Agnotology: Ignorance Isn’t Bliss — It’s Intentional

Let’s face it: people are ignorant. Present company excepted, of course. Perhaps a better way to express it is to paraphrase Ronald Reagan and say that the problem with most people isn’t that they’re ignorant, it’s just that they know so much that isn’t so.

They say ignorance is bliss, and if that’s the case, we have a lot of people who have achieved the blissful state of floating through life unburdened by pesky facts or inconvenient truths.

Whether you’re talking with someone who is positive that the earth is flat or you’re hearing the latest nonsense from the Sovereign Citizen fringers, you can’t help but suspect that with so much misinformation out there, it has to be some kind of conspiracy. People don’t just accidentally become this misguided, do they?

The Birth of Agnotology

What if ignorance isn’t always a natural occurrence? What if it is carefully cultivated, like a bonsai tree of bewilderment? Welcome to the field of agnotology, the study of how ignorance is intentionally produced and maintained in our society.

The term “agnotology” was coined by Stanford University professor Robert N. Proctor, who had the audacity to suggest that ignorance doesn’t just happen; it’s often manufactured. He wrote about it in Agnotology: The Making and Unmaking of Ignorance. 

Manufacturing Doubt: A How-To Guide

Want an example of agnotology in action? Consider the tobacco industry’s campaign to downplay the health risks of smoking. Faced with mounting evidence that their products were, in fact, little cancer sticks, tobacco companies launched a public relations blitz to sow doubt and confusion. Their internal mantra? “Doubt is our product.” As the mountain of evidence about the dangers of smoking grew, they redoubled the message: “There is no causal link between smoking and cancer.” If you hear it enough times, you begin to believe it.

The Internet: Ignorance’s Best Frenemy

In the digital age, agnotology has found a new BFF in the internet. With the vast expanse of information (and misinformation) available at our fingertips, it’s easier than ever to cherry-pick data that supports our preconceived notions and ignore anything that challenges them. Why engage in critical thinking when you can join an echo chamber that tells you exactly what you want to hear? 

Your teacher gives you an assignment to write a research paper about the birds in your part of the world. A little bit of research will bring you to this website that gives a pretty convincing argument that birds are nothing more than sophisticated drones.

Was JFK assassinated by the CIA? Is Elvis still alive? Are reptilians running the government? There are plenty of internet “sources” out there to convince you of just about anything.

The Agnotologist’s Toolbox

So, how does one go about manufacturing ignorance? One way is through the use of logical fallacies, which are detailed in these articles. Additionally, here are some tried-and-true methods:

• Secrecy and Suppression: Keep those inconvenient facts under wraps. If no one knows about them, they don’t exist.

• Disinformation: Spread misleading or false information. After all, if you can’t convince them with the truth, baffle them with nonsense.

• Media Manipulation: Use the media to amplify your message. Remember, repetition is key; if you say it enough times, it becomes true.

• Cherry-Picking Data: Highlight only the information that supports your agenda and conveniently ignore the rest.

Why Should We Care and How Do We Protect Ourselves?

So what if ignorance is manufactured? What’s the big deal? The problem is that it isn’t just misguided individuals making bad life choices based on misinformation. Entire social movements and government policies can be formed around “well-established facts” or “scientific consensus” when reality may be waiting in the future for an unpleasant wake-up call. In short, agnotology has real-world consequences. When ignorance is weaponized, it can delay scientific progress, harm public health, and even threaten the very fabric of society.

Learn about the House Hippo — a tiny mythical creature designed to combat misinformation

How can you protect yourself? Well, not to toot our own horn (what are we saying? Of course, we’re going to resort to shameless self-promotion), but you’re already well on your way to being vaccinated against the pandemic by being a reader of Commonplace Fun Facts. We’re not the only cure, however. You should never accept as “fact” something that comes from only one source. Take a look at what others say about a particular matter. Do your research. Evaluate the source’s track record and whether the party responsible for promoting the information has a stake in the outcome.

Be wary of anyone who tries to shut down further inquiry by declaring that “the science is settled” or “everyone agrees” about a matter. If science truly backs up a particular issue, it isn’t going to hurt to test the conclusion. That’s what the scientific method is all about.

Be particularly on guard against anyone whose response to dissenting ideas is censorship. While it is true that misinformation can be damaging, there’s always the risk that those who have the power to censor are the ones responsible for promoting the misinformation in the first place. The truth is strong enough to be debated.

Conclusion: Ignorance Is Not Bliss

In a world where information is power, understanding agnotology is crucial. By recognizing the ways in which ignorance is manufactured, we can arm ourselves against manipulation and strive for a more informed society. So, the next time you encounter a dubious claim or a suspiciously convenient “fact,” remember: ignorance may be bliss, but knowledge is empowerment.

Bonus Fun Fact: The idea that pineapple belongs anywhere in the vicinity of a pizza is an example of agnotology at its worst.

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