Agnotology is the study of deliberate, culturally induced Ignorance, its production, and its reproduction
First coined by Stanford University historian of science Robert Proctor in his 1995 book, "The Cancer Wars"
Proctor argued that the tobacco industry had deliberately manufactured doubt about the health risks of smoking, and that this ignorance had played a major role in the continued popularity of tobacco products
Later studies explore a wider range of social and political issues
How ignorance influences opinion, or win favour, particularly through the publication of inaccurate or misleading scientific data (disinformation)
How ignorance is used to maintain power and control through secrecy, suppression, document destruction and conformity
Knowledge about plate tectonics was censored and delayed for at least a decade because some evidence remained classified military information related to undersea warfare
How ignorance can be used to promote prejudice and discrimination through neglect, manipulation
How ignorance can create the condition where “too much” overwhelming knowledge of a subject creates greater uncertainty and doubt
David Dunning of Cornell University: “The internet is helping propagate ignorance – it is a place where everyone has a chance to be their own expert, he says, which makes them prey for powerful interests wishing to deliberately spread ignorance"