AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION: GENERAL SEMANTICS AND CONSPIRACY THEORIES.

GENERAL semantics; CONSPIRACY theories; DEMOCRACY; CRITICAL thinking; KORZYBSKI, Alfred, 1879-1950

Research on conspiracy theories (CTs) and conspiratorial thinking demonstrates their connection to democracy. Some Of that research has lumped all CTs and theorists into a pathology, which is erroneous and potentially dangerous to democracy because conspiracies have turned out to be correct in several instances. Understanding CTs and conspiratorial thinking better and investigating ways to increase critical thinking while maintaining a healthy skepticism may be prudent. An approach that may be more helpful than pathologizing and curing CTs is to prevent entrenched viewpoints by encouraging critical thinking. One system with a history of teaching people to think critically is Alfred Korzybski's general semantics (GS). This essay suggests ways GS can help conspiracy thinking by providing a framework for people to analyze information more rationally. Additionally, this essay includes concepts from conspiracy theory curator andprovocateur Robert Anton Wilson, whom Kor.ybski and GS influenced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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