The World of Conspiracies: The Geology of Lies
Bruno CorzinoWe live within a stratification of falsehoods so ancient we now call it "history." Every era has its sacred lies, its dogmas, and its slogans: we learn them in school, we repeat them at the bar, we defend them furiously. The authentic conspiracy theorist is not a paranoid, but an archaeologist of lies. He digs into the layers of common thought to free himself from centuries of entrenched deceptions. His is not hatred for the world, but an act of love for the truth—even when it hurts. Because only those who dig can still breathe. (Introduction by the Publisher)
The consequence of this state of affairs is that we live immersed in a reality that is nothing more than the geological accumulation of past lies, layer upon layer. For example, science needed to affirm how much life has improved compared to the past thanks to it, even for workers in the worst factories, so it invented the idea that once "people only lived to thirty years." The wonders of statistics applied to infant mortality.
That once upon a time, people were stupid and believed the Earth was flat, especially during the "dark Middle Ages," which was actually Europe's brightest era, when, for example, Hugh of Saint Victor calmly explained the physical arguments that demonstrated the sphericity of our planet. That the religion of the past was evil and obscurantist, in fact the Inquisition killed witches. Another lie, because the Inquisition only dealt with heretics, while witches were executed by secular, not religious, trials. And so on ad infinitum.
Every era has its own propaganda and conspiracy that solidifies into a lie that serves a specific purpose at that time. That modern Western culture is superior to others, for example, was an excellent tool for implementing colonialism. Lies survive in the form of slogans or memes. Repeating them makes us recognize ourselves as part of a group and reinforces our identity as loyal and therefore valuable members. Like when one is called "medieval" with contempt in an Enlightenment circle or "fascist" among "left-wing" people.
Conducting an archaeological excavation of the spirit and ridding oneself, layer by layer, of all these lies is not for everyone. It requires time, energy, and skills that are not available to everyone. Only to the few who are destined for it. This means that one is inevitably destined to be surrounded by people who will spend their entire lives, from cradle to grave, in a sea of falsehood and manipulation, completely unaware. Moved from the outside, like puppets, without the slightest inkling of it.
For this reason, two considerations must be made. The first is the need to defend ourselves. Because pogroms and violence against those who are conscious are daily occurrences. The second, paradoxically, is not to confine ourselves to the "us" and "them" division. That is, not to make the same mistake as the reckless, the "obedient of the herd." When they are not aggressive, that is, not activated, we must see people first and foremost, not their belonging to a group or an idea.
Never forget that you are part of the human family, that you yourself have been unconscious, and likely still are, regarding some aspect of reality. Always see the individual and humanity before the herd, the group, and ideologies.
