(Video link here.)
The human brain is a wonderful thing, or so we like to believe. But it has evolved in a way that is strange: it does not always tell the truth, to others or ourselves. The proof is in the video, a TED talk from Keith Barry.
Why? Are lies - occasional, frequent or chronic - somehow evolutionarily preferable? What do you think? We look forward to your comments.
(Thanks to Asher Landesman.)
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Since magicians are harder to fool than scientists, the obvious evolutionary conclusion is that entertainers are more evolved than academics. As an academic myself, I hate this conclusion, but am forced by Keith Barry's hand-twisting to admit it. I am a dunce!
ReplyDeleteI think most magicians would agree that highly-educated people are easier to fool. The hardest to fool: an eight-year old kid.
ReplyDeletePerhaps the "lies" lead to a greater, more cosmic "truth?"
ReplyDeleteLies are, or can be, essential to survival. So it is evolutionarily intelligent for the brain to be able to be fooled. But only by a good lie, one that has the appearance of truth!
ReplyDeleteSo how do we know if anything is "true?"
ReplyDeleteGreat question. The key question for science, philosophy, religion, psychology, etc. Is there any "gold standard?" "I think, therefore I am?" But according to the Buddhists, you're really not. I'm going to take a nap.
ReplyDelete