Creation of Conspiracy Theory Belief Indirectly Through Post-truth by Way of False Information
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Authors
Davis, Gwendolyn
Issue Date
2020-11-01
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
Post-truth rhetoric has become an influential figure in how society understands and relates to truth and reality. Since 2016 scholarship on post-truth skyrocketed due to its increased popularity and new prominent role in politics and news media. In a post-truth world, opinions and emotions become more important and trustworthy than logic and reason. Speakers of post-truth use emotion and opinions to create belief through emotion and discrediting others. Emotion and credibility can generate trust in the speaker; giving them the platform to spread opinions, false information, and conspiracy theories. The creation and amplification of false information and conspiracy theories enforce alternative and differing realities and truths. False belief, as well as the border more generally post-truth, falls into postmodernism. Elucidating that alternative realities and truth claims are equally flawed and valid concerning each other and the world. Viewing post-truth through a postmodern lens assists in understanding why false information and conspiracy theories allow people to see reality differently. Conspiracy theories are an integral facet in understanding alternative beliefs in reality and truth; because of that association, conspiracy theory beliefs should connect to post-truth. No empirical studies or reviews have compared these concepts despite them being incredibly close. I argue that post-truth indirectly contributes to the creation and belief in conspiracy theories through the facets and outcomes of post-truth.
Description
v, 69 p.
Citation
Publisher
Kalamazoo, Mich. : Kalamazoo College.
License
U.S. copyright laws protect this material. Commercial use or distribution of this material is not permitted without prior written permission of the copyright holder. All rights reserved.