Comments on: A Definition of Conspiracy Theory

By: Occult Investigator

Occult Investigator — Sun, 17 Jul 2005 20:46:04 +0000

Yeah, I mean his ideas are so explosive that they deserve to be communicated in a more straightforward way. The best thing I’ve ever seen by him was his piece on pirate utopias.

By: albion

albion — Sun, 17 Jul 2005 20:38:43 +0000

yeah, he could definitely ‘unpack’ some of those ideas into clearer language.

By: Occult Investigator

Occult Investigator — Sun, 17 Jul 2005 20:36:23 +0000

Yeah, I’ve read Bey’s essay. I get what he’s saying, but his writing is I don’t know… a little too clinical or something for me.

By: albion

albion — Sun, 17 Jul 2005 19:51:37 +0000

the best extended definition i’ve read (though i dont necessarily agree with all of it) is hakim bey’s essay The Ontological Status of Conspiracy Theory.

By: Occult Investigator

Occult Investigator — Sun, 17 Jul 2005 18:23:25 +0000

Hm, that’s certainly a dire outlook… But maybe that brings up a good question too: how many people just feel hopeless when they really delve into conspiracy theory and find out about all this negative shit?

By: rg

rg — Sun, 17 Jul 2005 18:12:42 +0000

i think the most meaningful definition of conspiracy theory has to do with secrecy and deception in the exercise of power. since an individual can conspire all alone in this sense, the legal definition of conspiracy would not strictly apply.

the web is bringing much conspiratorial history to light, and this is more than entertaining. these are deeply important truths. not surprisingly, the emergence of these truths makes many people hopeful about bringing the perpetrators to justice, dismantling the existing aparatus, and making the world a better place.

i don’t share that optimism, as i believe this process of enlightenment is probably the moment when our collective lives flash before us as we meet our ecological fate.