I found it quite intriguing how Harry G. Frankfurt defines the difference between bullshitting and lying when reading “On Bullshit." Bullshit is thought to be similar to lying, however they are not the same thing. "On Bullshit" states that when a person lies they have a specific mindset, something I would have never considered. A person who lies knows what they are saying is untrue, but decided to tell someone anyway in the hopes of misleading someone into believe something false. However, in the book it also states that if a person lies about something but truly believes what they are saying is true that it is not considered lying but rather described as "short of lying." This description between telling a lie and using bullshit shows the fine line between the two. This fine line between bullshitting and lying is evident in the ramifications experienced when a person lies and when a person bullshits their way through a conversation. In telling a lie, the consequences are much greater than when a person is bullshitting a conversation. People are more likely to get upset and someone who is lying rather than someone who is just talking bullshit. This is why it is a lot more likely someone is going to bullshit rather than lie to someone. Another example between bullshitting and lying is the freedom associated with bullshitting. In bullshitting a persons' "...focus is panoramic rather than particular. He does not limit himself to inserting a certain falsehood at a specific point, and thus he is not constrained by the truths surrounding that point or intersecting it. He is prepared, so far as required, to fake the context as well" (On Bullshit, p.52) This proves that because there is more freedom with talking bullshit people are more inclined to bullshit rather than lie. "On Bullshit" also states that when bullshitting, the person is not telling the truth nor concealing it. Whereas when a person lies they are attempting to hide part of the truth and replace it with a lie. This has made me think a lot about what I say to people and how I say it. If I indeed lie or just talk bullshit, and how it affects the people I am talking to.
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I thought that this was an interesting blog. You explained well what you thought of the text and helped me to understand it better as well. It is good that it made you think because I feel that of what I have read so far in the book, that is what they want you to do. I did not think that the text was all that interesting and I would have liked to see what you thought about that, but overall this was a good blog. You helped me to undersstand the text even better after reading the book. I am curious what your thoughts on the "humbug" and "i feel like a dog who has been run over" scenarios.
ReplyDeleteI thought that you concept was interesting, but I have to say that Frankfurt's text had some rather conflicting ideas. For example, he states that when you are bullshitting you are deceiving or misleading someone. He uses basically the same definition for "humbug" and also lying. If you are deceiving someone, then you have to know that you are lying or twisting the facts. Therefore, does that mean that bullshitting is the same as humbug and lying? If this is the case, the perhaps Frankfurt's main goal is not to define bullshitting through our reading. Maybe he is using the way he created the text to bullshit us instead. Maybe he is trying to be so convincing in how he is presenting the text that we believe what he is saying is true. If this is the case, then he is misleading us, and therefore he is ultimately bullshitting us.
ReplyDeleteI think the main distinction that Frankfurt is trying to make is that the BSer is misrepresenting himself, not the truth...
ReplyDeleteThe concepts in Harry G. Frankfurt's book were in some instances quite confusing to me. I'm not sure if it was the way he worded his sentences, or just the actual concept in general that had me at a loss. I read your blog before and after I read the book, and whether what you wrote was the way Frankfurt wanted his readers to interpret his ideas, using your blog as some what of a guide helped me understand. Although lying has somewhat of the same intentions as bullshitting, bullshitting to me seems much harder. Lets say for instance you have to bullshit your way through a book you didn't read in class. You can't just completely make things up because you're talking about information other people already know. On the other hand, if you are telling your own story you don't need to tip-toe around anything because what you are saying is "true" to you and no one else really knows.
ReplyDeleteI thought bullshit was more an harsher form of word "lie." I guess it depends on the context of what people say in the sentence or phrase. Honestly I know what bullshit means inside myself but it is hard to describe what it means. But if new people who never use word "bullshit" will learn quickly what it means by watching other people use it. Now I don't know if humbug and bullshit is similiar. I just feel it is not similar at all. I agree with Sandy that people should not bullshitting all time because it always give people wrong idea of who they are representing. Better tell what you think in polite manner than bullshitting all time. People should keep it true to themselves unless you are one of these poliiticans.
ReplyDeleteThese are all very interesting posts to me along with Frankfurt's idea of the differences of lying, humbug, and bullshit really are. Along with Sarah, I thought about how this effects me and the way I speak. Do I lie or bullshit people? I agree with Lane's comment in the fact that bullshitting seems harder to do. I feel when you bullshit you are trying to persuade people more into believing that idea you are bullshitting. The idea of a "bull session" seems to have too much work involved... As Frankfurt said, "People are generally reluctant to speak altogether openly about these topics if they expect that they might be taken too seriously" (37), so this is why people tend to bullshit... why even talk about the topic if you think you will be taken too seriously? I would just ignore the conversation altogether if possible.
ReplyDeleteWhen you tell a girl you've gone skydiving before, it's bullshit. However, when you don't tell youre wife you've been cheating on her, it's deffinitally a lie. They're both just lies to me.
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