Conspiracy and Contingency

Robert F. Kennedy (RFK): Conspiracy, Contingency, and Religion “Conspiracy and Contingency is a most timely book: an elegantly written affirmation of the unpredictability, openness, and playfulness of the contingencies of life. While sympathetically embracing the aesthetic, existential, and political benefits of contingency, it fairly depicts—in an always intelligent and enjoyable manner—the age-old struggle between contingency and necessity in both Western and Eastern intellectual history from ancient philosophers to contemporary debates about conspiracy theories.” — Dr. Hans-Georg Moeller, Professor, Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, University of Macau, China “Botz-Bornstein cogently explains the widespread appeal of conspiracy theories by our general aversion to contingency. He convinces me that there is no greater threat to peace and security than conspiracy thinking in our ultra-mediatized world. He productively shows how to deal with contingency philosophically in a spirit of play and gaming.” — William Franke, Professor of Comparative Literature, Vanderbilt University, USA “This fascinating book offers a philosophical perspective on the nature, origins, and functions of conspiratorial thinking, a growing problem in our increasingly fragmented and impersonal mass societies. The book examines the cultural and philosophical history of our all-too-human attempts to make sense of apparently coincidental and often-threatening events, drawing on evidence from psychology, anthropology, and sociology, and should be welcomed by both academics and an educated lay audience interested in one of the most intriguing aspects of human consciousness.” — Joseph Paul Forgas, DPhil, DSc (Oxford), AM, Scientia Professor, UNSW, Sydney