Apprehension Quote by Harry Frankfurt
“The fact about himself that the liar hides is that he is attempting to lead us away from a correct apprehension of reality; we are not to know that he wants us to believe something he supposes to be false. The fact about himself that the bullshitter hides, on the other hand, is that the truth-values of his statements are of no central interest to him . . . He does not care whether the things he says describe reality correctly. He just picks them out, or makes them up, to suit his purpose.”
About This Quote
The liar hides his intent to mislead, while the bullshitter is indifferent to truth, using statements solely to serve his purpose.
In simple terms: Liars aim to deceive; bullshitters care only about usefulness, not truth.
Key Takeaway
Beware of arguments that ignore factual accuracy.
Themes
truth
deception
communication
philosophy
ethics
Mood
critical
skeptical
Type
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- political speech
- advertising
- personal relationships
Key Concepts
intentional falsehood
instrumental reasoning
epistemic responsibility
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you spot statements driven by purpose over truth?
- When is it acceptable to prioritize usefulness over accuracy?
A Different Perspective
Bullshitting can be persuasive despite lacking truth.
