Society

Why do we lie about our motives? Why do we seek to deceive others and ourselves about the reasons for our behaviors? At first glance, the idea of hidden motives may seem convoluted. The answer, according to Kevin Simler and Robin Hanson, is that, as a cooperative social species, we evolved to advance our own interests while appearing as selfless as possible—and it’s easier to deceive others if we’ve already deceived ourselves. Let’s explore this theory about why we tell lies about our reasons for doing what we do.

What are your true reasons for doing what you do? What do you want people to think your reasons are? In The Elephant in the Brain, software engineer Kevin Simler and economics professor Robin Hanson controversially argue that human behavior is driven by selfish motives—and that your own brain is hiding them from you. They contend that humans evolved to appear selfless even as they put themselves before others. Read more for this intriguing discussion about human motives.

Why did social norms develop? How do they work, and what role do they play? If you make too much noise in a library, you probably won’t get escorted out by security. Instead, you’ll likely earn some dirty looks or shushing from your fellow patrons. Kevin Simler and Robin Hanson explain how norms of society, such as this example of group enforcement, regulate human behavior. Read more to learn how norms of society play a role in our lives.