See also: 02 Law Of Opposites in the Sympathetic Magic section for the canonical treatment of this concept.

The Law of Opposites

I first noticed how in Disinfolklore we can be convinced to believe quite easily the opposite of what is true (for example, that vaccines cause the effects the virus the vaccine protects against actually causes). This is an example of what Fraser in the Golden Bough referred to as the Homeopathic Principle in the laws that govern our modes of thinking. A smidgeon of plausibility amplified by Disinfolklore can serve to dominate our thinking so much so that we neglect, in this example, to vaccinate ourselves against a disease.

Source: Jurisprudence of Sympathetic Magic

We see it in our information space all the time. This what Orwell did in 1984, probably unknowingly, that you say, you know, “up!” is “down!.” Donald does it the whole time where, you know, he says it’s China will pay the tariffs, not us. And it’s the opposite of what’s true. And for some reason that is believed by certain kinds of personalities.

Source: Jurisprudence of Sympathetic Magic

Frazer’s Golden Bough names it the Homeopathic Principle. Orwell dramatised it: “Up!” is “Down!” A smidgeon of plausibility, amplified by repetition, can convince populations to believe the exact opposite of what is true. This is one of the three Laws of Sympathetic Magic that gives War Magic its power.

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