Against Stupidity: A Philosophical Reflection on the Relevance of Conspiracy Theories and Pseudoscience

As participants in discourses in democratic societies, we live in challenging times. Various populist movements from diverse ideological backgrounds constantly threaten the discourse that has been achieved and cultivated over the past decades. This book presents proposals for a solution, namely, that we all widely apply the principles of what has come to be known as "the scientific worldview." This perspective, the author argues, is the most democratic, pluralistic, intellectually humble, and constructive view we have to face our challenges, especially when viewed through the lens of the philosophy of science. Meier also tells us that we are individuals, but always and necessarily part of one social structure or another, some community, however dysfunctional it may be. Therefore, we must fight against divisive forces, stupidity, conspiratorial fantasies, demagoguery, and populism, to focus on the rational, on what works to underpin and foster scientific knowledge and advance as civilized, democratic, and free societies, with solid, democratic, and pluralistic institutions. And above all, with a functional rule of law.