DPS meeting
Are conspiracy theorists irrational?
Wednesday 27 July from 5-6pm in ib3.307 on Deakin’s Waurn Ponds campus
This Wednesday 27 July from 5-6pm in ib3.307 the Deakin Philosophical Society will continue to discuss conspiracy theories. This week we’ll turn our focus to the rationality of conspiracy theorists. The discussion will be based around David Coady’s 2007 article ‘Are conspiracy theorists irrational’. Find a copy here: http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/episteme/v004/4.2coady02.html.
In brief, Coady’s article defends conspiracy theorists as modern-day sceptics who, like sceptics of old, fulfil an important social role — so long as they don’t become cynics or solipsists.
Also, note that the meeting will finish at 6pm so that people have time to make it to philosophy café.
Dylan.
DPS meeting
Conspiracy theories
Wednesday 20 July from 5-6.30pm in ib3.307 on Deakin’s Waurn Ponds campus
Shhh. I’m sure someone is listening, so I’ll speak quietly. This Wednesday 20 July from 5-6.30pm in ib3.307 the Deakin Philosophical Society will discuss conspiracy theories. Do conspiracy theories follow a common pattern or share common features? Why might people believe conspiracy theories? Who believes conspiracy theories? These are just some of the questions we’ll ask.
We’ll begin the session by screening an episode from Penn & Teller’s series Bullshit [Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3]. While the episode focuses on debunking specific conspiracies, we’ll focus more on analysing the structure of conspiracy theories. (And it would be remiss of me not to mention that the language in the episode is … coarse.).
Hope to see you there.
Dylan
DPS meeting
The philosophy of a carbon tax
Wednesday 13 July from 5-6.30pm in ib3.307 on Deakin’s Waurn Ponds campus
This Wednesday 13 July from 5-6.50pm in ib3.307 the Deakin Philosophical Society will meet for the first time in Trimester 2. For the first week back we’ll discuss a topic that is more political than philosophical at the moment: the new carbon tax. Take a look at cleanenergyfuture.gov.au for the latest information. If your after an opposing position, go to nocarbontax.com.au.
Kind Regards,
Dylan Nickelson,
President, Deakin Philosophical Society.
