Encyclopedia of Opinion
Question
What are the conspiracy theories around COVID-19?
Position3 of 6
COVID-19 is a man made biological weapon
Argument3 of 3

Coronavirus is part of the UK's ongoing biological warfare campaign

The UK developed the virus in the same secret laboratory in which they developed the radioactive drugs that infected the Skripals, and killed Litvinenko.

The argument

Kremlin-backed media has accused the UK of creating coronavirus for personal gain. The fact that the rise of coronavirus coincided with the UK leaving the EU is not a coincidence.

Context

(ALERT: Visit the WHO for accurate information about the coronavirus pandemic)

Premises

[P1]The UK has an ongoing biological warfare program aimed at advancing its national interests. [P2] The emergence of coronavirus coincided with the UK's departure from the EU, providing strategic cover and benefit. [C] Therefore, COVID-19 is a man-made biological weapon developed as part of the UK's biological warfare campaign.

Counter-arguments

"Scientists from multiple countries have published and analysed genomes of the causative agent, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2),1 and they overwhelmingly conclude that this coronavirus originated in wildlife as have so many other emerging pathogens."

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P2] Coincidence in timing is not evidence of design, and the counter sets against it the genetic record: scientists in multiple countries have published and analysed genomes of SARS-CoV-2 and overwhelmingly conclude that the virus originated in wildlife, as many other emerging pathogens have. [Rejecting C] With a wildlife origin established from the genome itself, the conclusion has nothing left to rest on — the argument offers no evidence of a manufactured agent, only the claim of a motive and a date.