Fake News, Conspiracy, and Intellectual Vice (original) (raw)

This research investigates the role of intellectual virtues and vices in the endorsement of fake news and conspiracy theories. Based on a survey experiment involving 975 participants, findings suggest that individuals characterized by intellectual vices are more likely to endorse these questionable beliefs. The study contributes to vice epistemology, highlighting that while some intellectual vices can be "stealthy," participants possess a degree of awareness regarding their intellectual character traits. The implications of these findings for understanding trust in online environments are discussed.