Between truth and trust: Conspiracy theories
We are living in a time of conspiracy theories, paranoid political thinking and a pandemic of misinformation. Watch the third of our online discussions Between Truth and Trust to explore why such theories have such a hold on our imaginations, why they are dangerous, and what they tell us about ourselves.
Online discussion hosted by the House of European History
Conspiracy theories are unfounded stories based on fictions, lies and fantasies that fabricate the existence of secretive groups plotting to control governments, markets, and world events.
What makes people believe in unfounded conspiracy theories? What do they say about the way we see the world, our fears and anxieties, and our hopes and dreams?
How can we know what is real – to distinguish the genuine conspiracy from the fantasies of the conspiracist?
We enable people to navigate difficult histories.
Debate, discussion and our expert panel
An international panel of leading experts addressed these vital questions through the lens of history, literature, cognitive science, and psychology.
Throughout the debate, panellists asked questions to each other, probing further, revealing new insights, and leading to new rounds of intensive discussion.
Special guest speakers:
Elise Wang, Assistant Professor of English, Comparative Literature, and Linguistics, California State University, USA
Hugo Mercier, Evolutionary and Cognitive Psychologist, National Centre for Scientific Research, France
Stephan Lewandowsky, Professor of Cognitive Science, University of Bristol, United Kingdom
Simina Badica, Curator ‘’Fake (F)or Real’’ exhibition, House of European History
Moderator:
Paul Salmons, Curator and educator specialising in difficult histories, Paul Salmons Associates.
Introduction by Constanze Itzel, Museum Director of the House of European History.
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