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Narrative Counterspeech.
- Source :
-
Political Studies . May2024, Vol. 72 Issue 2, p570-589. 20p. - Publication Year :
- 2024
-
Abstract
- The proliferation of conspiracy theories poses a significant threat to democratic decision-making. To counter this threat, many political theorists advocate countering conspiracy theories with 'more speech' (or 'counterspeech'). Yet conspiracy theories are notoriously resistant to counterspeech. This article aims to conceptualise and defend a novel form of counterspeech – narrative counterspeech – that is singularly well-placed to overcome this resistance. My argument proceeds in three steps. First, I argue that conspiracy theories pose a special problem for counterspeech for three interconnected reasons relating to salience, emotion and internal coherence. Drawing on recent work in social epistemology, philosophy of emotion and cognitive science, I then demonstrate that narrative forms of counterspeech constitute an apt response to this diagnosis. Finally, I forestall two objections: the first questions the likely effectiveness of narrative counterspeech; the second insists that, even if it were effective, it would remain unacceptably manipulative. Neither objection, I contend, is ultimately compelling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00323217
- Volume :
- 72
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Political Studies
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 177037359
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1177/00323217221129253