From: Blunderov (squooker@mweb.co.za)
Date: Mon Nov 10 2003 - 15:42:52 MST
David McFadzean
> Sent: 11 November 2003 0018
> > What is rational about saying you will do something when you will
not?
>
> Wouldn't that depend on the circumstances?
[Blunderov]
It may in fact be normal to be deceitful. I read somewhere once that one
of the consequences of symbolic language is that it gives us the ability
to lie. If I recall correctly, it was asserted that, because of this,
lying is a behaviour found only in the human species.
I'm not entirely sure that this is really true - but the only example I
can think of that might falsify this is when my cats have successfully
persuaded me that they haven't been fed and have manipulated me into
providing a second sitting. It must be said though, that this may be a
rather anthropomorphic interpretation.
An ironic thought though - that one of the main uses of language is to
deceive.
Best Regards
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