On Bull$#!+

[The GM]

I don’t often take the time to talk about my philosophical reads. But this was a great little text and I recommend it.
On Bull$#!+ is a sharp, 80 page book by Harry Frankfurt, Professor of Philosophy Emeritus, Princeton. I picked this little beauty up at a discount bookseller for 4 bucks, but I think it lists for 10. Even at that, it’s worth your dollars.
The book itself is a hardback, black cloth with red and gold title work. The print is easily read and the pages are nice heavy stock paper. All good. But the thing could be printed on toilet paper and wrapped in tinfoil, because the true beauty is within.

Frankfurt tells us what we all know, that Bull$#!+ is such a prevalent feature of our society that we are almost inoculated against it. Nevertheless, he strives to define the concept and point out what exactly *it is* that’s harmful about Bull$#!+ and the behavioral impulses of the bull$#!+ artist. It’s a fun romp through the musings of true vs false and all of the ground in-between. Bull$#!+, it seems, is not the end, but rather the means that relegates the end to a moot point. Frankfurt points out that bull$#!+ is indeed more harmful than a lie, because at least a liar understands there is truth, while the bull$#!++er disregards true and false altogether to create…well…bull$#!+. Bull$#!+ is often a damaging type of subterfuge for those who become immersed in it.

This is a fun little text, and a prime example of what philosophy can and should do in RL applications. Frankfurt is direct in his language, making this a great read for those who like to get to the point. It’s a nice piece of work. No bull$#!+.

[jmercer]

Hmmm... thanks. I'll pick up a copy. :)

[Gestahl]

Originally posted by The GM
I don’t often take the time to talk about my philosophical reads. But this was a great little text and I recommend it.
On Bull$#!+ is a sharp, 80 page book by Harry Frankfurt, Professor of Philosophy Emeritus, Princeton. I picked this little beauty up at a discount bookseller for 4 bucks, but I think it lists for 10.

I saw that book at Borders and was interested... might have to read that now!

Only half-related, but I just have to tell this story. I went to Blockbuster Saturday to get some weekend supplies, and decided I would get the last few DVDs of Penn and Teller's BS and finish up the series (at least available on DVD). However, I couldn't find it. I looked in both TV sections (new release and regular) and couldn't find it. (Turned out it was filed under 'P').

Now, mind you, I have quite a filthy mouth when speaking in vernacular, so I have no hesitation at all to call the show by its proper name. I also happen to have a particularly booming voice. So I walk to the counter, and not noticing that a mother with her pre-teen daughter had walked up behind me, asked the friendly customer support representative (i.e. clerk) where I "could find Bullsh*t... I have looked everywhere". The guy behind the counter made some appropriate snide remark to my poor wording, something like "Dude, there's bullsh*t everywhere...".

At which point I turned around and literally felt physically punched as I faced the most evil stare I have ever gotten from a person other than my mother. And I was more afraid of my mother than Satan, so she wasn't any slacker with the stare of utter doom. If looks could kill I would have been vaporised instantly at the nuclear level. I am talking matter/anti-matter annihilation here. I apologize respectfully, and as I am walking away the kid leans over while the Mom is dealing with the other clerk and mumbles "That was such bullsh*t..." If the door were 5 more feet away I don't think I would have made it before I started laughing hysterically. I think that kid has a bright future ;-).

[Yahweh]

Originally posted by Gestahl
At which point I turned around and literally felt physically punched as I faced the most evil stare I have ever gotten from a person other than my mother. And I was more afraid of my mother than Satan, so she wasn't any slacker with the stare of utter doom. If looks could kill I would have been vaporised instantly at the nuclear level. I am talking matter/anti-matter annihilation here. I apologize respectfully
Wuss. A real man would have said "f*** you, lady".

:j2:

[BillyJoe]

I recently had a quote from this book as my signature, but the moderators so censored it that I removed it completely and flushed it down the can.

Later I realized that I could have written bullsh!t and it would have looked just fine. :cool:


(BTW, I didn't read the book just a two newspaper page commentary on it)

BJ

[BillyJoe]

PS: The quote was something to do about bullsh!t being a greater enemy of truth than lies because with lies there is at least a recognition of what is true.

[Dr Adequate]

Originally posted by BillyJoe
PS: The quote was something to do about bullsh!t being a greater enemy of truth than lies because with lies there is at least a recognition of what is true. The bullsh!tter does not reject the authority of the truth, and oppose himself to it, as the liar does. He pays no attention to it at all. By virtue of this, bullsh!t is a greater enemy of the truth than lies are.

[BillyJoe]

That's the one. :)

[Wudang]

reminds me of when my old company sent me on yet another presentation course. The whole theme of the course was that you had information to get across and the key was to get this information across to the other person. I did my final presentation on Applied BS - partly inspired by Boren's lovely "When in doubt, mumble" and Brian Ford's "Pseudoscience". My argument was that the point of a presentation wasn't "here are nice facts" but "I'm smarter than you and deserve a pay rise" and that facts were only another part of the window dressing. The rest of the class loved it but the teacher completely blanked me.

[Eleatic Stranger]

Just in case anyone finds the information useful - "On Bullsh!t" isn't actually a book as such but in fact an article by Frankfurt. It has recently been published in book form, but if you buy The Importance of What We Care About (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0521336112/qid=1120167401/sr=8-3/ref=pd_bbs_3/102-0426052-6567367?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) you'll get the same essay - as well as quite a few others for about the same price.

Or, amusingly enough, you could do as Amazon.com suggests and buy both the book and the book containing it as an essay. Though why anyone would do that is beyond me.