#50: Of Heroes and (Epistemological) Hostages

José and Danielle discuss conspiracy theories. Why is it that some, otherwise rational, people get hooked into crazy conspiracy theories like the anti-vax or flat earth movements? José suggests that perhaps it’s because they’re tired of feeling like alienated sheep and want to start feeling like heroes in their own lives—and, he adds, we are all susceptible to this pitfall.

Links

• Flat earthers: Website of the Flat Earth Society

• Tuskegee syphilis experiment: From the CDC’s website

• AIDS Created by the CIA?: From snopes.com

• CIA drugs for money: Turns out the evidence isn’t as clear-cut as José thought! He chooses to rationally contemplate being wrong.

• Our music was graciously provided by BenSound.

• Audio engineering and editing services were benevolently provided by Dan Short.

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