Effects of Bullshit on Society - Essay Example

Effects of Bullshit on Society Introduction Bullshit as a word has a number of synonyms including bullcrap, bullbutter, and bullplop. It involves neither telling the truth nor telling lies. A bullshit statement is made without any reference to the truth, which makes it more dangerous than an absolute lie. Bullshit is a threat to the society because it prevents the manifestation of truth or lies can never be known. This paper will be dedicated to discussing the effects of bullshit on society. The paper will also link bullshit to the current political discourse.

Bullshit, Its Threat to the Society and Its Link to the Present Political DiscourseAccording to Frankfurt, bullshit is the act of an individual (the bullshitter) presenting ideas loosely as true, whereas he/she does not know or care if they are true or not, instead seeking only to impress. In this respect, bullshit is more dangerous than an outright lie. Frankfurt further states that bullshit may involve the falsification of the self by misrepresenting one’s attitudes, thoughts, and/or feelings.

Frankfurt, in this respect suggests that bullshit does not necessarily feature the falsification of facts. Bullshit is entirely disconnected from the truth in a manner that lying is not. Frankfurt (55) states that it is difficult for an individual to lie unless he or she knows the truth. On the other hand, generating bullshit does not demand so much conviction. An individual who is lying, therefore, responds to the truth and in that context respects the lie. When a sincere person speaks, he or she exactly knows that whatever he/she is saying is the truth.

The liar on the other hand appreciates that his/she is telling lies. In the context of bullshit, the individual neither speaks the truth nor lies (Frankfurt 55). Bullshit is a very big threat to the growth of the society as the bullshitter cares about nothing and acts carelessly says things anyhow. Bullshit also pulls the society down as nothing good will come out of the words and acts that are uttered and sown carelessly. To a great level, bullshit hinders and demoralizes respect for the truth, and therefore fosters the fear of truth.

It makes people believe in and support what is presented as wrong while in the actual sense is right much like it makes people reject whatever may, in fact, be right. The present political scenario is full of bullshit because the politicians make statements that are not based on any truth. Politicians tell a lot of bullshit even as they are famous for opposing rational arguments through stupid means such as logical fallacy, misrepresentation, repetition, and lying. A good example of bullshit in application is the debate for the rejection of the 2009 U.S. Health Care Plan.

The bullshit, in the form of propaganda, was told by parties who wanted to defeat President Obama. In some situations, the outcome of bullshit is evil, and not policy. This is seen in the case of the 2003 US war against Iraq. The White House was able to force a link between 9/11 and Iraq. The White House did it in such a manner that the link appeared not to have been forced. Politicians can accomplish many of their personal goals by deceiving people without the need to tell them specific and nailable lies.

Thus, they create an environment in which it is difficult for the people to discern falsehood and truth. ConclusionBullshit is a threat to the fabric of society. It is a tactic used by most politicians and the government to conceal outright truths and lies. The parties involved present their statements in a manner that it becomes difficult for the people to discern the truth from lies. For instance, the White House was able to create a link between 9/11 and Iraq war in a manner that it did not appear so.

The opposition of the 2009 US Health Care Plan was based on pure propaganda from interested parties to defeat President Obama. Works CitedFrankfurt, H. G. On Bullshit. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2005. Print.