I’ve noticed that conspiracy theorists are often libertarians and vice versa. The reason for this is that conspiracy theories and libertarianism (a la Ayn Rand and Nozick; not so much more modern libertarian theory) both lend themselves to endorsement by intelligent yet uneducated people.
Both these sorts are intelligent enough to understand the [pseudo] science and philosophy involved, but they can’t think critically enough to critique it as they’re not educated in science or logic. Of course there are intelligent uneducated people who don’t espouse conspiracy theories and libertarianism, but that’s because they lack the anti-authoritarianism and individualism of libertarians and conspiracy theorists; the anti-authoritarianism causing them to challenge power, and the individualism allowing them to be unaffected by their marginalisation as “kooks.”
I’ve always found I liked and got along with libertarians and conspiracy theorists; I’m with them in spirit, even though I’m generally not with them in theory. I appreciate their individualism and intelligence.
