The folly of fools the logic of deceit and self-deception in human life

Summary: Whether it's 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. So why does deception play such a prominent role in our everyday lives? In short, why do we deceive?. In his bold new work, prominent biological theorist Robert Trivers unflinchingly argues that self-deception evolved in the service of deceit-the better to fool others. We do it for biological reasons-in order to hel

Record details

ISBN: 0465028055 (electronic bk.)
ISBN: 9780465028054 (electronic bk.)
Physical Description: electronic resource
remote
1 online resource (xvi, 397 p.)
Publisher: New York : Basic Books, c2011

Content descriptions

Bibliography, etc. Note:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Formatted Contents Note:

The evolutionary logic of self-deception -- Deception in nature -- Neurophysiology and levels of imposed self-deception -- Self-deception in the family -- and the split self -- Deceit, self-deception, and sex -- The immunology of self-deception -- The psychology of self-deception -- Self-deception in everyday life -- Self-deception in aviation and space disasters -- False historical narratives -- Self-deception and war -- Religion and self-deception -- Self-deception and the structure of the social sciences -- Fighting self-deception in our own lives.