TROUBLES WITH THE EVOLUTIONARY THEORY OF SELF-DECEPTION Cover Image

TROUBLES WITH THE EVOLUTIONARY THEORY OF SELF-DECEPTION
TROUBLES WITH THE EVOLUTIONARY THEORY OF SELF-DECEPTION

Author(s): Igor Živanović
Subject(s): Contemporary Philosophy, Philosophy of Science, Sociobiology
Published by: Filozofsko društvo Srbije
Keywords: Intentionalism; Interpersonal Deception; Lying; Misleading; Other-Deception; Self-Deception;

Summary/Abstract: The evolutionary biologist Robert Trivers was the first to address the well-known psychological phenomenon of self-deception from the standpoint of natural science. According to Trivers, self-deception evolved as an offensive strategy in the evolutionary arms race between the deceiver and the deceived. Though apparently both tenable and plausible, Trivers’ evolutionary theory of self-deception, which takes the enhancement of interpersonal deception as the proper function of self-deception, is burdened with the number of difficulties. In this paper, I will argue that it is conceptually impossible for self-deceivers to deceive others about false beliefs they have falsely acquired as if they were true. If interpersonal deception is the conceptual impossibility for self-deceivers, then interpersonal deception cannot be the proper function of self-deception.

  • Issue Year: 64/2021
  • Issue No: 4
  • Page Range: 5-17
  • Page Count: 13
  • Language: English
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