On Bullshit
The document discusses the nature and prevalence of bullshit, distinguishing it from lying and exploring its connection to skepticism and the pursuit of personal sincerity.
www2.csudh.eduSaved by Matthew Giampetroni and
On Bullshit
Patients in therapy all begin by protesting, “I want to be good.” If they cannot accomplish this, it is only because they are “inadequate,” can’t control themselves, are too anxious, or suffer from unconscious impulses. Being neurotic is being able to act badly without feeling responsible for what you do. The therapist must try to help the patient
... See moreFew things are as destructive and limiting as a worldview that assumes people are mostly rational.
Scott Adams • How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big: Kind of the Story of My Life
Yes, you can do what you want—but you cannot account for the fact that your wants are effective in one case and not in another (and you certainly can’t choose your wants in advance).
Sam Harris • Free Will
Frankfurt’s astute observation of where that leads us feels prophetic in 2017. He argues that once we decide that it makes no sense to try to be true to the facts, we simply resort to being true to ourselves. This, to me, is the birthplace of one of the great bullshit problems of our time: the “you’re either with us or against us” argument.
Brené Brown • Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone
A student trying to sound knowledgeable without having done the reading, a political candidate saying things because they sound good to potential voters, and a dilet- tante trying to spin an interesting story: none of these people are trying to deceive, but they are also not trying to convey facts. To Frankfurt, they are bullshitting.