supposing that I live in a high crime area and that when I left home this
area and that when I left home this
area and that when I left home this morning I switched on the burglar alarm
morning I switched on the burglar alarm
morning I switched on the burglar alarm as I always do and it really matters
as I always do and it really matters
as I always do and it really matters whether it’s Richard or not
whether it’s Richard or not
whether it’s Richard or not how do I know that I switched it on
how do I know that I switched it on
how do I know that I switched it on well I remember switching it on my
well I remember switching it on my
well I remember switching it on my recollection that I switched on the
recollection that I switched on the
recollection that I switched on the burglar alarm gives me confidence that I
burglar alarm gives me confidence that I
burglar alarm gives me confidence that I switched it on and this confidence is
switched it on and this confidence is
switched it on and this confidence is based on a kind of trust which I’m going
based on a kind of trust which I’m going
based on a kind of trust which I’m going to call self trust I trust myself to
to call self trust I trust myself to
to call self trust I trust myself to know to be able to be capable of knowing
know to be able to be capable of knowing
know to be able to be capable of knowing whether I switched on the alarm or not
whether I switched on the alarm or not
whether I switched on the alarm or not it is not just that I am confident that
it is not just that I am confident that
it is not just that I am confident that I switch it on I have the right to be
I switch it on I have the right to be
I switch it on I have the right to be confident I have the right to be
confident I have the right to be
confident I have the right to be confident as long as my memory is in
confident as long as my memory is in
confident as long as my memory is in fact reliable it’s not just that I do
fact reliable it’s not just that I do
fact reliable it’s not just that I do trust myself I have the right to trust
trust myself I have the right to trust
trust myself I have the right to trust myself again as long as I’m generally
myself again as long as I’m generally
myself again as long as I’m generally reliable about this kind of thing okay
reliable about this kind of thing okay
reliable about this kind of thing okay now supposing that you were with me this
now supposing that you were with me this
now supposing that you were with me this morning for some reason and you say to
morning for some reason and you say to
morning for some reason and you say to me now look you didn’t switch it on
me now look you didn’t switch it on
me now look you didn’t switch it on you’re telling me that you did but I saw
you’re telling me that you did but I saw
you’re telling me that you did but I saw you I saw you would leave the house and
you I saw you would leave the house and
you I saw you would leave the house and I saw that you didn’t switch it on okay
I saw that you didn’t switch it on okay
I saw that you didn’t switch it on okay and then you might remind me of all the
and then you might remind me of all the
and then you might remind me of all the previous occasions when I forgot to do
previous occasions when I forgot to do
previous occasions when I forgot to do something which I thought I’d done okay
something which I thought I’d done okay
something which I thought I’d done okay so you go on at me now if you’re
so you go on at me now if you’re
so you go on at me now if you’re convincing enough what you might achieve
convincing enough what you might achieve
convincing enough what you might achieve is the implanting of doubts in my mind
is the implanting of doubts in my mind
is the implanting of doubts in my mind about whether I switched on the alarm or
about whether I switched on the alarm or
about whether I switched on the alarm or not I started off pretty confident that
not I started off pretty confident that
not I started off pretty confident that I did but now I’m not so sure I started
I did but now I’m not so sure I started
I did but now I’m not so sure I started off trusting myself now I don’t
and the effect of this loss of
and the effect of this loss of confidence this loss of self trust the
confidence this loss of self trust the
confidence this loss of self trust the effect I want to suggest is loss of
effect I want to suggest is loss of
effect I want to suggest is loss of knowledge I’ve gone from knowing
knowledge I’ve gone from knowing
knowledge I’ve gone from knowing something that I’ve switched on the
something that I’ve switched on the
something that I’ve switched on the alarm to not knowing it and I’ve gone
alarm to not knowing it and I’ve gone
alarm to not knowing it and I’ve gone from knowing to not knowing as a result
from knowing to not knowing as a result
from knowing to not knowing as a result of these doubts which you’ve implanted
of these doubts which you’ve implanted
of these doubts which you’ve implanted in my mind the more I doubt the less I
in my mind the more I doubt the less I
in my mind the more I doubt the less I know the less confident I am in myself
know the less confident I am in myself
know the less confident I am in myself and in my beliefs
and in my beliefs
and in my beliefs the less I know knowledge requires a
the less I know knowledge requires a
the less I know knowledge requires a certain degree of confidence knowledge
certain degree of confidence knowledge
certain degree of confidence knowledge requires a certain degree of trust not
requires a certain degree of trust not
requires a certain degree of trust not just trust in other people but trust in
just trust in other people but trust in
just trust in other people but trust in yourself trust in you the knower now if
yourself trust in you the knower now if
yourself trust in you the knower now if that’s right then there’s a very
that’s right then there’s a very
that’s right then there’s a very effective way of depriving someone else
effective way of depriving someone else
effective way of depriving someone else of their knowledge if you want to
of their knowledge if you want to
of their knowledge if you want to deprive someone else of their knowledge
deprive someone else of their knowledge
deprive someone else of their knowledge a really effective way of doing that is
a really effective way of doing that is
a really effective way of doing that is to erode their confidence and to erode
to erode their confidence and to erode
to erode their confidence and to erode their trust in themselves and in the
their trust in themselves and in the
their trust in themselves and in the burglar alarm example I want to just
burglar alarm example I want to just
burglar alarm example I want to just make a couple of observations that I
make a couple of observations that I
make a couple of observations that I think are quite important the first
think are quite important the first
think are quite important the first observation is that I can lose my
observation is that I can lose my
observation is that I can lose my knowledge in this example regardless of
knowledge in this example regardless of
knowledge in this example regardless of whether I did or didn’t switch on the
whether I did or didn’t switch on the
whether I did or didn’t switch on the alarm even if I did switch on the alarm
alarm even if I did switch on the alarm
alarm even if I did switch on the alarm even if I’m right and you’re wrong I
even if I’m right and you’re wrong I
even if I’m right and you’re wrong I could still end up not knowing whether I
could still end up not knowing whether I
could still end up not knowing whether I switched on the alarm or not it’s not
switched on the alarm or not it’s not
switched on the alarm or not it’s not that i no longer know because the facts
that i no longer know because the facts
that i no longer know because the facts have changed the facts haven’t changed I
have changed the facts haven’t changed I
have changed the facts haven’t changed I did switch on the alarm okay so it it
did switch on the alarm okay so it it
did switch on the alarm okay so it it the loss of knowledge is the result of a
the loss of knowledge is the result of a
the loss of knowledge is the result of a change in me in my psychology rather
change in me in my psychology rather
change in me in my psychology rather than a change in the world that the
than a change in the world that the
than a change in the world that the second thing I want to say about this
second thing I want to say about this
second thing I want to say about this example which i think is also quite
example which i think is also quite
example which i think is also quite important is that it actually doesn’t
important is that it actually doesn’t
important is that it actually doesn’t matter whether you really believe that I
matter whether you really believe that I
matter whether you really believe that I switched on the alarm or not I mean
switched on the alarm or not I mean
switched on the alarm or not I mean maybe you’re just messing with me I mean
maybe you’re just messing with me I mean
maybe you’re just messing with me I mean maybe you’re just making it your mission
maybe you’re just making it your mission
maybe you’re just making it your mission to undermine my confidence and people do
to undermine my confidence and people do
to undermine my confidence and people do that sometimes right I mean maybe you
that sometimes right I mean maybe you
that sometimes right I mean maybe you just you’re just messing with my head
just you’re just messing with my head
just you’re just messing with my head okay so at the point at which I finally
okay so at the point at which I finally
okay so at the point at which I finally say well I don’t know maybe I didn’t
say well I don’t know maybe I didn’t
say well I don’t know maybe I didn’t switch on the alarm you’ve kind of what
switch on the alarm you’ve kind of what
switch on the alarm you’ve kind of what right and you you you’ve won you’ve
right and you you you’ve won you’ve
right and you you you’ve won you’ve succeeded in implanting these doubts
succeeded in implanting these doubts
succeeded in implanting these doubts self-doubt in me regardless of whether
self-doubt in me regardless of whether
self-doubt in me regardless of whether you believe that I have any reason to
you believe that I have any reason to
you believe that I have any reason to doubt myself okay so what I’ve just
doubt myself okay so what I’ve just
doubt myself okay so what I’ve just described is how you can go from knowing
described is how you can go from knowing
described is how you can go from knowing to not knowing even though there’s been
to not knowing even though there’s been
to not knowing even though there’s been no change in the facts that’s what I’ve
no change in the facts that’s what I’ve
no change in the facts that’s what I’ve just described okay and that’s what I
just described okay and that’s what I
just described okay and that’s what I called the problem of disappearing
called the problem of disappearing
called the problem of disappearing knowledge a person’s knowledge can be
knowledge a person’s knowledge can be
knowledge a person’s knowledge can be made to disappear to vanish by
made to disappear to vanish by
made to disappear to vanish by undermining their self-confidence and
undermining their self-confidence and
undermining their self-confidence and their self trust okay what’s that got to
their self trust okay what’s that got to
their self trust okay what’s that got to do with fate news and conspiracy
do with fate news and conspiracy
do with fate news and conspiracy theories
so what I want to suggest to you is that
so what I want to suggest to you is that one of the actual and indeed intended
one of the actual and indeed intended
one of the actual and indeed intended effects of the proliferation of fake
effects of the proliferation of fake
effects of the proliferation of fake news and conspiracy theories is to
news and conspiracy theories is to
news and conspiracy theories is to undermine to erode our confidence in our
undermine to erode our confidence in our
undermine to erode our confidence in our ability to know what the world around us
ability to know what the world around us
ability to know what the world around us is like and how it works and by eroding
is like and how it works and by eroding
is like and how it works and by eroding our confidence in our ability to know
our confidence in our ability to know
our confidence in our ability to know they actually erode our ability to know
they actually erode our ability to know
they actually erode our ability to know ok so just just to remind you knowing
ok so just just to remind you knowing
ok so just just to remind you knowing requires a degree of confidence it
requires a degree of confidence it
requires a degree of confidence it requires a degree of self Trust by
requires a degree of self Trust by
requires a degree of self Trust by undermining that you actually undermine
undermining that you actually undermine
undermining that you actually undermine knowledge and you can do that with that
knowledge and you can do that with that
knowledge and you can do that with that without without any change in the facts
without without any change in the facts
without without any change in the facts so let me give you let me give you an
so let me give you let me give you an
so let me give you let me give you an example so supposing that I believe the
example so supposing that I believe the
example so supposing that I believe the official account as people like to call
official account as people like to call
official account as people like to call it the official account of what happened
it the official account of what happened
it the official account of what happened on 9/11 now if I expose if I’m if I’m
on 9/11 now if I expose if I’m if I’m
on 9/11 now if I expose if I’m if I’m exposed to lots and lots of conspiracy
exposed to lots and lots of conspiracy
exposed to lots and lots of conspiracy theories about 9/11 the result of that
theories about 9/11 the result of that
theories about 9/11 the result of that exposure may well be to make me doubt
exposure may well be to make me doubt
exposure may well be to make me doubt what actually happened I might end up
what actually happened I might end up
what actually happened I might end up thinking well I don’t know I mean maybe
thinking well I don’t know I mean maybe
thinking well I don’t know I mean maybe it was a conspiracy
okay now that effect that that
okay now that effect that that transformation of my attitude towards
transformation of my attitude towards
transformation of my attitude towards 9/11 was brought about by my exposure to
9/11 was brought about by my exposure to
9/11 was brought about by my exposure to the tip to upper due to particular
the tip to upper due to particular
the tip to upper due to particular theory exposure to conspiracy theories
theory exposure to conspiracy theories
theory exposure to conspiracy theories and I want to suggest that that is
and I want to suggest that that is
and I want to suggest that that is fundamentally the point of these
fundamentally the point of these
fundamentally the point of these theories I mean of course sometimes
theories I mean of course sometimes
theories I mean of course sometimes people put forward conspiracy theories
people put forward conspiracy theories
people put forward conspiracy theories because they want to discredit somebody
because they want to discredit somebody
because they want to discredit somebody or for some other or some other reason
or for some other or some other reason
or for some other or some other reason but one of the one of the effects of
but one of the one of the effects of
but one of the one of the effects of these theories is to is to instill to
these theories is to is to instill to
these theories is to is to instill to implant doubts in our minds and to make
implant doubts in our minds and to make
implant doubts in our minds and to make us no longer confident in our own
us no longer confident in our own
us no longer confident in our own beliefs about the way the world works
beliefs about the way the world works
beliefs about the way the world works now of course from the perspective of
now of course from the perspective of
now of course from the perspective of the conspiracy theorist that’s exactly
the conspiracy theorist that’s exactly
the conspiracy theorist that’s exactly the aim
the aim
the aim I mean the thought that that someone who
I mean the thought that that someone who
I mean the thought that that someone who wants to propose one of his theories may
wants to propose one of his theories may
wants to propose one of his theories may have is that well you have no right to
have is that well you have no right to
have is that well you have no right to believe the official account because the
believe the official account because the
believe the official account because the official account is in fact false but
official account is in fact false but
official account is in fact false but the point I want to make is it actually
the point I want to make is it actually
the point I want to make is it actually regardless of whether the official
regardless of whether the official
regardless of whether the official account is true or not
account is true or not
account is true or not regardless of that I can still go from
regardless of that I can still go from
regardless of that I can still go from my initial state of believing something
my initial state of believing something
my initial state of believing something to not believing it as a result of
to not believing it as a result of
to not believing it as a result of exposure to conspiracy theories now of
exposure to conspiracy theories now of
exposure to conspiracy theories now of course the 9/11 example is very very
course the 9/11 example is very very
course the 9/11 example is very very controversial and and I don’t want it to
controversial and and I don’t want it to
controversial and and I don’t want it to take a stand on that for today’s
take a stand on that for today’s
take a stand on that for today’s purposes so let me now give you another
purposes so let me now give you another
purposes so let me now give you another example which I hope is much less
example which I hope is much less
example which I hope is much less controversial so one of them one of the
controversial so one of them one of the
controversial so one of them one of the the most pernicious conspiracy theories
the most pernicious conspiracy theories
the most pernicious conspiracy theories around today is the theory that the
around today is the theory that the
around today is the theory that the Holocaust is a myth many of you will
Holocaust is a myth many of you will
Holocaust is a myth many of you will have come across this this theory now of
have come across this this theory now of
have come across this this theory now of course one thing that it is very
course one thing that it is very
course one thing that it is very striking is is how Holocaust denial in
striking is is how Holocaust denial in
striking is is how Holocaust denial in the Internet age has become more and
the Internet age has become more and
the Internet age has become more and more prevalent there’s more and more
more prevalent there’s more and more
more prevalent there’s more and more evidence of people subscribing to some
evidence of people subscribing to some
evidence of people subscribing to some version of Holocaust denial now in the
version of Holocaust denial now in the
version of Holocaust denial now in the psychological literature there’s lots of
psychological literature there’s lots of
psychological literature there’s lots of discussion of why people believe
discussion of why people believe
discussion of why people believe conspiracy theories in the first place
conspiracy theories in the first place
conspiracy theories in the first place and what are the social consequences of
and what are the social consequences of
and what are the social consequences of belief in conspiracy theories I’m not
belief in conspiracy theories I’m not
belief in conspiracy theories I’m not really interested for the moment in why
really interested for the moment in why
really interested for the moment in why people believe them or in the social
people believe them or in the social
people believe them or in the social consequences I’m just interested in the
consequences I’m just interested in the
consequences I’m just interested in the consequences for people’s knowledge so
consequences for people’s knowledge so
consequences for people’s knowledge so essentially if you start off believing
essentially if you start off believing
essentially if you start off believing the received account of the Holocaust
the received account of the Holocaust
the received account of the Holocaust but you then have prolonged exposure to
but you then have prolonged exposure to
but you then have prolonged exposure to lots of Holocaust denying websites you
lots of Holocaust denying websites you
lots of Holocaust denying websites you could end up and indeed lots of people
could end up and indeed lots of people
could end up and indeed lots of people do end up in the position of wondering
do end up in the position of wondering
do end up in the position of wondering well I don’t know what really happened
ok so that’s another that’s another
ok so that’s another that’s another example of of how you can go from
example of of how you can go from
example of of how you can go from knowing to not knowing as a result of
knowing to not knowing as a result of
knowing to not knowing as a result of having doubts implanted in your
having doubts implanted in your
having doubts implanted in your mind by these sorts of theories okay so
mind by these sorts of theories okay so
mind by these sorts of theories okay so this raises a kind of practical question
this raises a kind of practical question
this raises a kind of practical question what’s the appropriate response then if
what’s the appropriate response then if
what’s the appropriate response then if we want to protect our knowledge we want
we want to protect our knowledge we want
we want to protect our knowledge we want to protect our knowledge for example of
to protect our knowledge for example of
to protect our knowledge for example of the reality of the Holocaust what do we
the reality of the Holocaust what do we
the reality of the Holocaust what do we need to do now there on the face of it
need to do now there on the face of it
need to do now there on the face of it there are kind of two responses there
there are kind of two responses there
there are kind of two responses there are two responses that you could have
are two responses that you could have
are two responses that you could have one response is ignore and the other
one response is ignore and the other
one response is ignore and the other response is rebut okay so the ignore
response is rebut okay so the ignore
response is rebut okay so the ignore response says something like this the no
response says something like this the no
response says something like this the no responses look I mean if the result of
responses look I mean if the result of
responses look I mean if the result of exposure to these theories is to make
exposure to these theories is to make
exposure to these theories is to make you doubt yourself or to doubt what you
you doubt yourself or to doubt what you
you doubt yourself or to doubt what you have all read always taken to be the
have all read always taken to be the
have all read always taken to be the case then maybe the right response is
case then maybe the right response is
case then maybe the right response is just to ignore them to avoid them don’t
just to ignore them to avoid them don’t
just to ignore them to avoid them don’t engage with them no good will come of it
engage with them no good will come of it
engage with them no good will come of it so that’s the that’s the that’s the
so that’s the that’s the that’s the
so that’s the that’s the that’s the ignores the response but that response
ignores the response but that response
ignores the response but that response doesn’t seem to me to be satisfactory
doesn’t seem to me to be satisfactory
doesn’t seem to me to be satisfactory it’s not satisfactory for a whole
it’s not satisfactory for a whole
it’s not satisfactory for a whole variety of different reasons so one
variety of different reasons so one
variety of different reasons so one reason is this ignoring these theories
reason is this ignoring these theories
reason is this ignoring these theories for a start
for a start
for a start seems like a case of intellectual
seems like a case of intellectual
seems like a case of intellectual cowardice I mean the obvious thing to
cowardice I mean the obvious thing to
cowardice I mean the obvious thing to think is look if you’re if you’re so
think is look if you’re if you’re so
think is look if you’re if you’re so convinced that something happened and
convinced that something happened and
convinced that something happened and somebody else says to you no it didn’t
somebody else says to you no it didn’t
somebody else says to you no it didn’t then you need to be able to defend
then you need to be able to defend
then you need to be able to defend yourself you need to be able to give
yourself you need to be able to give
yourself you need to be able to give reasons in support of the claim that it
reasons in support of the claim that it
reasons in support of the claim that it did happen it’s not enough to just bury
did happen it’s not enough to just bury
did happen it’s not enough to just bury your head in the sand and say I’m not
your head in the sand and say I’m not
your head in the sand and say I’m not listening to you however obnoxious or
listening to you however obnoxious or
listening to you however obnoxious or repulsive the views are that are being
repulsive the views are that are being
repulsive the views are that are being put to you I think there’s also a moral
put to you I think there’s also a moral
put to you I think there’s also a moral obligation to stand up for the truth
obligation to stand up for the truth
obligation to stand up for the truth there’s a moral obligation to stand up
there’s a moral obligation to stand up
there’s a moral obligation to stand up for the facts it’s not a game I mean it
for the facts it’s not a game I mean it
for the facts it’s not a game I mean it actually matters what happened in the
actually matters what happened in the
actually matters what happened in the Second World War it actually matters
Second World War it actually matters
Second World War it actually matters what happened on 9/11 and so on so again
what happened on 9/11 and so on so again
what happened on 9/11 and so on so again it’s important it’s essential to
it’s important it’s essential to
it’s important it’s essential to actually show what the facts are to
actually show what the facts are to
actually show what the facts are to concentrate on the facts
and I think it’s important also not to
and I think it’s important also not to be suckered into thinking that well it’s
be suckered into thinking that well it’s
be suckered into thinking that well it’s all a matter of opinion
all a matter of opinion
all a matter of opinion it isn’t all a matter of opinion it’s a
it isn’t all a matter of opinion it’s a
it isn’t all a matter of opinion it’s a matter of what actually happened so
suppose you agree then that the
suppose you agree then that the appropriate response in these cases is
appropriate response in these cases is
appropriate response in these cases is actually to engage with the theories
actually to engage with the theories
actually to engage with the theories that have been put to you and to show
that have been put to you and to show
that have been put to you and to show that you’re right and they’re wrong if
that you’re right and they’re wrong if
that you’re right and they’re wrong if they are wrong right so in the in the
they are wrong right so in the in the
they are wrong right so in the in the case of Holocaust denial you might think
case of Holocaust denial you might think
case of Holocaust denial you might think and indeed I do think that the
and indeed I do think that the
and indeed I do think that the appropriate response is not to say I’m
appropriate response is not to say I’m
appropriate response is not to say I’m going to ignore them but the appropriate
going to ignore them but the appropriate
going to ignore them but the appropriate response is to actually rebut them by
response is to actually rebut them by
response is to actually rebut them by looking at the facts and the evidence
looking at the facts and the evidence
looking at the facts and the evidence and of course now we run into a real
and of course now we run into a real
and of course now we run into a real practical problem and the practical
practical problem and the practical
practical problem and the practical problem is that most of us lack the
problem is that most of us lack the
problem is that most of us lack the expertise to really be able to say what
expertise to really be able to say what
expertise to really be able to say what the evidence shows I mean I with regard
the evidence shows I mean I with regard
the evidence shows I mean I with regard to 911 I’m not a structural engineer I’m
to 911 I’m not a structural engineer I’m
to 911 I’m not a structural engineer I’m not a physicist I’m not in a position
not a physicist I’m not in a position
not a physicist I’m not in a position really to determine what happened that
really to determine what happened that
really to determine what happened that day in the case of the Holocaust I’m not
day in the case of the Holocaust I’m not
day in the case of the Holocaust I’m not a historian I mean I don’t have the the
a historian I mean I don’t have the the
a historian I mean I don’t have the the historical knowledge or the skills to
historical knowledge or the skills to
historical knowledge or the skills to defend the official account on the basis
defend the official account on the basis
defend the official account on the basis of documentary evidence so there’s a
of documentary evidence so there’s a
of documentary evidence so there’s a kind of problem now the problem is that
kind of problem now the problem is that
kind of problem now the problem is that on the one hand it’s very easy to lose
on the one hand it’s very easy to lose
on the one hand it’s very easy to lose knowledge by having these theories put
knowledge by having these theories put
knowledge by having these theories put to you and not being able to respond to
to you and not being able to respond to
to you and not being able to respond to them and that problem is it is it is
them and that problem is it is it is
them and that problem is it is it is made worse by the fact that actually
made worse by the fact that actually
made worse by the fact that actually most of us don’t have the expertise
most of us don’t have the expertise
most of us don’t have the expertise that’s required to respond and of course
that’s required to respond and of course
that’s required to respond and of course that’s it in in many ways what these
that’s it in in many ways what these
that’s it in in many ways what these what these theories exploit so you you
what these theories exploit so you you
what these theories exploit so you you may you may think you know what’s going
may you may think you know what’s going
may you may think you know what’s going on but somebody says to you yes but what
on but somebody says to you yes but what
on but somebody says to you yes but what about this what about that what’s your
about this what about that what’s your
about this what about that what’s your answer to this question what’s your
answer to this question what’s your
answer to this question what’s your answer to that question and it’s very
answer to that question and it’s very
answer to that question and it’s very easy to get to the point of saying well
easy to get to the point of saying well
easy to get to the point of saying well I don’t know hey leave me alone I don’t
I don’t know hey leave me alone I don’t
I don’t know hey leave me alone I don’t know well I think that’s it’s it’s true
know well I think that’s it’s it’s true
know well I think that’s it’s it’s true that most of us don’t have the expertise
that most of us don’t have the expertise
that most of us don’t have the expertise and don’t have the time to really tackle
and don’t have the time to really tackle
and don’t have the time to really tackle these theories head-on
these theories head-on
these theories head-on but fortunately there are people who do
but fortunately there are people who do
but fortunately there are people who do have the expertise and who do have the
have the expertise and who do have the
have the expertise and who do have the time and these people are called experts
time and these people are called experts
time and these people are called experts it’s it whoops
it’s it whoops
it’s it whoops sometimes tol that that well we don’t
sometimes tol that that well we don’t
sometimes tol that that well we don’t need experts all that well you know
need experts all that well you know
need experts all that well you know there’s no such thing as an expert it’s
there’s no such thing as an expert it’s
there’s no such thing as an expert it’s just your opinion or it’s just my
just your opinion or it’s just my
just your opinion or it’s just my opinion and I think that’s that’s
opinion and I think that’s that’s
opinion and I think that’s that’s exactly what needs to be resisted I
exactly what needs to be resisted I
exactly what needs to be resisted I think whether someone is an expert or
think whether someone is an expert or
think whether someone is an expert or not for example an expert on German
not for example an expert on German
not for example an expert on German history or an expert on aeronautical
history or an expert on aeronautical
history or an expert on aeronautical engineering or that is not a matter of
engineering or that is not a matter of
engineering or that is not a matter of opinion whether someone is competent and
opinion whether someone is competent and
opinion whether someone is competent and qualified to pronounce on these subjects
qualified to pronounce on these subjects
qualified to pronounce on these subjects is I think to some extent an objective
is I think to some extent an objective
is I think to some extent an objective matter it’s a matter of their
matter it’s a matter of their
matter it’s a matter of their qualifications their experience their
qualifications their experience their
qualifications their experience their knowledge and so on their track record
knowledge and so on their track record
knowledge and so on their track record these are all the these are all the
these are all the these are all the
these are all the these are all the relevant factors so I think that when
relevant factors so I think that when
relevant factors so I think that when faced with this loss of the threat of
faced with this loss of the threat of
faced with this loss of the threat of the loss of knowledge the only way to
the loss of knowledge the only way to
the loss of knowledge the only way to really protect our knowledge the only
really protect our knowledge the only
really protect our knowledge the only way to actually say look there is a
way to actually say look there is a
way to actually say look there is a difference between truth and falsity
difference between truth and falsity
difference between truth and falsity there is the possibility of deciding
there is the possibility of deciding
there is the possibility of deciding what happened is to draw on the work of
what happened is to draw on the work of
what happened is to draw on the work of people who are competent to judge and I
people who are competent to judge and I
people who are competent to judge and I think it’s worth it’s worth also asking
think it’s worth it’s worth also asking
think it’s worth it’s worth also asking those who are propounding these various
those who are propounding these various
those who are propounding these various conspiracy theories which is what worth
conspiracy theories which is what worth
conspiracy theories which is what worth asking them well what’s your competence
asking them well what’s your competence
asking them well what’s your competence to judge it’s all very well you saying
to judge it’s all very well you saying
to judge it’s all very well you saying you don’t know what you’re talking about
you don’t know what you’re talking about
you don’t know what you’re talking about or you’re not you’re not qualified to
or you’re not you’re not qualified to
or you’re not you’re not qualified to judge are they qualified to judge some
judge are they qualified to judge some
judge are they qualified to judge some of them might be but certainly not all
okay so it says so that’s that that’s
okay so it says so that’s that that’s the pit that’s a story I want to tell it
the pit that’s a story I want to tell it
the pit that’s a story I want to tell it seems to me that all of us now are
seems to me that all of us now are
seems to me that all of us now are living in a world in which there is a
living in a world in which there is a
living in a world in which there is a tremendous amount of stuff out there
tremendous amount of stuff out there
tremendous amount of stuff out there online particularly there’s a conspiracy
online particularly there’s a conspiracy
online particularly there’s a conspiracy theory for absolutely everything and I’m
theory for absolutely everything and I’m
theory for absolutely everything and I’m certainly not saying that all conspiracy
certainly not saying that all conspiracy
certainly not saying that all conspiracy theories are false and I don’t really
theories are false and I don’t really
theories are false and I don’t really want to get into a discussion of the
want to get into a discussion of the
want to get into a discussion of the truth or falsity of particular
truth or falsity of particular
truth or falsity of particular conspiracy theories but what I do want
conspiracy theories but what I do want
conspiracy theories but what I do want to suggest you is that these theories
to suggest you is that these theories
to suggest you is that these theories can have this effect of this bewildering
can have this effect of this bewildering
can have this effect of this bewildering us of making us think
us of making us think
us of making us think just all too complicated I just don’t
just all too complicated I just don’t
just all too complicated I just don’t know what to think anymore
know what to think anymore
know what to think anymore and that and the ultimate result is the
and that and the ultimate result is the
and that and the ultimate result is the whole idea of well there’s no such thing
whole idea of well there’s no such thing
whole idea of well there’s no such thing as truth
as truth
as truth hence post truth politics and I think
hence post truth politics and I think
hence post truth politics and I think that’s what needs to be avoided but it
that’s what needs to be avoided but it
that’s what needs to be avoided but it can’t be avoided just by ignoring just
can’t be avoided just by ignoring just
can’t be avoided just by ignoring just by ignoring this phenomenon so here’s a
by ignoring this phenomenon so here’s a
by ignoring this phenomenon so here’s a kind of motto that I want to end with
kind of motto that I want to end with
kind of motto that I want to end with when faced with all these theories that
when faced with all these theories that
when faced with all these theories that question our beliefs about for example
question our beliefs about for example
question our beliefs about for example Holocaust the motto should not be ignore
Holocaust the motto should not be ignore
Holocaust the motto should not be ignore ignore ignore the motto should be ribbit
ignore ignore the motto should be ribbit
ignore ignore the motto should be ribbit ribbit ribbit
ribbit ribbit
ribbit ribbit thanks for listening
thanks for listening
thanks for listening [Applause]
”
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