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.
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insights INSIGHT
Shifting Conspiracy Canon
The current "conspiracy canon" includes ideas like no viruses, flat earth, aliens as demons, and Tartaria.
This differs from older conspiracy theories focused on government actions like 9/11 or JFK's assassination.
insights INSIGHT
Meaning-Centered Conspiracy
Conspiracy theories are shifting from "how things are" to "who we are in the cosmos.".
This reflects a move towards meaning-seeking in a world perceived as increasingly meaningless.
insights INSIGHT
Fort's Dominants
Charles Fort's concept of "dominants" explains how reality paradigms shift.
Unlike Kuhn's paradigm shifts, Fort suggests reality itself changes, not just our understanding of it.
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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
Rune Soup