Lies We Live by: The Art of Self-Deception

Giannetti surveys the art of deception, from orchids simulating female insects in order to trick the males, to human babies simulating misery in order to manipulate their parents. He considers chemical deception introduced into the body by drugs. He assesses the role of self-deception in individual acts of daring and great enterprise and indeed in facing death. He unmasks the degree of self-interest and partiality we hide from ourselves but are very ready to spot in others. Of profound interest is the paradox which allows one part of the mind to lie to another, and Giannetti weighs up the implications of this internal hypocrisy from an ethical point of view as it reflects on the individual and impacts on society.

Eduardo Giannetti teaches at the Faculty of Economics, Administration and Accountancy at the University of Sao Paulo.