The conversation starts in Paraguay, diving into the changing landscape of conspiracy culture. Topics include the rise of theories like flat Earth and the myth of Tartaria. Insights from recent events with notable thinkers highlight a shift from political analysis to deeper existential questions. The host critiques the pushback against scientific materialism and emphasizes the importance of meaning in our understanding of the cosmos. Humorous anecdotes add a light touch to serious discussions about belief systems and the impact of the internet on conspiracy thinking.
The evolution of conspiracy culture reflects a societal shift from political skepticism to a deeper metaphysical inquiry about existence and meaning.
The internet amplifies radical fringe theories, creating a cultural phenomenon where sensationalism often takes precedence over established scientific narratives.
Deep dives
The Shift in Conspiracy Canon
There is a notable shift observed in the conspiracy landscape, where discussions surrounding traditional conspiracies have evolved into a more meaning-centered exploration of reality. This transformation appears to have moved from a focus on governmental and political conspiracies to more esoteric beliefs, such as flat Earth theories and ideas surrounding ancient civilizations like Tartaria. Notably, this change is partly driven by the natural extremism often found within internet culture, which tends to push discussions towards radical fringe beliefs. It reflects a broader cultural tendency to seek meaning in an increasingly chaotic world, signaling a desire for individuals to connect more deeply with their existence and the cosmos.
The Role of the Internet in Shaping Perspectives
The internet plays a crucial role in shaping and amplifying these changing perspectives, creating communities that lean towards extreme beliefs and ideologies. This phenomenon can be likened to the 'porn effect,' where initial curiosities rapidly escalate into more niche and bizarre interests, leading to a disconnect from established narratives. The rapid spread of information and the allure of sensationalism enable these fringe theories to proliferate, often without coherent evidence or rigorous debate. Those looking for alternate realities may inadvertently abandon scientifically grounded explanations in favor of increasingly imaginative narratives, as seen with theories like Tartaria, where overlooked history is supposedly hidden under layers of mainstream narratives.
Cultural Shift Toward Meaning
Culturally, there is a significant transformation in how individuals relate to the cosmos and explore their identities within it. This shift moves away from merely questioning societal structures toward a deeper inquiry about personal existence and connection to the universe, as illustrated by metaphysical concerns becoming central to modern discourse. The historical conspiracy notions that focused on who is in control have been replaced with queries about the nature of existence and the self’s place within the universe. This evolution reflects a collective search for meaning in a seemingly indifferent world, illustrating a growing discomfort with traditional scientific materialism, which some perceive as lacking depth and spiritual connection.
Fort's Influence and Paradigm Shifts
The work of Charles Fort is invoked to discuss the evolution of epistemologies and how they can shift fundamentally in response to cultural currents. Fort posits that realignment of paradigms, or 'dominance,' occurs when significant enough alternate evidence arises, pushing old frameworks aside. In the current conspiracy context, this can be seen in how beliefs around the nature of reality can swing from one extreme to another, challenging accepted norms and highlighting the interconnectedness of knowledge. Fort's theories on 'damned data' suggest that as new understandings emerge, they can radically alter perceptions of reality, which is vividly applicable to the current conspiracy landscape as new interpretations gain traction.
In this episode, I explore the shifting landscape of conspiracy culture and what I've been noticing about an emerging "conspiracy canon."
Recording from my new apartment in Paraguay, I dive into observations from my recent event with Greg Carlwood in Florida, examining how conspiracy thinking has evolved from political analysis to metaphysical questioning.
Using Charles Fort's framework of "dominants," I discuss how we're witnessing a paradigm shift toward a more meaning-centered worldview as a response to scientific materialism.
Whether you consider yourself a conspiracy person or not, this episode offers insights into epistemology, metaphysics, and our relationship to meaning in the cosmos.
Timestamps
00:00 - Introduction and setting the scene from Paraguay 02:15 - Recent event with Greg Carlwood in Florida 04:30 - The concept of a "Conspiracy Canon" 07:10 - Observing alignment among respected thinkers 09:05 - When brilliant people question fundamental assumptions 12:30 - Robert Anton Wilson on conspiracy culture shifting from left to right 15:45 - The "Alex Jones era" and libertarian influence 18:20 - The 80s-90s "Lone Gunman Era" conspiracy canon 21:40 - Today's conspiracy canon: no virus, flat Earth, aliens as demons, Tartaria 24:15 - The internet's "hold my beer" effect on conspiracy thinking 27:50 - Shift from "how things are" to "who we are in the cosmos" 31:10 - Natural drift toward meaning-seeking 34:30 - Pushback against scientific materialism 37:50 - Charles Fort and reality paradigm shifts 40:15 - Fort's "dominants" and "damned data" 43:40 - Accumulated "damned facts" challenging mainstream narratives 46:20 - The "religious dominant" as initial framework 49:30 - The "scientific dominant" and its exclusionist tendency 52:45 - Fort recognizing scientism's limitations ahead of his time 56:10 - The emergent "dominant of wider inclusions" 59:25 - Visit to Cassadega and Greg's psychic reading experience 01:02:40 - Kelly Brogan and Mark Gober's alternative cosmology 01:05:15 - Being "80% flat earther" on meaningful universe principles 01:09:30 - Flat Earth as Biblical literalism seeking meaning 01:12:45 - Critique of Tartaria theories 01:15:20 - Meme culture and uncritical sharing of conspiracy content 01:18:40 - "Realm theory" as a container for anomalous data 01:21:25 - Being "Gandalf among the hobbits" during paradigm shifts 01:24:50 - Fortean flow model for approaching change 01:27:30 - Closing thoughts on being a container for transformation
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