explains how conspiracy theories are different from ordinary theories about conspiracies. He argues that conspiracy theories are forms of propaganda and their function is to promote a political agenda. Although conspiracy theories are sometimes defended on the grounds that they uncover evidence of bad behaviour by political leaders, they do much more harm than good, with some resulting in the deaths of large numbers of people.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e There can be no clearer indication that something has gone wrong with our intellectual and political culture than the fact that conspiracy theories have become mainstream. When they are dangerous, we cannot afford to ignore them. At the same time, refuting them by rational argument is difficult because conspiracy theorists discount or reject evidence that disproves their theories. As conspiracy theories are so often smokescreens for political ends, we need to come up with political as well as intellectual responses if we are to have any hope of defeating them.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003ePreface\u003cbr\u003e 1 The (Real) Point of Conspiracy Theories\u003cbr\u003e 2 Why are Conspiracy Theories so Popular?\u003cbr\u003e 3 The Problem with Conspiracy Theories\u003cbr\u003e 4 How to Respond to Conspiracy Theories\u003cbr\u003e Further Reading\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eSubject Areas: Politics \u0026amp; government [\u003ca title=\"See our other books on Politics \u0026amp; government\" href=\"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/search?q=%22Politics%20\u0026amp;%20government%20%5BJP%5D%22\"\u003eJP\u003c\/a\u003e]\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/font\u003e","brand":"Polity","offers":[{"title":"Brand New","offer_id":52441796280600,"sku":"9781509535828","price":25.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0730\/2037\/5320\/files\/9781509535828.jpg?v=1785025857","url":"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/products\/conspiracy-theories-hardback-9781509535828","provider":"Freshly Printed Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}