About
Brian Keeley is Professor of Philosophy at Pitzer College, where he has taught since 2000. He is recognized as a pioneer who introduced conspiracy theories into academic philosophy, with his groundbreaking 1999 paper in The Journal of Philosophy establishing this field of study.
Professor Keeley's research spans multiple philosophical domains including the philosophy of neuroscience, mind, and science, with conspiracy theories frequently emerging in his scholarly approach. His work examines how to distinguish warranted conspiracy theories (such as Watergate or Iran-Contra) from unwarranted ones, addressing fundamental epistemological questions about belief formation.
Since publishing his seminal work, Keeley has witnessed and contributed to the dramatic expansion of academic interest in conspiracy theories, which has grown from near-nonexistence in 1999 to a thriving multidisciplinary field involving philosophers, historians, political scientists, psychologists, and scholars across numerous disciplines.
Keeley organized Pitzer's inaugural online Conference on the Philosophy of Conspiracy Theories in 2022 with Professor M R. X. Dentith of Beijing Normal University, demonstrating his ongoing leadership in this field. His expertise has been sought by major media outlets including The Washington Post, which featured his insights on American conspiracy thinking and its historical roots dating back to the Declaration of Independence.
