In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, ted has created a program called tedx. The logic of deceit and selfdeception in human life basic books. 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. Trivers wrote the original foreword to richard dawkins book the selfish gene, in which trivers first proposed his adaptive theory of selfdeception. According to biologist robert trivers the simple answer is that it helps us have more children. That is, that the major function of selfdeception is to better deceive others. Robert trivers is one of the leading figures pioneering the field of sociobiology.
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. Is robert trivers deceiving himself about evolutionary. Jan 07, 2014 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. Deceit and selfdeception by robert trivers penguin. Self deception in human life by robert trivers basic booksbasic books. After decades of research, robert trivers has at last provided the missing theory to answer these questions.
Robert trivers is a pioneering figure in the field of sociobiology. Biologist robert trivers has written a fascinating book about the survival value of selfdeception carole jahme fri 7 oct 2011. Robert trivers books list of books by author robert trivers. One book reprinting these papers and how they were written was entitled natural selection and social theory.
Newton, trivers recalls, was a master at propagating deception, he was a master at seeing through. 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. The evolutionary genetics of honour killings w amy jacobson only longterm study of fluctuating asymmetry and 2nd. His darwinian theory of selfdeception is arguably his most provocative and interesting idea so far. Robert trivers is an american evolutionary biologist, who has. Dec 29, 2010 in this tedxjamaica talk robert trivers describes the capacity, role and function of deceit and self deception in humans. What emerges is a picture of deceit and self deception as, at root, different sides of the same coin. Trivers has nibbled away at the theme of selfdeception, the subject of this book, for over 30 years. He explains that deceit and self deceit are costly but they are critical to the survival of the species. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Oct 07, 2011 biologist robert trivers has written a fascinating book about the survival value of selfdeception carole jahme fri 7 oct 2011. If that were not enough, trivers is witty, clever, and compassionate. The book is enlivened by trivers candid personal style, and is a pleasure to read. 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.
Both make it harder for others to detect your deception, and also allow you to deceive with less immediate cognitive cost. 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. Whilst on holiday i decided to read a book telling the life story of one of the worlds most influential evolutionary theorists. The illusion of control, the construction of biased social theory, false personal narratives, and so on. For natural selection and social theory, he has selected eleven of his most influential papers, including several classic papers from the early 1970s on the evolution of reciprocal altruism, parentoffspring conflicts, and asymmetry in sexual selection, which helped to establish the centrality of sociobiology, as well as some. This is a remarkable book, by a uniquely brilliant scientist. Because of what the legendary evolutionary theorist robert trivers calls the logic of deceit and selfdeception in his new book the folly of fools basic books, 2011. Trivers abruptly realizes he is seeing his reflection in a store window. Sep 05, 2002 robert trivers is a pioneering figure in the field of sociobiology. Deceit and selfdeception by robert trivers penguin books. Aug 16, 2012 tedxjamaica robert trivers deceit and self deception. Robert trivers is a distinguished biologist with an enormous. If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author.
The logic of deceit and selfdeception in human life. 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. This book examines not only how we selfdeceive, but also why, taking examples from aviation disasters, con artists, sexual betrayals and conflicts within families. Robert triverss new book is a curious document a book about. I will admit id never heard of trivers before, so i was taken aback by his framing of israel as illustrative of deceit and selfdeception in the form of false historical narratives. Book spotlight the folly of fools by robert trivers. One important aspect of this is deception, and thats what rutgers anthropology professor robert trivers examines in the folly of fools. It would not be hyperbole to say that robert trivers is one of the most important evolutionary theorists since charles darwin.
Fooling yourself the better to fool others, and social evolution, and more on. 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. 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. The folly of fools by robert trivers 1111 words bartleby. Biologist robert trivers has written a fascinating book about the survival value of selfdeception.
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. Genes in conflict austin burt, robert trivers harvard. 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. An expert on fools may be his own best subject pressvision. Bestselling books were written, mostly by zoologists. The two began writing a book titled deceit and selfdeception, but the publishing house closed. Aug 27, 2005 the guardian, saturday 27 august 2005. A selfishgene model of evolution dictates that we should maximize our. Robert trivers is currently considered a single author. Robert trivers primary author only author division. Is robert trivers deceiving himself about evolutionary psychologys. An evolutionary biologist investigates why lying and selfdeception play such prominent roles in our lives. 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.
Selfdeception, the author says, is older than language so. This volume from robert trivers argues that selfdeceit is an evolutionary trait that emerged to enable individual human beings to more effectively deceive others. Robert trivers contributor of the oxford book of modern. Trivers has nibbled away at the theme of selfdeception, the subject of this book. 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. This is the british edition of the book published in the usa entitled the folly of fools. Consider as an example a cancer patient who maintains the. In this groundbreaking book, robert trivers examines not only how we selfdeceive. I devoted 1990 to 2005 to mastering genetics, in particular selfish genetic elements, which typically are harmful to the organism as a whole but spread. The bad new is that the forces were dealing withthat is, of deceit and selfdeceptionare very powerful. Trivers is not an elegant stylist like dawkins, wilson or pinker. Jan 03, 2012 why, however, would organisms both seek out information and then act to destroy it. According to biologist robert trivers the simple answer is that it helps us.
In this tedxjamaica talk robert trivers describes the capacity, role and function of deceit and self deception in humans. Trivers wrote the original foreword to richard dawkins book the selfish gene in which trivers first proposed his adaptive theory of selfdeception. Jan 07, 2014 to fix some of the worlds follies, we should lower the shield and better understand deception and our own selfdeception by absorbing the wisdom, risky ideas, and generous admissions of his own foolishness in robert trivers folly of fools. 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 selfdeception and just the first topics the author examines give you in advance an idea on what the whole book is about. Although a scientific field of selfdeception is still in its infancy, as trivers himself admits p. Oct 05, 2011 the human capacity for self deception knows no bounds, but why do we do it.
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. Looks at how and why we so often deceive ourselves. 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. Tedxjamaica robert trivers deceit and selfdeception. The human capacity for selfdeception knows no bounds, but why do we do it. Despite it not being about the application of evolutionary psychology to the workplace, i thought this post would be of value regardless. I believe that selfdeception evolves in the service of deceit.
Selected papers of robert trivers 2002 and can be downloaded under publications. Robert trivers scientific work has concentrated on two areas, social theory based on natural selection and the biology of selfish genetic elements. It can make you rethink something that you think you know. Most recently, trivers has created a theory selfdeception as an adaptive evolutionary strategy. Why, however, would organisms both seek out information and then act to destroy it. The logic of deceit and selfdeception in human life basic books, 2011 for the new york times. Robert triverss new book is a curious document a book about deception and selfdeception that is itself deceptive, in structure, voice and 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. Robert trivers and noam chomsky deceit and selfdeception. In this foundational book, robert trivers seeks to answer one of the most provocative and consequential questions to face humanity. Trivers focuses primarily on humans but he includes examples from many other organisms as. In this book, deceit and selfdeception are analyzed from different perspectives of life and different perspectives scientifically. Fooling yourself the better to fool others by trivers, robert isbn.
May 15, 2016 popular science books such as richard dawkins the selfish gene drew heavily on robert trivers papers. He explains that deceit and selfdeceit are costly but they are critical to the survival of the species. For us, deceit and selfdeception are two sides of the same coin and trivers covers a huge amount of ground to make his case. The term selfdeception describes the puzzling situation in which a person appears both to know and not know one and the same thing. Arguably, trivers theories are the pillars of evolutionary psychology.
What emerges is a picture of deceit and selfdeception as, at root, different sides of the same coin. 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. See all books authored by robert trivers, including deceit and selfdeception. Newton, chairman of the black panther party, in 1978 when newton applied while in prison to do a reading course with trivers as part of a graduate degree in history of. The two men planned a book on deceit and selfdeception. One of the great thinkers in the history of western thought steven pinker this is not prof. Dec 25, 2011 trivers abruptly realizes he is seeing his reflection in a store window. Robert trivers has a track record of producing highly original ideas, which have gone on to stimulate much research. This volume from robert trivers argues that self deceit is an evolutionary trait that emerged to enable individual human beings to more effectively deceive others.
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