Oct 10, 2011 trivers s theories of deceit and self deceit are based on multiple gleanings from experimental psychology. Oct 25, 2011 a new york times notable book of 2012 whether itos 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 selfdeceivenbut deceit and selfdeception carry the costs of being alienated from reality and can lead to disaster. This fundamental insight frames trivers wideranging exploration of deceit and selfdeception in the human and animal worlds. 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 selfdeceive but deceit and selfdeception carry the costs. A trial with rats shows this, another with students suggests that. Self deception is a process of denying or rationalizing away the relevance, significance, or importance of opposing evidence and logical argument. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Deceit and selfdeception suspicious minds books and arts. Self deception involves convincing oneself of a truth or lack of truth so that one does not reveal any self knowledge of the deception. Deceit and self deception by robert trivers mentorbox. Trivers focuses primarily on humans but he includes examples from many other organisms as. How cooking made us human the problem of why natural selection favors selfdeception is as poorly. Robert trivers 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.
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. Popular science books such as richard dawkins the selfish gene drew heavily on robert trivers papers. This cited by count includes citations to the following articles in scholar. Revealing, provocative and witty, deceit and selfdeception is one of the most vital books written this century, and will make you rethink everything that you think you know. 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. The author was a recipient of the crafoord prize in 2007. 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 species genes continue in. 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. What emerges is a picture of deceit and self deception as, at root, different sides of the same coin.
Robert trivers books list of books by author robert trivers. Bestselling books were written, mostly by zoologists. The logic of deceit and selfdeception in human life 2011, basic books, isbn 0465027555 by robert trivers is a book that examines the evolutionary explanations for deceit and selfdeception. Jan 30, 2014 revealing, provocative and witty, deceit and selfdeception is one of the most vital books written this century, and will make you rethink everything that you think you know. Why do i talk about, or wish to talk about, deception and selfdeception in the same breath. Why do i talk about, or wish to talk about, deception and self deception in the same breath. And thus trivers ranges across biology, anthropology, history and politics to find examples of deception and self deception in action. The logic of deceit and selfdeception in human life first printing by trivers, robert isbn. Fooling yourself the better to fool others ebook written by robert trivers. Selfdeception involves convincing oneself of a truth or lack of truth so that one does not reveal any selfknowledge of the deception. 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. Because i think you miss the truth about each if you are not conscious of the other and the relationship between the two. In this foundational book, robert trivers seeks to answer one of the most provocative and consequential questions to face humanity. Robert triverss new book is a curious document a book about deception and selfdeception that is itself deceptive, in structure, voice and.
The logic of deceit and self deception in human life first printing by trivers, robert isbn. Richard wrangham, professor of biological anthropology, harvard university, and author of catching fire. May 15, 2016 popular science books such as richard dawkins the selfish gene drew heavily on robert trivers papers. 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. 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. 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. What emerges is a picture of deceit and selfdeception as, at root, different sides of the same coin.
The illusion of control, the construction of biased social theory, false personal narratives, and so on. The logic of deceit and selfdeception in human life 2011, basic books, isbn 0465027555 by robert trivers is a book that examines the. The logic of deceit and selfdeception in human life basic books, 2011 for the new york times. Fooling yourself the better to fool others robert l. 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. 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 self deception. Tedx talk on deceit and self deception in kingston jamaica. A new york times notable book of 2012 whether itos in a cockpit at.
The logic of deceit and selfdeception in human life. Symmetry and dance tpz publishers isbn 9780615287560. This is the best talk i have given on selfdeception, in part because tedx talks are limited to 20 minutes and in part because it is delivered in jamaica with many local references. He received his bachelors and phd from harvard university. Jan 03, 2012 in short, why practice self deception. The logic of deceit and selfdeception in human life basic books, 2011 by robert trivers, a professor of anthropology and biology at rutgers. Deceit and selfdeception by robert trivers penguin books.
Biologist robert trivers has written a fascinating book about the survival value of selfdeception. Robert trivers and noam chomsky deceit and selfdeception. Arguably, trivers theories are the pillars of evolutionary psychology. Fooling yourself the better to fool others, and social evolution, and more on. Dec 25, 2011 the complexity of organisms, trivers suggests, stems at least in part from a primordial arms race between deceit and deceit detection. The logic of deceit and selfdeception in human life basic books isbn 9780465027552. And thus trivers ranges across biology, anthropology, history and politics to find examples of deception and selfdeception in action.
This is the british edition of the book published in the usa entitled the folly of fools. Like, erasmus of rotterdam, robert trivers tries to rationalize the existence of deceit and selfdeception in human life. Aug 16, 2012 tedxjamaica robert trivers deceit and self deception. Jan 07, 2014 at the beginning, trivers tells us that the time is ripe for a general theory of deceit and self deception based on evolutionary logic, and at the end he asks about the convenience of fighting ones own self deception. The central thesis of triverss book is that we lie to ourselves the better to lie to others p. The what and why of selfdeception harvard business school. Is robert trivers deceiving himself about evolutionary. Tedxjamaica robert trivers deceit and selfdeception. Robert trivers scientific work has concentrated on two areas, social theory based on natural selection of which a theory of selfdeception is one part and the biology of selfish genetic elements which leads to certain kinds of internal genetic conflicts.
At the beginning, trivers tells us that the time is ripe for a general theory of deceit and selfdeception based on evolutionary logic, and at the end he asks about the convenience of fighting ones own self deception. Selfdeception in the family and the split self deceit, selfdeception and sex the immunology of self. Believing you can achieve some goal climbing a mountain, getting a new job, rebuilding an engine can give you the incentive to actually work at it. 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. The folly of fools is a remarkable book, thick with ideas, yet relaxed and. Robert triverss new book is a curious document a book about deception and selfdeception that is itself deceptive, in structure, voice and argument. How cooking made us human the problem of why natural selection favors self deception is as poorly. Robert trivers quotes author of the oxford book of modern. 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. Opportunities to lie to oneself arise every single day. The logic of deceit and selfdeception in human life robert trivers. Trivers has nibbled away at the theme of selfdeception, the subject of this book, for over 30 years.
The theory of the folly of fools is that we deceive ourselves the better to deceive others. Triverss theories of deceit and selfdeceit are based on multiple gleanings from experimental psychology. 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. This book examines not only how we selfdeceive, but also why, taking examples from aviation disasters, con artists, sexual betrayals and conflicts within families. The logic of deceit and selfdeception in human life basic books isbn 9780465027552 trivers r 2015 wild life. The book covers a lot of ground, moving from deception as a strategy for plants and animals to human deception and selfdeception to the role of deception and self. The complexity of organisms, trivers suggests, stems at least in part from a primordial arms race between deceit and deceitdetection. It can make you rethink something that you think you know. See all books authored by robert trivers, including deceit and selfdeception.
Trivers focuses primarily on humans but he includes examples from many other organisms as well. 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. Deceit and selfdeception by robert trivers overdrive. And this strategy, according to the author, is based on our natural instincts, such as selfpreservation and reproductive success. Selfdeception is a process of denying or rationalizing away the relevance, significance, or importance of opposing evidence and logical argument. 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. For us, deceit and selfdeception are two sides of the same coin and trivers covers a huge amount of ground to make his case. Robert trivers is one of the leading figures pioneering the field of sociobiology. To many people, trivers is one of the most influential voices in the history of evolutionary biology, with some of the best books in his bibliography including. 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. 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. 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. The logic of deceit and selfdeception in human life new york.
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