– [W]e suggest a distinctive tactic for breaking up the hard core of extremists who supply conspiracy theories: cognitive infiltration of extremist groups, whereby government agents or their allies (acting either virtually or in real space, and either openly or anonymously) will undermine the crippled epistemology of believers by planting doubts about the theories and stylized facts that circulate within such groups, thereby introducing beneficial cognitive diversity. (Page 219.) –

This guy (the author of the quoted text above) is hilarious. His vernacular leaves no doubt as to his self-identification as an “intellectual”. However, his naivete shines through the premise as illustrative of his novice status. This defined behavior has been undertaken at every election we’ve held in this country. It has been SOP for numerous presidencies. And it is virtually the entire reason why political party national committees exist. All under the title of “there is no better defense than a solid offense” in the war for mindshare.

A few questions for Ol’ Cass… if the epistemology is crippled, why then the effort towards cognitive diversity? Are you not exerting effort upon a hobbled thought cell? Or are you making grand gestures as to your brand of “acceptable” knowledge at the expense of clarity? And shouldn’t one include a definition on cognitive dissonance as the much sought after effect of the described premise?

Geez. These Harvard Law Graduates are actually kind of entertaining whilst attempting to be covert.