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Evolutionary Interpretations of Self-Deception

Evolutionary Interpretations of Self-Deception, Epoch and Philosophy(A Journal of Philosophical Thought in Korea) vol.18-1(2007), 205-234, in Korean

Subject sphere: Philosophy of Biology, Evolution, Evolutionary Psychology
Key Words: evolutionary theory of adaptation, sexual selection, self-deception, beneffectance, byproduct, social exchange



This paper draws on the problem whether the evolutionary theory of adaptation could explain how the psychological phenomenon of self-deception works. The successful self-deception is even imaginary phenomenon externally, but it can be kept with highly internal consistency since it is treated as very actual and real thing for myself. Self-deception is the process or fact of misleading ourselves to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid. Self-deception is a way we justify false beliefs to ourselves.

Greenwald explain the self-deception through his concept “beneffectance”, which is selectively perceived as responsible for desired, but not undesired, outcomes. Since then, evolutionary psychologists have, beyond the shadow of a doubt, interpreted the “self-deception” entirely as the theory of adaptation. According to the theory of adaptation, self-deceit is natural, that is, not only not pathological but positively beneficial to organism as they navigate their natural and social environments in the struggle for existence.

On the contrary, in my article I sketched the another interpretations beyond theory of adaptation which had became a dominant interpretation. I conclude that self-deception may be not an adaptation, but a byproduct of human cognitive traits.



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DATE   20070630
PUBLISHED BY   A Journal of Philosophical Thought in Korea


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