Do You Have a Preference for Bullshit Over the Truth?

The science of bullshitting and its relation to knowledge/facts.

The difference between bullshitting and lying is how the information is communicated with the underlying concern for evidence or established knowledge and the manner in which they promote and defend claims.

"Bullshitting involves intentionally or unintentionally, consciously or unconsciously, communicating with little to no regard or concern for truth, genuine evidence, and/or established knowledge. Bullshitting is often characterized by, but not limited to, using rhetorical strategies designed to disregard truth, evidence, and/or established knowledge, such as exaggerating or embellishing one's knowledge, competence, or skills in a particular area or talking about things of which one knows nothing about in order to impress, fit in with, influence, or persuade others. The degree to which something qualifies as bullshit is inversely proportional to the degree to which the claim is based on truth, genuine evidence, and/or established knowledge."

The important distinction between bullshitters and liars has to do with their motives. It is possible for a bullshitter to communicate something that is actually true, but a bullshitter wouldn't know it because he isn't paying attention to the truth of his claims or that they can and should be substantiated by readily available evidence and/existing knowledge.

A liar does whatever he can to hide the truth, the liar distorts his portrayal of reality and tries to remember the lie. A bullshitter doesn't have these burdens because most often he actually believes his own bullshit.

Lies are intentional distortions or concealments of the truth, whereas bullshit claims are made without any attention to the truth at all, and they may even be correct.

When we live in a world surrounded by bullshit what are the repercussions and effects of the information being presented, "If what I am hearing turns out to be false, what is the worst that can happen?"

Bullshit Flies Index

Harmless - leads to little more than expressions of belief or disbelief, embarrassment, or the proverbial eye-rolling of listeners

Bad - leads to undesirable behaviors

Dangerous - leads to false beliefs and destructive decisions, negatively affecting the lives of others

Do We Seek the Truth?

Sometimes it is easier to accept bullshit than to fight it. Preferring bullshit over the trust is especially likely to occur when the bullshit aligns with our views of the world or the way want or hope things to be.

We like what we like, and sometimes what we like doesn't correspond with the truth or the available evidence.

Do you have a preference for bullshit over the truth?

Petrocelli, J. (2021). The Life-Changing Science of Detecting Bullshit. St. Martin's Press, New York

Shelby 8/2024