A theory, inspired by Peter Burke's "Ignorance: A Global History," proposing that ignorance is not merely the absence of knowledge but can be deliberately created, maintained, and deployed for strategic purposes—goals of power, identity, social control, mass psychology, and hegemony. Intentional Ignorance Theory argues that ignorance is often an active achievement, produced through specific practices and institutions. Modern manifestations include dismissal tactics like Sokalism, Kampfism, and Boghossianism-Lindsayism-Pluckroseism; biases like Objectivity Bias, Unbiased Bias, and the Fallacy Fallacy; and rhetorical strategies like Neo-Sophism and Scientistic Sophism. Historically, it appears in colonial suppression of indigenous knowledge, institutional cover-ups, and elite cultivation of public ignorance. The theory reveals that ignorance is often not something to be overcome but something actively produced—and that understanding how ignorance is made is as important as understanding how knowledge is made.
Example: "The tobacco industry spent decades cultivating Intentional Ignorance about smoking's health effects—funding contradictory research, attacking legitimate science, creating doubt where none existed. They weren't ignorant; they were making ignorance. Intentional Ignorance Theory explains how knowledge is suppressed, how doubt is manufactured, how entire populations can be kept in the dark by those who benefit from their darkness. The theory doesn't just describe ignorance; it reveals its politics."
by Dumu The Void March 8, 2026
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Kevin threw a punch at me when I told him that we have definitely been to the Moon. It was my first experience with anyone employing militant ignorance to keep from learning the truth and being proven wrong.
by Jim C (Alienmindtrick) August 29, 2025
Get the Militant ignorance mug.A mistaken belief so strongly held that the holder is prepared to fight rather than accept the truth
Karen started a fight with a coworker rather than accept the truth that vaccines save lives. It was the clearest case of militant ignorance I've ever seen.
by Jim C (Alienmindtrick) August 29, 2025
Get the Militant ignorance mug.Fisher Ignorance is a localized phenomenon that occurs to those with the surname "Fisher".
This can show itself as extreme bouts of ignorance, where the subject can be completely in the wrong and still believe they're right.
This can show itself as extreme bouts of ignorance, where the subject can be completely in the wrong and still believe they're right.
Person A: "dude Eren is self made what are you talking about?"
Person B: "No, he's a different person because he went back in time its not the same version of Eren."
Person A: "But it's Eren right?"
Person B: "Yes but no"
Person A : "I swear this nigga and his Fisher Ignorance"
Person B: "No, he's a different person because he went back in time its not the same version of Eren."
Person A: "But it's Eren right?"
Person B: "Yes but no"
Person A : "I swear this nigga and his Fisher Ignorance"
by ACHILL3ES December 20, 2025
Get the Fisher Ignorance mug.A state of fearlessness where one ignored an impending outcome just for the sake of being ignorant. A.K.A Real 🥷🏾 State of Mind
“I know I shouldn’t 1v3 these guys, but I’m about to get ignorant in this hoe.”
“He might be better than me on paper, but can he run the fade. That’s that enhanced ignorance”
For a more realistic example, play “Like That” by Metro Booming, Future, and Kendrick Lamar prior to engaging in any sort of fight whatsoever.
Live for the fade
“He might be better than me on paper, but can he run the fade. That’s that enhanced ignorance”
For a more realistic example, play “Like That” by Metro Booming, Future, and Kendrick Lamar prior to engaging in any sort of fight whatsoever.
Live for the fade
by MinisterPac December 22, 2025
Get the Enhanced Ignorance mug.When a gamer doesn't do something on the game that they are playing but instead asks why they couldn't do that certain thing and how they do that thing to the point of mashing random buttons or to the point of questioning the game's development.
This usually makes the person watching angry.
This usually makes the person watching angry.
Game: PRESS Y TO OPEN THE DOOR
Gamer: OMFG HOW DO I OPEN THIS DOOR?!?!!? *mashing random buttons until the door opens*
Viewer: I swear, this guy has so much gamer's ignorance.
Gamer: OMFG HOW DO I OPEN THIS DOOR?!?!!? *mashing random buttons until the door opens*
Viewer: I swear, this guy has so much gamer's ignorance.
by prackle May 26, 2014
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