The Bayesian Conspiracy 34 – Lies, All Lies!
14 snips
May 10, 2017 A lively dive into when and why people lie, from polite evasions to strategic deceit. They survey studies on how often people lie and how closeness affects detection. Discussions cover not technically lying, withholding, and tactics that avoid direct answers. Evolutionary examples show deception in animals. They also debate rules for honesty, reputation effects, and when lies might protect someone.
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Radical Honesty Cuts Communication Overhead
- Radical honesty saves time and reduces drama in conversations.
- Steven Zuber argues truth-telling minimizes communication length but acknowledges social friction makes complete honesty impractical in many settings.
Lie To Prevent Imminent Harm
- Avoid absolute rules that ignore context; lie when lives are at stake.
- Shelley and Eneasz agree the classic axe-wielding murderer example justifies lying to prevent imminent violence.
Lies Create Expensive Future Overhead
- Lying carries predictable long-term costs like reputation loss and cognitive overhead.
- Shelley notes people regret lies, must track dependent falsehoods, and risk being disbelieved later.
