James Fetzer

James Fetzer
Fetzer in 2004
Born
James Henry Fetzer

(1940-12-06) December 6, 1940 (age 83)
Pasadena, California, U.S.
Years active1970–present

James Henry Fetzer (born December 6, 1940) is an American professor emeritus of the philosophy of science at the University of Minnesota Duluth, known for promoting conspiracy theories and Holocaust denial. Fetzer has worked on assessing and clarifying the forms and foundations of scientific explanation, probability in science, philosophy of mind, and philosophy of cognitive science, especially artificial intelligence and computer science.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

Fetzer began to promote John F. Kennedy assassination conspiracy theories in the early 1990s. He later promoted 9/11 conspiracy theories, Holocaust denial, conspiracy theories regarding the 2002 death of Senator Paul Wellstone, and Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting conspiracy theories.[7] He cofounded Scholars for 9/11 Truth in 2005,[8] and claims that elements in the United States government, United States intelligence community, and Israeli Mossad were responsible for the September 11 attacks. Fetzer asserts that no commercial planes or hijackers were involved at any of the attack locations, that Flight 93 did not exist, and that guided missiles and/or explosives were instead used to destroy the buildings and create the appearance of a plane crash in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Fetzer's allegations and speculations have drawn strong criticism as a source of disinformation and false conspiracy theories.[8][9][10][11][12] In October 2019, a Wisconsin court ordered Fetzer to pay the father of a Sandy Hook victim $450,000 in a defamation case.[13][14][15][16]

Fetzer's views have been featured by Iran's PressTV, Fars, and Tasnim news agencies and the pro-Russian website Veterans Today,[citation needed] which have been described as sources of state propaganda.[17] In an interview Fetzer supported Iranian and Russian media as "Press TV, along with RT and Sputnik News, have become the gold standard for reporting on international events and developments." He stated his opposition to the US and Israel as they "have become the greatest threats to freedom and democracy ever known, not only in the Middle East but throughout the world." He held up Iran as a "beacon of light in comparison to the United States."[18] In another interview, Fetzer stated "Russia and Iran are now providing leadership for the world community. May they prosper and endure!"[19]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Fetzer-OUP-pxi was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Ells-Fetzer was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Wolenski was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Leiber was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference MacKenzie was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference ConsciousnessEvolving was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Hananoki, Eric (April 12, 2018). "Roger Stone Heavily Praised Author Who Claims Holocaust, Sandy Hook, And 9/11 Were Faked". Media Matters for America. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  8. ^ a b Atkins, Stephen E. (2011). The 9/11 Encyclopedia. 2nd edn, Santa Barbara CA: ABC-CLIO. pp 181–83.
  9. ^ Jaya Narain (February 16, 2007). "We're all conspiracy theorists at heart". BBC News. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
  10. ^ Justin Pope (August 7, 2006). "Scholars join ranks of Sept 11 conspiracy theorists". Bangor Daily News. Bangor ME. Associated Press. p. A3. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
  11. ^ Mike Mosedale (June 28, 2006). "The man who thought he knew too much". City Pages. Minneapolis. p. 1. Archived from the original on March 11, 2013. Retrieved July 29, 2012.
  12. ^ Tevlin, Jon (January 21, 2015). "Tevlin: Northfield pub puts free speech limits to the test". Star Tribune. Minneapolis Star Tribune. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  13. ^ Crawford, Amanda J. (February 5, 2020). "The Professor of Denial". The Chronicle of Higher Education. Vol. 66, no. 21. ISSN 0009-5982. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  14. ^ Svrluga, Susan (October 16, 2019). "Jury awards $450,000 to father of Sandy Hook victim in defamation case". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  15. ^ Otterman, Sharon (June 18, 2019). "Sandy Hook Conspiracy Theorist Loses to Father of 6-Year-Old Victim Over Hoax". The New York Times.
  16. ^ "Sandy Hook shooting: Parent awarded $450,000 for defamation". BBC News. October 16, 2019. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  17. ^ "Who Runs Iran's Propaganda Machine Abroad". Radio Farda. April 17, 2020. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  18. ^ "James Fetzer: Talebzadeh's Students to Preserve World". Fars News. May 23, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  19. ^ "James Fetzer: Leader's Letter Brimmed with Messages of Peace, Justice". Tasnim News. December 9, 2015. Retrieved June 5, 2023.