Conspiracy: Difference between revisions

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'''~~Conspiracy~~''' ~~refers to~~ a secret plan or agreement between two or more parties to commit an unlawful, harmful, or deceptive act. The term can also describe the act of plotting or colluding in secret to achieve a specific goal, typically at the expense of a third party. While conspiracies are often associated with criminal activity or political schemes, they also encompass a broader spectrum of covert collaboration in various contexts (see the [https://en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/conspiracy Wiktionary definition of conspiracy]).

A '''conspiracy''' is a secret plan or agreement between two or more parties to commit an unlawful, harmful, or deceptive act. The term can also describe the act of plotting or colluding in secret to achieve a specific goal, typically at the expense of a third party. While conspiracies are often associated with criminal activity or political schemes, they also encompass a broader spectrum of covert collaboration in various contexts (see the [https://en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/conspiracy Wiktionary definition of conspiracy]).

In a ~~theoretical framework where~~ conspiracies are ~~viewed~~ as pervasive and integral to human systems, ~~proponents argue that conspiracies shape~~ societal, political, and economic structures in profound ways. ~~This perspective is opposed by critics who~~ dismiss many conspiracy claims as speculative, citing [[Occam's razor]] and challenges in maintaining ~~large-~~scale ~~secrecy~~. ~~However~~, conspiracy theorists ~~allege~~ that ~~the very~~ dismissal ~~of these claims reflects~~ a coordinated effort by academic, media, and institutional establishments to suppress awareness of "real conspiracies."

Due to shifting and evolving usage of both the terms 'conspiracy' and '[[conspiracy theory]]', there is no consensus on which plots and agreements are fairly considered conspiracies. Another issue is that conspiracy theories are often, by their nature, accusations against individuals or organizations, which is socially problematic even if they appear rational. Conspirators, by definition, are unlikely to aid in any conspiracy investigation or expose each other. If the ability to marshal resources determines the ability to uncover the truth of a conspiracy, then a well-run conspiracy would only be exposed if a more powerful group chose to reveal it without risking its own exposure. Some alleged conspiracies by less powerful groups, and very few or no alleged [[grand conspiracy|grand conspiracies]] involving an apex group of this kind, have been accepted as true by the mainstream. Most alleged conspiracies are known from the testimony of alleged witnesses, whistleblowers, and alleged evidence. Conversely, denying the claims of these witnesses is problematic, as it often amounts to calling them liars. This approach is typically easier, however, as these individuals often have less power in society. Based on the claims and alleged evidence, it can be inferred that conspiracies are pervasive and integral to human systems, shaping societal, political, and economic structures in profound ways. Critics dismiss many conspiracy claims as speculative, often citing [[Occam's razor]] and the inherent challenges of maintaining secrecy at scale. In response, conspiracy theorists argue that this dismissal is artificially bolstered by a [[covert]] and coordinated effort by the [[global elite control entity|apex group]] via private and government corporations, as well as [[intelligence agency|intelligence agencies]], acting through academic, media, and institutional establishments to suppress awareness of real conspiracies.

Conspiracies definitionally need to be explicit, or at least [[conspiracy (law)|in law]] they do, if they are considered crimes. However, conspiracies are also commonly inferred even when no explicit agreement between parties is found; they are often supported by tacit or [[unspoken agreement]]s. Under this broader view, distinguishing alleged conspiracies from phenomena explained by normal [[market]] forces, [[society|societal structures]], [[organizational behavior|organizational dynamics]], or [[politics]] becomes difficult. Nevertheless, conspiracy investigators frequently point to [[evidence]] and witness allegations suggesting deviations from what would be expected under normal societal or organizational dynamics. They argue that, when considered in the totality of known evidence, these deviations indicate publicly unknown or unconfirmed actions facilitated by unseen relationships, incentives, or motives.

== Definitions and characteristics ==

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-'''Conspiracy''' refers to a secret plan or agreement between two or more parties to commit an unlawful, harmful, or deceptive act. The term can also describe the act of plotting or colluding in secret to achieve a specific goal, typically at the expense of a third party. While conspiracies are often associated with criminal activity or political schemes, they also encompass a broader spectrum of covert collaboration in various contexts (see the [https://en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/conspiracy Wiktionary definition of conspiracy]).
+A '''conspiracy''' is a secret plan or agreement between two or more parties to commit an unlawful, harmful, or deceptive act. The term can also describe the act of plotting or colluding in secret to achieve a specific goal, typically at the expense of a third party. While conspiracies are often associated with criminal activity or political schemes, they also encompass a broader spectrum of covert collaboration in various contexts (see the [https://en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/conspiracy Wiktionary definition of conspiracy]).
-In a theoretical framework where conspiracies are viewed as pervasive and integral to human systems, proponents argue that conspiracies shape societal, political, and economic structures in profound ways. This perspective is opposed by critics who dismiss many conspiracy claims as speculative, citing [[Occam's razor]] and challenges in maintaining large-scale secrecy. However, conspiracy theorists allege that the very dismissal of these claims reflects a coordinated effort by academic, media, and institutional establishments to suppress awareness of "real conspiracies."
+Due to shifting and evolving usage of both the terms 'conspiracy' and '[[conspiracy theory]]', there is no consensus on which plots and agreements are fairly considered conspiracies. Another issue is that conspiracy theories are often, by their nature, accusations against individuals or organizations, which is socially problematic even if they appear rational. Conspirators, by definition, are unlikely to aid in any conspiracy investigation or expose each other. If the ability to marshal resources determines the ability to uncover the truth of a conspiracy, then a well-run conspiracy would only be exposed if a more powerful group chose to reveal it without risking its own exposure. Some alleged conspiracies by less powerful groups, and very few or no alleged [[grand conspiracy|grand conspiracies]] involving an apex group of this kind, have been accepted as true by the mainstream. Most alleged conspiracies are known from the testimony of alleged witnesses, whistleblowers, and alleged evidence. Conversely, denying the claims of these witnesses is problematic, as it often amounts to calling them liars. This approach is typically easier, however, as these individuals often have less power in society. Based on the claims and alleged evidence, it can be inferred that conspiracies are pervasive and integral to human systems, shaping societal, political, and economic structures in profound ways. Critics dismiss many conspiracy claims as speculative, often citing [[Occam's razor]] and the inherent challenges of maintaining secrecy at scale. In response, conspiracy theorists argue that this dismissal is artificially bolstered by a [[covert]] and coordinated effort by the [[global elite control entity|apex group]] via private and government corporations, as well as [[intelligence agency|intelligence agencies]], acting through academic, media, and institutional establishments to suppress awareness of real conspiracies.
+Conspiracies definitionally need to be explicit, or at least [[conspiracy (law)|in law]] they do, if they are considered crimes. However, conspiracies are also commonly inferred even when no explicit agreement between parties is found; they are often supported by tacit or [[unspoken agreement]]s. Under this broader view, distinguishing alleged conspiracies from phenomena explained by normal [[market]] forces, [[society|societal structures]], [[organizational behavior|organizational dynamics]], or [[politics]] becomes difficult. Nevertheless, conspiracy investigators frequently point to [[evidence]] and witness allegations suggesting deviations from what would be expected under normal societal or organizational dynamics. They argue that, when considered in the totality of known evidence, these deviations indicate publicly unknown or unconfirmed actions facilitated by unseen relationships, incentives, or motives.
 == Definitions and characteristics ==