Lying to Oneself (Raphael Demos)

Strict Decieving

all about the EFFECT

Strict Lying

all about the INTENTION

Relevant Lying

one knows the truth & has the intention to induce a mistaken belief in another & succeeds in bringing about that affect

Demos Claims - Self-deception

when we relevant lie to ourselves

Deception Example:

• Scarlet Kingsnake (NOT deadly)

• Coral Snake (deadly)

Self-deception is ______ b/c

blameworthy b/c - one acts against one’s own existing belief or knowledge

Wishful Thinking

the avoidance of unpleasant beliefs & persuit of platable ones

• driven by desire

Delusion

a state of total belief in something unreal b/c of some external cause

• “cut off from reality”

Pretense

a state of make-believe wherein something is pretended to be believed in

• “KNOW it is all an act”

Self-deception is between _________ & _________

delusion & pretense

The Problem:

How can one both believe & disbelieve the same proposition?

For Demos - the simultanaity is NOT attributable to a divided mind - rather it’s….

just about attention & noticing

Example: headache

Asprin - eliminates headache

Movie - moves attention away from headache

_____ levels of awareness

TWO

1. Simple Awareness

2. Attending Awareness

Simple Awareness

this is just the field of consciousness & all it contains

Attention Awareness

something noticed, pickedout, focused on within the field of consciousness

What you attend to is =

what’s real to you

• consider selective attention

Example: Gorilla & People passing basketball

Selective attention - counting amount of times people in white passed ball (BUT - did you see gorilla?)

Change blindness - not focusing on small details - 2 guys changing asking for directions & people not noticing b/c it has to do w/ what’s relevant to them

Weakness of Will - also know as _______

Akrasia

Weakness of Will -

involves failing to do what one knows is best

Weakness of Will - Represents a Paradox:

• Agent decisively judge A is better than B

• Despite judgment, still does B

Salient

motivated for option

Obscure

judged-best option

Akrasia Model Belief

what you should do is known BUT it’s not done b/c it’s unattended to

Demo thinks - Belief formation:

in self-deception works in the same way as akrasia - it is motivated

We lie to ourselves BUT -

we still know in some corner of the mind

Successful Condiiton -

only works if one believes the lie being told

Does knowledge _______ like a headache?

DISSAPPEAR

Static Paradox

one stuck in the impossible position of consciously believing BOTH p & not-p

Impossible to lie to oneself -

when one already knows the truth!

Dynamic Paradox:

impossible to be able to intentionally lie to oneself

Bullshitting

something we do to deceive ourselves & others - NOT lying

• all about presentation, NOT lying to you but focusing on how they make you feel

Frankfurt believes this ________ of Bullshit is found in ___ & _______

this paradigm of bullshit is found in Ad’s & Politics

Example: MJ music & Pepsi

Pepsi ads use MJ’s music so that people associate Pepsi with the feeling they get from MJ’s music

No _____ but _________

lying but manipulation

Essence of Bullshit =

this unconcern about the truth

The LIAR -

respects/fears the truth

The BULLSHITTER -

fails to respect the truth

• may lose touch with reality self

Agent who Bullshits -

in danger of self-deception OR delusion