Mad World: making sense of nonsense, or how to understand modern-day conspiracy theories
In this class we will draw on philosophy, cognitive science, linguistics, psychology, and the human sciences, to examine what epistemologies underlie contemporary conspiracy theories such as Flat-Eartherism, Chemtrails, faked moon landings, anti-vaccine positions and many others. Students are encouraged to draw on their training in the natural sciences and to reflect on scientific epistemology as well. Rather than taking the common position that such theories are simply the product of pure ignorance or naïvete, we will look more critically at how these ideas are produced (and by whom), how they are articulated and argued, how they are expanded in the public sphere, and their social, economic, and political impact. Students will be immersed in all aspects of the English language in the process, coming from a variety of sources and registers, and they will be expected to engage in vigorous and critical discussion and debate.
- Teaching coordinator: Chaudhuri-Brill Shukti
- Teaching coordinator: Langlois Laura Hilary