Convulsive Flurry: Conspiracy, Consensus, Motivation: A Corollary to Lewandowsky et al (2015)

29 Pages Posted: 20 Apr 2016

Date Written: April 4, 2016

Abstract

Conspiratorial ideation implicated in rejecting scientific propositions has been well-documented by Lewandowsky et al. (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015). As a corollary, this paper is a qualitative, observational review of the word themes in a ‘convulsive flurry’ of some 215 anonymized emails about climate science billboards that featured scientific statements. The results reveal conspiratorial ideation and cult-like rejection of new scientific information by supporters of the hypothesis of Anthropogenic Global Warming (AGW). Some 24% of word themes express conspiratorial views, 19% dismiss the statements outright as lies or misinformation, while 17% express aggression and dogmatic opposition to relevant climate science information. Unanticipated changes in climate or climate science theory may challenge the public and policy-makers.

Keywords: rejection of science, climate change, climate denial, conspiracy ideation, Lewandowsky, advertising, freedom of speech, fascism, dogma, conspiracist discourse

Suggested Citation

Stirling, Michelle, Convulsive Flurry: Conspiracy, Consensus, Motivation: A Corollary to Lewandowsky et al (2015) (April 4, 2016). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2766823 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2766823

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