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On Truth
Having outlined a theory of bullshit and falsehood, Harry G. Frankfurt turns to what lies beyond them: the truth, a concept not as obvious as some might expect.
Our culture's devotion to bullshit may seem much stronger than our apparently halfhearted attachment to truth. Some people (professional thinkers) won't even acknowledge "true" and "false" as meaningful categories...more
Our culture's devotion to bullshit may seem much stronger than our apparently halfhearted attachment to truth. Some people (professional thinkers) won't even acknowledge "true" and "false" as meaningful categories...more
Hardcover, 112 pages
Published
October 31st 2006
by Knopf
(first published 2006)
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Although I think the subject of Harry Frankfurt's book is immensely interesting, this book wasn't. Frankfurt argues that truth is important because it is useful in people's lives and that the discovery of truth provides people with an understanding of the limitations of reality. The argumentation is sound, but the book could have been more substantive. For example, he could have given detailed cases that demonstrate the usefulness of truth and the limitations people can discover by virtue of und...more
Joyce Hansen
marked it as to-read
Summary: Frankfurt takes the position that a deplorable mistake would be unleashed abroad if there should develop in today's world a widespread lack of caring for the value and importance of truth. He finds a disregard for truth endemic among publicists and politicians, but he has discovered a similar attitude growing among authors. Frankfurt works with a broad canvas here, averring, A society that is recklessly and persistently remiss in supporting and encouraging truth is bound to decline. Wi...more
Funny, pithy and dead-on accurate, this work was a bit more serious than its predecessor On Bullshit as it managed to wipe the floor with the train-wreck that is post-modernism, demonstrates why a society that goes out of its way to ignore the truth will fail, and just what the heck is so important about being truthful anyways. The only complaint I had about the work is Frankfurt's seeming obsession with being a bit too cutesy at certain points. Other than that, an amazing amount of material is ...more
On Truth exists largely as a footnote to Harry G. Frankfurt's earlier work, On Bullshit. An excellent example of a concise, clear argument, On Bullshit was a brilliant essay on the subject of bullshitting - of communicating without any regard for truth. Bullshitters, Frankfurt argues, are distinct from liars, because liars at least know what the truth is, even though they choose to contradict it. Bullshitters on the other hand don't know and don't care about the truth. They communicate with a sp...more
This is a companion to Frankfurt's clever essay ON BULLSH-T. There, he argued that too much bullsh-t is harmful to society. Here, he argues that societies and individuals should care about the truth.
This is a polemic and the arguments are not original. But ON TRUTH is a good read. Frankfurt is smart and his prose is as crisp and clear as anything you will read. It's nice to read things that make sense and this essay does.
This is a polemic and the arguments are not original. But ON TRUTH is a good read. Frankfurt is smart and his prose is as crisp and clear as anything you will read. It's nice to read things that make sense and this essay does.
Frankfurt's basic point seems to be that pragmatically speaking, we need there to be such a thing as truth. Not the one great truth, just simple truth i.e., the ground is wet or the towel is dry. We need there to be such a thing as truth (as opposed to all things being relative) in order to make informed, fact-based decisions. I agree with the sentiment, but I don't think it merits a 101 page essay.
Not as challenging or as boisterous as "On Bullshit," but Frankfurt lays down a solid foundation for truth as the cornerstone of a personal philosophy. At its core he states that humans rarely look at themselves and their circumstances in a forthright and truthful manner and this in turn causes us distress. I can see readers misenterpereting this as a light self-help book, but there is some good elementary and utilitarian philosophy here.
I said "Eh" about On Bullshit and here too, I find myself saying "Eh." Kind of interesting, and I can't complain about the investment of time. Also sort of rambling, not easy to get through, and some of the points are kind of self-evident.
I love this philosopher. Clear, to the point, you could mistake much of what he says for obvious, but it isn't, precisely because it seems to be. Have you ever thought about why truth is important, and why it is important that we believe it exists, and actively look for it?
frankfurt lucidly and tersely expounds on the philosophical notion of truth. although his arguments against a post-modern notion of truth are cogent, there are premises of dubitable origin and issues left unaddressed. for example, one can't simply assume that if there is a state of affairs that factually obtains to the world that we can therefore know what this state of affairs is. the reflections also fall short of engaging a perspectival notion of truth, which, i believe, may very well unde...more
The premise is that being true to facts is the same as being true to one self. Truth is the backbone of society and even living. You can't live for long without recognizing basic truths.
Disappointed. His other book, 'On Bullshit' was a fun and useful reflection on how bullshiting differ from lying. 'On Truth' just reads like a B+ college essay.
A worthwhile short read. This lacked some if the quirkiness of On Bullshit, but it was a far more important study of a concept we all rely on.
Lot's of chatter for such a little book. Not the best read nor best for convaying a goal.
You are best not botherd with it.
You are best not botherd with it.
Recommended, especially chapters 7 and 8 which incorporate poetry into his analysis of truth--poems by Adrienne Rich and Shakespeare. Also, exhibits very clear writing, and is a relatively quick read.
Important ideas, difficult to fully grasp.
Memorable quotes:
"[W:]hatever benefits and rewards it may sometimes be possible to attain by bullshitting, by dissembling, or through sheer mendacity, societies cannot afford to tolerate anyone or anything that fosters a slovenly indifference to the distinction between true and false. Much less can they indulge the shabby, narcissistic pretense that being true to the facts is less important than being "true to oneself."...more
Memorable quotes:
"[W:]hatever benefits and rewards it may sometimes be possible to attain by bullshitting, by dissembling, or through sheer mendacity, societies cannot afford to tolerate anyone or anything that fosters a slovenly indifference to the distinction between true and false. Much less can they indulge the shabby, narcissistic pretense that being true to the facts is less important than being "true to oneself."...more
Nathan
added it
Good follow-up to points left unanswered in "On Bullshit." Not as good or well-written, but still worth read. Extremely quick read.
More advice than On Bullshit but not as exciting to read.
the golden cover was the best part.
audio CD version
Sure, truth matters, but why? Frankfurt goes pretty methodically through all the reasons: personal, political, social, and psychological. In the end, a notion of truth is necessary to even have a concept of reality. I'm not a philosopher and only am amateur at evaluating philosophy, but I enjoyed this book and it made me think of all the ways the idea of truth affects my overall and everyday life. Also, remember, there are truths and truth.
its sort of a sequal to On Bullshit. It examines why bullshit is so harmful to us. The first book just examined the difference between truth, lies, and bullshit. But this details what truth is and why truth is so necessary. Not only for engineers and doctors and other professions that require accurate portrayal of facts, but for all of us. It's not quite as funny as On Bullshit, but it is still very good.
It's gold! Gold!
This is a sorry excuse for a book. It's short, the logic is not rigorous, and it only sells because of the title and the fact that it's the sequel to "on bullshit".
The book tries to argue against relativism. I think it's a worthy goal, and I am also against relativism, but the way he goes about it is very irritating.
The book tries to argue against relativism. I think it's a worthy goal, and I am also against relativism, but the way he goes about it is very irritating.
if we lose respect for truth we cease striving after it, we are more creatures of truth than we admit, ignorance and error have no value, lack of respect for the value of truth will ultimately cost us the very powers that give us the power to create
Chris30307
added it
i picked this book up at city lights in sf, ca. i took it to vesuvio and devoured it. i sat next to a vase filled with flowers, a shot and a beer. it happened to be jack kerouac's bday...life can be interesting of you aren't afraid to live it
concise, common language, common sense arguments for the value of truth. Though, it was actually about the value of specific truths rather than truth itself, and Frankfurt's attempt to consolidate the two left much to be desired.
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the compliment to "on bullshit." as with most sequels, not as good as the first installment, but still well written. read it in an afternoon. let it marinate for quite some time after.
Isn't this what it's all about?
Very common sense look at the truth, but something everyone should revist now an again. Quick easy read.
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Harry G. Frankfurt is Professor of Philosophy Emeritus at Princeton University.
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