In this episode we unpack American Philosopher Harry G. Frankfurt's 1986 essay "On Bullshit."
This essay explores...
-What bullshit is
-How bullshitting differs from lying
-Why bullshitting is so prevalent in our culture
Links to Reading and Other Sources Mentioned
On Bullshit by Harry G. Frankfurt
Of Liars by Michel de Montaigne
Glengarry Glen Ross (film)
Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes
*note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode!
Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com
Guest: Max Robinson
Theme Music: Polyenso
Timestamps
00:00:00 Introduction
00:02:59 the Bullshit Artist
00:06:18 Background of the Essay
00:07:20 The Proliferation of Bullshit
00:09:12 How Bullshitting Differs from Lying
00:13:38 Politician’s Dodge
00:17:38 Incentives to Bullshit
00:24:00 How Bullshitting Differs from Bluffing
00:25:36 The Etymology of “Bullshit”
00:26:51 Speaking Without Saying Anything
00:29:00 Bullshitting Compared to the Act of Shitting
00:30:53 What Function Does Bullshit Serve?
00:32:58 Has the Digital Age Increased Bullshit?
00:33:41 Is there More Bullshit Now than in Previous Generations?
00:37:16 How Democracy Increases Bullshit
00:40:42 “Talking Out of Your Ass”
00:41:53 “Trash Talking”
00:42:56 “Smooth Talking”
00:43:52 A Bull Session
00:46:55 “Shooting the Shit”
00:48:30 Pretentious Bullshit
00:49:53 “Don’t Piss on My Leg and Tell me it’s Raining”
00:50:39 Outro
