The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast – Ep. 327: Harry Frankfurt on Bullshit and Authenticity (Part One)

Intro

In this episode of “The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast,” the hosts delve into the topic of alternatives to truth-telling. They explore Harry Frankfurt’s essay on bullshit from 1986, discussing the nature of bullshit and its distinction from lying. The hosts appreciate Frankfurt’s clarity and lively examples, which serve as a starting point for their philosophical exploration.

Main Takeaways

The Nature of Bullshit

• Bullshit is an attitude that is unconcerned with the truth and lacks informational value.
• Bullshitters have other agendas, such as showing off their knowledge or having something to say.
• Bullshitting involves deceptive misrepresentation and is deliberate, reflecting the perpetrator’s state of mind.
• Bullshit is marked by a lack of concern for the truth and a desire to create a belief in something false.

Bull Sessions and Play Frames

• Bull sessions are conversations about personal, emotional, and controversial topics without pretense of communicating sincere beliefs.
• They serve as a way to tease out intuitions about what constitutes bullshit.
• Bull sessions involve trying out various thoughts and attitudes and observing others’ responses.
• Play frames, such as stand-up comedy or theater, exempt certain contexts from accusations of bullshit.

Bullshit and Misrepresentation

• Bullshitting differs from lying because it is not concerned with the truth or reality but with projecting or accomplishing something about oneself.
• Misrepresentation of the purpose of a conversation or activity is central to bullshitting.
• The play frame or bull session exemption can make it challenging to distinguish between truth and bullshit.
• Fiction and creative activities convey deeper truths rather than literal ones.

The Proliferation of Bullshit

• Bullshit has existed throughout history and is not a new phenomenon.
• The 24-hour news cycle perpetuates careers in bullshitting by constantly bringing in experts to speculate on meaningless questions.
• The ease of fact-checking with technology has made it more embarrassing to be caught in a lie.
• Bullshit is linked to relativism and skepticism, where people reject the importance of truth and retreat into sincerity.

Summary

The Nature of Bullshit

The hosts explore Harry Frankfurt’s concept of bullshit, which is characterized by an attitude unconcerned with the truth and lacking informational value. Bullshitters have other motives, such as showcasing their knowledge or simply having something to say. Bullshitting involves deliberate deceptive misrepresentation, reflecting the perpetrator’s state of mind. It is marked by a lack of concern for the truth and a desire to create a belief in something false.

Bull Sessions and Play Frames

The hosts discuss bull sessions, which are conversations where individuals discuss personal, emotional, and controversial topics without the expectation of sincere beliefs. Bull sessions serve as a way to explore intuitions about what constitutes bullshit. Participants try out different thoughts and attitudes and observe others’ responses. The hosts also note that certain contexts, such as stand-up comedy or theater, are exempt from accusations of bullshit due to the play frame.

Bullshit and Misrepresentation

The hosts delve into the distinction between bullshitting and lying. While lying involves deceiving others about a fact and one’s state of mind, bullshitting focuses on giving a false impression of one’s state of mind. Misrepresentation of the purpose of a conversation or activity is central to bullshitting. The hosts highlight the challenge of distinguishing between truth and bullshit within the play frame or bull session exemption. They also note that fiction and creative activities convey deeper truths rather than literal ones.

The Proliferation of Bullshit

The hosts reflect on the prevalence of bullshit throughout history and its perpetuation in the modern era. They discuss how the 24-hour news cycle fuels careers in bullshitting by constantly bringing in experts to speculate on meaningless questions. The ease of fact-checking with technology has made it more embarrassing to be caught in a lie. The hosts also explore the link between bullshit, relativism, and skepticism, where people reject the importance of truth and retreat into sincerity.

Conclusion

This episode of “The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast” delves into Harry Frankfurt’s essay on bullshit, exploring its nature, distinctions from lying, and its prevalence in various contexts. The hosts provide insightful analysis and engage in thought-provoking discussions about the implications of bullshit in our lives. By examining alternative forms of discourse, they shed light on the complexities of truth, misrepresentation, and the impact of bullshitting on society.