

Ep. #166: Conspiracy Theories, Magical Thinking & Curiosity, with Eric Oliver
Apr 6, 2022
Political scientist and University of Chicago professor Eric Oliver joins the host to explore the allure and impact of conspiracy theories. They discuss the prevalence of belief in conspiracy theories, the connection between curiosity and uncertainty, and how conspiracy theories relate to understanding oneself. They also draw analogies between curiosity and swimming, and discuss how curiosity can be cultivated and protected.
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
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Introduction
00:00 • 2min
The Prevalence and Factors Behind Belief in Conspiracy Theories
01:30 • 7min
Curiosity, Uncertainty, and Conspiracy Theories
08:14 • 14min
The Connection Between Conspiracy Theories and Understanding Oneself
22:38 • 2min
Analogies for Curiosity: Swimming, Panda Bears, and Creativity
24:24 • 3min