Philosophy Now Forum

I would answer yes if you have multiple personalities.

Can you think of any other cases?

PhilX

Philosophy Explorer wrote: ↑Sun May 21, 2017 6:36 pm
Can you think of any other cases?

PhilX

People lie to themselves all the time.

Harbal wrote: ↑Sun May 21, 2017 9:58 pm

Philosophy Explorer wrote: ↑Sun May 21, 2017 6:36 pm
Can you think of any other cases?

PhilX

People lie to themselves all the time.

Example please.

PhilX

Philosophy Explorer wrote: ↑Sun May 21, 2017 10:00 pm
Example please.

PhilX

Every time some people screw up, their first instinct is to find someone else to blame. People are always convincing themselves that stuff isn't their fault.

Harbal wrote: ↑Sun May 21, 2017 10:05 pm

Philosophy Explorer wrote: ↑Sun May 21, 2017 10:00 pm
Example please.

PhilX

Every time some people screw up, their first instinct is to find someone else to blame. People are always convincing themselves that stuff isn't their fault.

Sounds like the long road to yourself.

PhilX

Yes, it´s true at first sight.
When we screw up we find excuses.

But.

We are not at peace. Some inner voice produces doubts and we try to quench these doubts with the excuses again and again.

Until we are so tired that we give up, submit to the truth and move on.

We don´t like to lose self-respect . We don´t want to feel disgusted by ourselves.
So we become humble and promise ourselves to learn the lesson and to do a better job next time.

We don´t have to talk about it to anyone, not even to our personal coach or psychotherapist or a best friend. We can keep it hidden in our heart. It´s nobody´s business.

..another brilliant question from PE ...sigh!!!

HexHammer wrote: ↑Mon May 22, 2017 6:24 pm ..another brilliant question from PE ...sigh!!!

But since you're supposed to be the most brilliant person around, you must know that can't be a lie.

PhilX

Not to disagree, but just to add another question to the grind--if you can lie to yourself, would you believe the lie? This question is not exactly the same as the one posed by PhilX.

You can say to yourself, "I am going to exercise at the gym every day," or "I am a handsome fellow," or "I shot the sheriff, but I did not shoot the deputy," even though the truth might be, "I'm going to try to exercise," or "I wish I were handsome," or "I, in fact, shot the sheriff and the deputy." But the question I ask is whether you can convince yourself that your lie is the truth. Mental illness aside, could you engage in the willing suspension of disbelief regarding your falsehoods?

If you were told a lie repeatedly and repeatedly, couldn't you eventually believe it? If you were exposed often enough to the statement, "Vaccine preservatives can cause autism," couldn't you believe that preservatives in vaccines can (& do?) cause some cases of autism? If so, could it be the same process in the case of a lie you have proposed to yourself?

Don't get me wrong--I don't have a ready answer. I am curious to learn what light PhilX et al might be able to shed on this.

Commonsense asked "... would you believe the lie?"

The answer is how convincing you are and how believable the lie is.

From history, Hitler is often cited in connection with repeated lies becoming believable. As to why that is, I think that authority figures tend to be believed.

PhilX

Many "truths" or beliefs that we honestly believe to be true (or highly probable) are based on unproven assumptions.

Another difficult issue:

Am I a handsome person ?
By comparison with some or other famous Hollywood beauty perhaps not.
But is this comparison valid ?

So the question is: what can we lie about at all ?

Philosophy Explorer wrote: ↑Mon May 22, 2017 11:25 pm Commonsense asked "... would you believe the lie?"

The answer is how convincing you are and how believable the lie is.

Amen

Philosophy Explorer wrote: ↑Mon May 22, 2017 11:25 pm From history, Hitler is often cited in connection with repeated lies becoming believable. As to why that is, I think that authority figures tend to be believed.

Authority figures into it. Gullibility is another factor.