Necessary Lies

Writer and commentator Ian Leslie asks, do all human societies need lies to function properly -- and if so, which lies?

Listen to the full audio: http://www.thersa.org/events/audio-and-past-events/2011/necessary-lies

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• rsa
• the rsa
• born liars
• ian leslie
• liar
• communication
• society
• talk
• book
• truth
• lie

[2bsirius]

Btw, I'm not sure why RSA doesn't tell their viewers when the speaker has a book on the subject he or she is discussing.

Turns out that Ian Leslie new book is "Born Liars: Why We Can't Live Without Deceit.." It came out this past May, just in case somebody want to explore more on this.

[detersbb]

Any society that tolerates lies from its leaders will in due course be forced to defend those lies with the deadly use of force, both abroad & domestically as rather than admit the falsehood & suffer the consequences-sentencing millions to death is far easier & less embarrassing, not to mention profitable.

Justify & excuse lies if you must, but as vividly outlined in POLITICAL PONEROLOGY-all lies lead to a psychopathic civilization at the days end-willfully sentence millions to death-I won't.

[managarm1349]

very interesting talk

[aaugoaa]

i don't understand why most researcher or scientists seem to believe that everything done in a repetitive pattern in the humans species is always seen as a benefit to the species, they seem to assume that humans are always in the condition of rightful purpose, when in-fact it could be that humans fail in understand or manipulate and corrupt that evolutionary purpose..

[aaugoaa]

i don't believe a lie is ever a benefit to the species, it's a selfish and quick way of getting a benefit for an individual, it's a manipulation and corruption of a benefit, but it cannot benefit the whole. if this was not true then it would not be natural for the whole group of species to what to punish the one who lies.

lies are a misunderstanding or corruption of a benefit to the whole.

[whosthisguythinkheis]

this guy is an amazing speaker.

[Dreamagister]

The lie isn't a basic function itself, but a product of imagination.

[Dreamagister]

This academic is lying to himself when he's generalizing beyond any common sense and logic.

[jasdevism]

I worked for a California State University, and its a state requirement to try* to caption all our produced videos.(the youtube caption is not accurate) The audio here is too "tinny" and I have more than a few occasion have to say what did he say? Audio quality issue mate

[mylunalovegood]

I did not get that he was saying lies are normal, therefore acceptable. I think he was trying to explain the evolution and social function of lying - that in no way is the same as saying it is therefore good or right or acceptable. I think he did make the point that lies are also corrosive, damaging and undermine social cohesion - but not always.

[mylunalovegood]

@hawaiidispenser - yes, and they will never recognise when their view of the world is not exactly in line with reality - people who are so morally opposed to lying more easily lie to themselves.

[L00kng]

So, lemme get this straight: because we're acting like monkeys, it's acceptable?