The whole collection · No. 35 of 36

Frankfurt’s bullshit

For anyone who writes the newsletter.

1986 · On Bullshit

Where it comes from

In On Bullshit (1986) Harry Frankfurt pointed out that a liar has to know the truth in order to hide it. The bullshitter “pays no attention to it at all”, which makes bullshit a greater enemy of the truth than lies are.

How to play it

Feed the meter a statement. Then feed it what the Strategiser prints.

Pick it up

What it teaches (try it first)

A liar cares about the truth enough to hide it. Bullshit doesn’t care either way, which makes it more dangerous than lying.

Ask yourself. Which line from your last all-hands would survive “meaning what, exactly?”

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