The Grand Conspiracy

The Grand Conspiracy is a piece of skeptical wisdom in two parts – first, the grander the conspiracy, the less likely it is to be true; second, the grander the conspiracy, the more likely somebody who already believes in the conspiracy will assume contrary evidence is in fact part of the conspiracy. I use the example of “flat earth,” an idea that gained popularity in the 19th century in certain religious circles, and has gained ground today.

The Katana – The Ultimate Sword?

Most people in the west have heard stories of the incredible cutting power and durability of the Katana, a symbol of Japan through two of its feudal periods. Some people can even tell about how their grandfather in World War II had the barrel of his rifle cut in half…

Continue reading