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This article is from the Scientific Skepticism FAQ, by Paul Johnson Paul@treetop.demon.co.uk with numerous contributions by
others.
0.8: What is a Conspiracy Theory?
There are two general categories of conspiracy theory: Grand and
Petty.
A Grand conspiracy theory is a belief that there is a large-scale
conspiracy by those in power to mislead and/or control the rest of the
world. Consider the following example:
There is a conspiracy amongst the computer programmers to
control the world. They are only allowing the public to have
simple machines, while they control the really powerful ones.
There is a computer in <city> they call "The Beast". It has
records about everyone. They use this information to
manipulate the politicians and businessmen who ostensibly rule
the world into doing their will. The Beast was prophesied in
the Book of Revelation.
Grand conspiracy theories divide the world into three groups. The
Conspirators, the Investigators, and the Dupes. Conspirators have a
vast secret. The Investigators have revealed parts of the conspiracy,
but much is still secret. Investigators are always in great danger of
being silenced by Conspirators. Dupes are just the rest of us. Often
the Conspirators show a mixture of incredible subtlety and stunning
stupidity.
Evidence produced by the Investigators is always either circumstantial
or evaporates when looked at carefully. The theories can never be
disproved, since any evidence to the contrary can be dismissed as
having been planted by the Conspirators. If you spend any time or
effort digging into the evidence produced by Investigators then you
will be labelled a Conspirator yourself. Of course, nothing a
Conspirator says can be believed.
Petty conspiracy theories are smaller than the Grand variety, and
sometimes turn out to be true. Watergate and "Arms for Hostages"
episodes both started life as Petty conspiracy theories. Just because
a theory involves a conspiracy does not make that theory false. The
main difference between Grand and Petty Conspiracy Theories is the
number of alleged conspirators. Grand Conspiracy Theories require
thousands or even millions.
People sometimes use the word "conspiracy" about their opponents
without really thinking about what they are suggesting. If you find
yourself tempted to refer to the "X conspiracy" where X is merely a
group of people who disagree with you, then pick another word.
Otherwise you will be asked for evidence that this conspiracy actually
exists.
[Since this FAQ was first posted I have heard that the Beast computer
is in Holland and that you can be saved by converting to a particular
cult. In addition the cult claims that every product bar code
includes three 6 digits as frame markers, hence 666, the number of the
beast. In fact this is not true, and even if it were it would not
fulfill the prophecy in Revelation. Meanwhile the cult members were
*meant* to rise up to heaven on 29/10/92 but very embarrassingly
didn't. The Korean founder was also discovered to have bought millions
of $ worth of stocks and bonds which didn't mature until 1995, and was
convicted of fraud.]
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