Dec 29, 2010 in this tedxjamaica talk robert trivers describes the capacity, role and function of deceit and self deception in humans. The folly of fools is a book about deception and self deception and just the first topics the author examines give you in advance an idea on what the whole book is about. Barash, university of washington, department of psychology, seattle, wa, usa, email. Trivers has nibbled away at the theme of selfdeception, the subject of this book. I am rating it one star to catch the attention of readers who might think it is a different book. Robert trivers has a track record of producing highly original ideas, which have gone on to stimulate much research.
Robert trivers unflinchingly argues that selfdeception evolved in the. In deceit and self deception robert trivers, whose work has been acclaimed by figures such as richard dawkins and steven pinker, looks at how and why we so often deceive ourselves we lie to ourselves every day. According to the book the folly of fools the logic of deceit and self deception in human life, written by robert trivers, we as humans lie to ourselves to better lie to others. Dec 30, 2011 robert triverss new book is a curious document a book about deception and selfdeception that is itself deceptive, in structure, voice and argument. Robert trivers s new book is a curious document a book about deception and self deception that is itself deceptive, in structure, voice and argument. Biologist robert trivers has written a fascinating book about the survival value of selfdeception. Deceit and selfdeception by robert trivers penguin books. Because i think you miss the truth about each if you are not conscious of the other and the relationship between the two. Buy robert trivers ebooks to read online or download in pdf or epub on your pc, tablet or mobile device. The bad new is that the forces were dealing withthat is, of deceit and self deception are very powerful. Robert trivers contributor of the oxford book of modern. Trivers identifies at the beginning that its still an infant field. Oct 07, 2011 robert trivers is one of the few scientists able to take command of an evolutionary perspective on subterfuge, and in his new book deceit and selfdeception. Robert trivers is an american evolutionary biologist, who has.
The logic of deceit and selfdeception in human life 3. Trivers is professor of anthropology and biological sciences and is one of the worlds most influential evolutionary biologists of this. Biologist robert trivers book the folly of fools tells the manifest ways human beings deceive themselves, from politics and religion to science and everyday life. The logic of deceit and selfdeception in human life. In the earlier portion of the book, trivers traces the way in which selfdeception involved in human beings and other animals, particularly as a tool to make the transmission of the. Deceit and self deception download ebook pdf, epub. Trivers argues that deceit and selfdeception are two sides of the same coin we fool ourselves the better to fool others. In the earlier portion of the book, trivers traces the way in which self deception involved in human beings and other animals, particularly as a tool to make the transmission of the.
Robert trivers and noam chomsky deceit and selfdeception. According to the book the folly of fools the logic of deceit and selfdeception in human life, written by robert trivers, we as humans lie to ourselves to better lie to others. For us, deceit and selfdeception are two sides of the same coin and trivers covers a huge amount of ground to make his case. Jan 03, 2012 why, however, would organisms both seek out information and then act to destroy it. Dec 25, 2011 the complexity of organisms, trivers suggests, stems at least in part from a primordial arms race between deceit and deceit detection.
Sep 19, 2015 a new york times notable book of 2012. The two began writing a book titled deceit and selfdeception, but the publishing house closed. His darwinian theory of selfdeception is arguably his most provocative and interesting idea so far. The folly of fools deceit and self deception by robert trivers fooling yourself the better to fool others. Trivers focuses primarily on humans but he includes examples from many other organisms as well. Newton, chairman of the black panther party, in 1978 when newton applied while in prison to do a reading course with trivers as part of a graduate degree in history of. After decades of research, robert trivers has at last provided the missing theory to answer these questions. Both make it harder for others to detect your deception, and also allow you to deceive with less immediate cognitive cost.
In this tedxjamaica talk robert trivers describes the capacity, role and function of deceit and self deception in humans. Robert trivers is a pioneering figure in the field of sociobiology. The central claim of the book is that self deception evolves in the service of deception and the general argument is that we deceive ourselves the better to deceive others. For natural selection and social theory, he has selected eleven of his most influential papers, including several classic papers from the early 1970s on the evolution of reciprocal altruism, parentoffspring conflicts, and asymmetry in sexual selection, which helped to establish the centrality. Trivers wrote the original foreword to richard dawkins book the selfish gene, in which trivers first proposed his adaptive theory of selfdeception. Robert triverss new book is a curious document a book about deception and selfdeception that is itself deceptive, in structure, voice and. In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, ted has created a program called tedx. In santa cruz in the 80s, trivers formed a fast friendship with huey newton, the black panther, whom he described as an untutored genius, but one who was also in some respects unteachable. Jan 07, 2014 a new york times notable book of 2012whether its in a cockpit at takeoff or the planning of an offensive war, a romantic relationship or a dispute at the office, there are many opportunities to lie and selfdeceive but deceit and selfdeception carry the costs of being alienated from reality and can lead to disaster. The question then arises of how the self can be both deceiver and deceived. This is the british edition of the book published in the usa entitled the folly of fools. Symmetry and dance tpz publishers isbn 9780615287560. Why, however, would organisms both seek out information and then act to destroy it.
A new york times notable book of 2012whether its in a cockpit at takeoff or the planning of an offensive war, a romantic relationship or a dispute at the office, there are many opportunities to lie and selfdeceive but deceit and selfdeception carry the costs of being alienated from reality and can lead to disaster. What emerges is a picture of deceit and selfdeception as, at root, different sides of the same coin. For natural selection and social theory, he has selected eleven of his most influential papers, including several classic papers from the early 1970s on the evolution of reciprocal altruism, parentoffspring conflicts, and asymmetry in sexual selection, which helped to establish the centrality of sociobiology, as well as some. The logic of deceit and self deception in human life 9780465027552 by trivers, robert and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. All the better to fool you with, my dear robert trivers. Robert trivers having been cited as one of the greatest thinkers of the 21st century by time, trivers has had one of the greatest individual impacts on the study of social behavior among humans and animals. Trivers is a wideangle look at deception, its origins, functions and results. Robert trivers is a distinguished biologist with an enormous. Jan 07, 2014 in his bold new work, prominent biological theorist robert trivers unflinchingly argues that selfdeception evolved in the service of deceitthe better to fool others. In deceit and self deception robert trivers, whose work has been acclaimed by figures such as richard dawkins and steven pinker, looks at how and why we so often deceive ourselves.
Robert trivers was the man who produced the unifying theory of kin selection and altruism. Tedx talk on deceit and self deception in kingston jamaica. For us, deceit and self deception are two sides of the same coin and trivers covers a huge amount of ground to make his case. In this book, deceit and self deception are analyzed from different perspectives of life and different perspectives scientifically. A new york times notable book of 2012 whether itos in a cockpit at. A new york times notable book of 2012whether its in a cockpit at takeoff or the planning of an offensive war, a romantic relationship or a dispute at the office, there are many opportunities to lie and selfdeceivebut deceit and selfdeception carry the costs of being alienated from reality and can lead to disaster. Biologist robert trivers book the folly of fools tells the manifest ways human beings deceive themselves, from politics and religion to science and everyday. Whilst on holiday i decided to read a book telling the life story of one of the worlds most influential evolutionary theorists. The logic of deceit and self deception in human life. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. One important aspect of this is deception, and thats what rutgers anthropology professor robert trivers examines in the folly of fools.
Fooling yourself the better to fool others by trivers, robert isbn. Robert trivers is one of the few scientists able to take command of an evolutionary perspective on subterfuge, and in his new book deceit and self deception. A new york times notable book of 2012 whether its in a cockpit at takeoff or the planning of an offensive war, a romantic relationship or a dispute at the office, there are many opportunities to lie and selfdeceivebut deceit and selfdeception carry the costs of being alienated from reality and can lead to disaster. The logic of deceit and self deception in human life 3.
The logic of deceit and selfdeception in human life first printing by trivers, robert isbn. An evolutionary biologist investigates why lying and selfdeception play. Deceit and self deception by robert trivers mentorbox. Robert trivers is one of the leading figures pioneering the field of sociobiology. What emerges is a picture of deceit and self deception as, at root, different sides of the same coin.
Rutgersthe first wave of attacks against professor trivers. A new york times notable book of 2012 whether its in a cockpit at takeoff or the planning of an offensive war, a romantic relationship or a dispute at the office, there are many opportunities to lie and self. Like a very disturbing feature of overconfidence is that it often appears to be poorly associated with knowledgethat is, the more ignorant the individual, the more confident he or she maybe. The logic of deceit and self deception in human life new york. Newton, trivers recalls, was a master at propagating deception, he was a master at seeing through. A new york times notable book of 2012whether its in a cockpit at takeoff or the planning of an offensive war, a romantic relationship or a dispute at the office, there are many opportunities to lie and self deceive but deceit and self deception carry the costs of being alienated from reality and can lead to disaster. The logic of deceit and selfdeception in human life new york. One of the great thinkers in the history of western thought steven pinker this is not prof. In his bold new work, prominent biological theorist robert trivers unflinchingly argues that selfdeception evolved in the service of deceitthe better to fool others.
Jan 30, 2014 after decades of research, robert trivers has at last provided the missing theory to answer these questions. The illusion of control, the construction of biased social theory, false personal narratives, and so on. This is the best talk i have given on self deception, in part because tedx talks are limited to 20 minutes and in part because it is delivered in jamaica with many local references. In this foundational book, robert trivers seeks to answer one of the most provocative and consequential questions to face humanity. Tedxjamaica robert trivers deceit and self deception. Deceit and selfdeception by robert trivers avid reader. The logic of deceit and self deception in human life 2011, basic books, isbn 0465027555 by robert trivers is a book that examines the evolutionary explanations for deceit and self deception. Trivers has nibbled away at the theme of selfdeception, the subject of this book, for over 30 years. May 15, 2016 most recently, trivers has created a theory selfdeception as an adaptive evolutionary strategy. The complexity of organisms, trivers suggests, stems at least in part from a primordial arms race between deceit and deceit detection. A new york times notable book of 2012 whether its in a cockpit at takeoff or the planning of an offensive war, a romantic relationship or a dispute at the office, there are many opportunities to lie and self deceivebut deceit and self deception carry the costs of being alienated from reality and can lead to disaster. Recently an extraordinary truth was revealed about rutgers university. The folly of fools by robert trivers 1111 words bartleby. Robert trivers scientific work has concentrated on two areas, social theory based on natural selection of which a theory of self deception is one part and the biology of selfish genetic elements which leads to certain kinds of internal genetic conflicts.
Whether its in a cockpit at takeoff or the planning of an offensive war, a romantic relationship or a dispute at the office, there are many opportunities to lie and selfdeceivebut deceit and selfdeception carry the costs of being alienated from reality and can lead to disaster. Fooling yourself the better to fool others by robert trivers. The logic of deceit and selfdeception in human life basic books, 2011 for the new york times. The logic of deceit and self deception in human life basic books isbn 9780465027552. Trivers calls deceit a deep feature of life, even a necessity, given. Despite it not being about the application of evolutionary psychology to the workplace, i thought this post would be of value regardless. Robert trivers scientific work has concentrated on two areas, social theory based on natural selection and the biology of selfish genetic elements. Deceit and selfdeception by robert trivers penguin. Robert trivers quotes author of the oxford book of modern.
We deceive ourselves the better to deceive others, and thereby reap the advantages. Trivers wrote the original foreword to richard dawkins book the selfish gene in which trivers first proposed his adaptive theory of selfdeception. Posted april 7, 20, updated may 6, 20, and february 24, 2014 backgroundhow does rutgers deal with real violence vs imagined violence. We do it for biological reasonsin order to help us survive and procreate. The logic of deceit and self deception in human life basic books, 2011 for the new york times. In this book, deceit and selfdeception are analyzed from different perspectives of life and different perspectives scientifically. A new york times notable book of 2012whether its in a cockpit at takeoff or the planning of an offensive war, a romantic relationship or a dispute at the office. Aug 16, 2012 tedxjamaica robert trivers deceit and self deception. Is robert trivers deceiving himself about evolutionary. The central claim of the book is that selfdeception evolves in the service of deception and the general argument is that we deceive ourselves the better to deceive others. Why do i talk about, or wish to talk about, deception and self deception in the same breath. Trivers has nibbled away at the theme of self deception, the subject of this book, for over 30 years. In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, ted has created a program called.
This volume from robert trivers argues that self deceit is an evolutionary trait that emerged to enable individual human beings to more effectively deceive others. The book is enlivened by trivers candid personal style, and is a pleasure to read. Trivers, 9780141019918, download free ebooks, download free pdf epub ebook. He explains that deceit and self deceit are costly but they are critical to the survival of the species. Robert trivers is one of the few scientists able to take command of an evolutionary perspective on subterfuge, and in his new book deceit and selfdeception.
In this groundbreaking book, robert trivers examines not only how we self deceive, but also. Tedxjamaica robert trivers deceit and selfdeception. A biological theory of why we all lie fails to convince. The folly of fools is a book about deception and selfdeception and just the first topics the author examines give you in advance an idea on what the whole book is about.
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