The Value of Truth
Apr 04, 2006The pursuit of truth is often thought to be "intrinsically" valuable. Scientists and philosophers, who eschew religious rationales for ...
Is There a Case for Bullshit?
Serena Wong
13 February 2018
Harry Frankfurt first published "On Bullshit" in 1986, putting forth a theory that claims bullshit is "indifference to the truth." Because bullshit undermines our ability to tell truth from falsity, according to Frankfurt, silence is better than bullshit.
Stefano Zorzi challenges this view, arguing that bullshit can help us reach the truth. Zorzi argues that we cannot always know what is truth before we say or discover it—if Galileo had adhered to Frankfurt's principle of silence over "bullshit", he would have never found the factual ground to support Copernicus.
Do you think we should prefer silence to bullshit, or should we allow some bullshit in the quest for higher truth?
Check out the full article here: https://www.ribbonfarm.com/2018/01/18/the-unapologetic-case-for-bullshit/
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Comments (2)
Harold G. Neuman
Wednesday, February 14, 2018 -- 3:32 PM
I loved Frankfurt's littleI loved Frankfurt's little book. No, I do not prefer silence, because today's bullshit is tomorrow's truth, a veces ----Galileo proved this, although his thesis regarding planetary things was based more on scientific observation than sheer bullshit.. He also had a mentor: Copernicus. And, time was on their side, hmm?-------------after that nasty inquisition business... Maybe, then, in that respect, Zorzi is right.
cobybrian
Monday, December 4, 2023 -- 6:57 PM
Version 11.5.0 pushes theVersion 11.5.0 pushes the boundaries of this debate. While Frankfurt's stance prioritizes truth by advocating silence over potentially misleading statements, Zorzi's perspective acknowledges the exploratory nature of understanding. Bullshit, when used cautiously as a stepping stone, can provoke deeper inquiry that unveils truth, akin to how Galileo's speculative ideas led to empirical discoveries. However, discernment is crucial; excessive or deliberate misinformation obscures the truth. A balanced approach discerns when to embrace speculation as a precursor to truth and when silence preserves the integrity of inquiry, akin to selecting the right car cover to protect without suffocating.