B.S.

Lear, Jonathan (2005) Whatever THE NEW REPUBLIC, 3/21, 23-25

This is a book review of Harry Frankfurt ON BULLSHIT, (Princeton: University Press) 67pages.

Frankfurt was concerned with why people fill the air with information that they know nothing about? Thus, this book was written.

The theory is not that difficult. TRUTH TELLERS want to describe as accurately as possible what really happened in a past event. LIARS also know what happened but for reasons that suit their special interests want to purposely tell something different from what they perceived as true. BULLSHITTERS don't know what happened but don't want to look foolish and thus have something to say even though it is probably wrong. Or they don't care what really happened, but want to say something anyway. Or, it is better to be opaque or unclear when you are trying to have it both ways.

In the last Presidential election, Bush was much better bullshitter than Kerry. Kerry gave tortured explanations of why he was for and then against an issue. Bush mainly said that things would get better. The only time that Bush sputtered was during the debates. This helped Kerry stay to the end.

SPIN is bullshit on top of bullshit. This means that another person tells you that the bullshitter was clear in thought but not word. They really meant something else.

The whole scenario gets worse when the public hears this repeatedly and finally tunes it out assuming that regardless of what is said, it is bullshit, lies, or spin. Morale is lowered among the population. Bullshit is not new, political discourse does not arouse faith in leaders because the population is slightly smarter, and the media critiques the politicians.

By the way, bullshit is contagious.