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Pragmatics and Society: Online-First ArticlesConspiracy theories and passion
The pragmatics of a Bulgarian debate on vaccination
Conspiracy theories are not merely propositions about states of affairs, they are also speech acts and because of
that their meaning consists not only in what conspiracy theorists say but also in what they do with words or, in other words, in
the pragmatics of their stories. Building on a concept developed by Stanley Cavell, the article argues that from the point of view
of pragmatics conspiracy theories are a form of passionate speech. In contrast with illocutionary acts, the point of passionate
speech consists in making the other respond here, now and in kind (thus implicitly recognizing that the subject of the act has
rightfully addressed her or him in this way). The conceptualization of conspiracy theories as passionate speech is intended to
demonstrate that debunking can be counterproductive if it ignores the pragmatic dimension of conspiracy theories, and in effect
the attempts to counteract disinformation can easily deteriorate into a dialogue of the deaf.
Keywords: debunking, conspiracy theories, performative, passionate speech, responsibility, Stanley Cavell
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 2.Theoretical framework
- 3.The context
- 4.The debate
- 5.Ordinary speech
- 6.Passionate speech
- Notes
-
Bibliography
Published online: 1 December 2023
https://doi.org/10.1075/ps.22076.hri
https://doi.org/10.1075/ps.22076.hri
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