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 folly of fools by robert trivers 1111 words bartleby. Robert trivers is one of the leading figures pioneering the field of sociobiology. In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, ted has created a program called tedx. Deceit and selfdeception by robert trivers overdrive. 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. Jan 07, 2014 however, instead of reexamining christian values, robert trivers goes to the very cell of the living creatures humans, animals, insects, plants, viruses, and bacteria. The logic of deceit and self deception in human life by robert trivers 2011, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. Dec 25, 2011 one intriguing theme running through the folly of fools is that selfdeception can affect our susceptibility to disease, for ill or good. Why, however, would organisms both seek out information and then act to. And thus trivers ranges across biology, anthropology, history and politics to find examples of deception and selfdeception in action.
Rutgers the first wave of attacks against professor trivers. Trivers and newton published an analysis of the role of self deception by the flight crew in the crash of air florida flight 90. Book spotlight the folly of fools by robert trivers. Book spotlight the folly of fools by robert trivers tom. Biologist robert trivers has written a fascinating book about the survival value of selfdeception carole jahme fri 7 oct 2011. 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.
He has also contributed by explaining selfdeception as an adaptive evolutionary strategy first described in 1976 and discussing intragenomic conflict. What makes trivers book unusual even among great books is the density of new ideas. Trivers proposed the theories of reciprocal altruism 1971, parental investment 1972, facultative sex ratio determination 1973, and parentoffspring conflict 1974. He received his bachelors and phd from harvard university. Trivers lists a lack of self reflection as his biggest regret. Robert trivers, vincenzo fidomanzo goodreads author editor really liked it 4. Tedxjamaica robert trivers deceit and selfdeception. It eliminates the costly cognitive load that is typically associated with deceiving, and it can minimize retribution if the deception is discovered. Like, erasmus of rotterdam, robert trivers tries to rationalize the existence of deceit and self deception in human life. The closer trivers gets to political subjects, the less pointed the book becomes. Looks at how and why we so often deceive ourselves.
In his bold new work, prominent biological theorist robert trivers unflinchingly argues that selfdeception evolved in the service of deceitthe better to fool others. The site is full of hardtofind content, including many tv, radio, and print interviews, and freely downloadable pdfs of each of his published scientific articles it truly is a goldmine for every person interested in studying robert trivers work. In this foundational book, robert trivers seeks to answer one of the most provocative and consequential questions to face humanity. Aug 16, 2012 in the 1970s, a harvard class taught by robert trivers ignited a controversy that would escalate into the sociobiology wars. Deceit is useful where telling the unpleasant truth would hamper your progress. Trivers has nibbled away at the theme of selfdeception, the subject of this book, for over 30 years. Newton was godfather to one of trivers s daughters. Trivers is not an elegant stylist like dawkins, wilson or pinker. We humans are especially good at telling others less or more than the truth. Jan 05, 2016 trivers most detailed exploration of selfdeception didnt come until his 2011 book the folly of fools, where he explains that we fool ourselves in all realms of lifewhen overestimating. In this tedxjamaica talk robert trivers describes the capacity, role and function of deceit and self deception in humans. 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. If that were not enough, trivers is witty, clever, and compassionate. Consider as an example a cancer patient who maintains the.
The illusion of control, the construction of biased social theory, false personal narratives, and so on. Why, however, would organisms both seek out information and then act to destroy it. The logic of deceit and selfdeception in human life first printing by trivers, robert isbn. The unyielding optimist will pretend that the forest is not burning either because he is too lazy or too afraid to go and put the fire out. Posted april 7, 20, updated may 6, 20, and february 24, 2014 backgroundhow does rutgers deal with real violence vs imagined violence. The central thesis of triverss book is that we lie to ourselves the better to lie to others p. Selfdeception has long been a dark, opaque side of our behavior, but the author brings a bright flashlight to his investigation of why we alter information to reach a falsehood. The logic of deceit and selfdeception in human life. In this groundbreaking book, robert trivers examines not only how we selfdeceive, but also why, taking fascinating examples from aviation disasters, con. This book tries to provide insight into the mind of a scientist that went to prison, formed a friendship with the chairman of the black panthers, and protected homosexuals in jamaica through his armed group. This volume from robert trivers argues that selfdeceit is an evolutionary trait that emerged to enable individual human beings to more effectively deceive others.
In this groundbreaking book, robert trivers examines not only how we selfdeceive. And thus trivers ranges across biology, anthropology, history and politics to find examples of deception and self deception in action. In such cases inner peace is a permit for destruction. Steven pinker, author of the better angels of our nature it would not be hyperbole to say that robert trivers is one of the most important evolutionary theorists since charles darwin. Prominent biologist robert trivers probes the deep origins of deceit and offers a solution to the darwinian paradox of self deception. What emerges is a picture of deceit and self deception as, at root, different sides of the same coin. This memoir is filled with sharp and hilarious observations about the living world, not least a certain species of hairless primate, not least a certain member of that species named robert trivers. An evolutionary biologist investigates why lying and selfdeception play such prominent roles in our lives. Like other great popular press books in science, this book advances an. 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. In the 1970s, a harvard class taught by robert trivers ignited a controversy that would escalate into the sociobiology wars.
Finally, i have recently attempted to master the scientific literature on selfdeception and to sketch out some of the many applications of the resulting view. The logic of deceit and selfdeception in human life by robert trivers 2011, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. 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. The term self deception describes the puzzling situation in which a person appears both to know and not know one and the same thing. The folly of fools assumes the unity of all nature and seeks to comprehend it not merely by observation and reason, but also by subjective impressions, intuition and imagination. How cooking made us human the problem of why natural selection favors selfdeception is as poorly. 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.
The logic of deceit and selfdeception in human life basic books, 2011 for the new york times. 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. Beyond its role in specific acts of deception, selfdeceptive self. Now, decades on, he has arrived at a big, new universal theory, also essentially based on the arithmetic of gene selection. Beyond its role in specific acts of deception, self deceptive self enhancement also allows people to display more confidence than is warranted, which has a host of social advantages. For us, deceit and selfdeception are two sides of the same coin and trivers covers a huge amount of ground to make his case. This provocative book examines an often unexamined subject. An overview of robert trivers autobiography whilst on holiday i decided to read a book telling the life story of one of the worlds most influential evolutionary theorists. We do it for biological reasonsin order to help us survive and procreate.
You talk a lot about parentoffspring conflict, yet you neglect your own son. 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. 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. Deceit and selfdeception by robert trivers penguin. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Trivers theory of self deception trivers starts from the same place a lot of evolutionary psychologists start from. According to biologist robert trivers the simple answer is that it helps us. His darwinian theory of self deception is arguably his most provocative and interesting idea so far. And, last but not least, robert trivers has since last year an official site. The two began writing a book titled deceit and selfdeception, but the publishing house closed. Looking at selfdeception in broader areas like war, religion, false historical narratives, and even plane crashes, trivers presents a convincing argument for why this type of dishonesty is as harmful to the individual as it is to society as a whole. According to biologist robert trivers the simple answer is that it helps us have more children.
The book covers a lot of ground, moving from deception as a strategy for plants and animals to human deception and self deception to the role of deception and self deception in human organizations, including. Robert trivers scientific work has concentrated on two areas, social theory based on natural selection and the biology of selfish genetic elements. His overarching premise is that if we can only see our own point of view. Selfdeception in human life by robert trivers basic booksbasic books. This book examines not only how we selfdeceive, but also why, taking examples from aviation disasters, con artists, sexual betrayals and conflicts within families. Deceit and selfdeception by robert trivers penguin books. 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. Robert trivers tells us that an elementary form of selfdeception is to make sure that one is not exposed to facts and information that conflicts with ones assumptions or fantasies.
Trivers abruptly realizes he is seeing his reflection in a store window. Robert triverss new book is a curious document a book about. Is robert trivers deceiving himself about evolutionary. Newton, trivers recalls, was a master at propagating deception, he was a. However, instead of reexamining christian values, robert trivers goes to the very cell of the living creatures humans, animals, insects, plants, viruses, and bacteria. Robert trivers doesnt seem to have an upcoming book. Robert trivers has a track record of producing highly original ideas, which have gone on to stimulate much research. 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. Fooling yourself the better to fool ot 20140214 paperback. Jan 03, 2012 why, however, would organisms both seek out information and then act to destroy it. 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. Jan 06, 2012 is robert trivers deceiving himself about evolutionary psychologys flaws.
Richard wrangham, professor of biological anthropology, harvard university, and author of catching fire. After decades of research, robert trivers has at last provided the missing theory to answer these questions. Oct 05, 2011 the human capacity for self deception knows no bounds, but why do we do it. Robert trivers was the man who produced the unifying theory of kin selection and altruism. Although a scientific field of selfdeception is still in its infancy, as trivers himself admits p. Conversely, an internal activity which trivers promotes is self reflection. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. He explains that deceit and selfdeceit are costly but they are critical to the survival of the species. Aug 27, 2005 the two men planned a book on deceit and selfdeception. The two men planned a book on deceit and selfdeception. The book is enlivened by trivers candid personal style, and is a.
What emerges is a picture of deceit and selfdeception as, at root, different sides of the same coin. The human capacity for selfdeception knows no bounds, but why do we do it. The bad new is that the forces were dealing withthat is, of deceit and selfdeceptionare very powerful. Fooling yourself the better to fool others by trivers, robert isbn.
The logic of deceit and selfdeception in human life 2011, basic books, isbn 0465027555 by robert trivers is a book that examines the. The term selfdeception describes the puzzling situation in which a person appears both to know and not know one and the same thing. Dec 29, 2010 in this tedxjamaica talk robert trivers describes the capacity, role and function of deceit and self deception in humans. Despite it not being about the application of evolutionary psychology to the workplace, i thought this post would be of value regardless. 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. One important aspect of this is deception, and thats what rutgers anthropology professor robert trivers examines in the folly of fools.
The logic of deceit and selfdeception in human life reprint by robert trivers isbn. Self deception in human life by robert trivers basic booksbasic books. Links to this book are found here on the front page. Robert trivers and noam chomsky deceit and selfdeception. Robert triverss new book is a curious document a book about deception and selfdeception that is itself deceptive, in structure, voice and argument. Trivers focuses primarily on humans but he includes examples from many other organisms as well. The question then arises of how the self can be both deceiver and deceived. 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. The logic of deceit and self deception in human life basic books, 2011 by robert trivers, a professor of anthropology and biology at rutgers.
It can make you rethink something that you think you know. It would not be hyperbole to say that robert trivers is one of the most important evolutionary theorists since charles darwin. We cannot infer selfdeception by simply observing behavior. Fooling yourself the better to fool others, he does exactly that. I often find that people confuse inner peace with some sense of insensibility whenever something goes wrong. In this book, deceit and selfdeception are analyzed from different perspectives of life and different perspectives scientifically. The logic of deceit and self deception in human life. Biologist robert trivers has written a fascinating book about the survival value of selfdeception. One of the great thinkers in the history of western thought steven pinker this is not prof. Like, erasmus of rotterdam, robert trivers tries to rationalize the existence of deceit and selfdeception in human life.
Trivers focuses primarily on humans but he includes examples from many other organisms as. Across town at mit, noam chomsky had earned a reputation as a leading. But this takes hubris, an overt avoidance that must be a willful act for it to be effective. The logic of deceit and selfdeception in human life on. Trivers anthropology and biological sciencesrutgers univ. Trivers then steps back, this time to take aim at broader subjects like history, war, and religion. Selfdeception, the author says, is older than language so.
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