Why the bullshitter is a more dangerous enemy of the truth than the liar

Ideas & Philosophy · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: We often mistake bullshit for simple lying, but the two are fundamentally different. While a liar acknowledges the truth by actively trying to hide it, a bullshitter is entirely indifferent to whether their claims are true or false. This apathy makes bullshit a uniquely corrosive force in our society.

In his influential work, the late moral philosopher Harry Frankfurt argues that the defining characteristic of the bullshitter is a lack of concern for the truth. Unlike the liar, who knows the truth and deliberately steers others away from it, the bullshitter operates in a space where the distinction between truth and falsity is rendered irrelevant. Their primary goal is not to deceive about facts, but to convey a specific impression of themselves or to suit a particular purpose.

Frankfurt suggests that this indifference is far more dangerous than the act of lying. Because liars remain tethered to the truth—even if only to subvert it—they implicitly acknowledge its importance. Bullshitters, however, quietly rewrite the rules of conversation to bypass the truth entirely. This behavior is not merely a social annoyance; Frankfurt warns that excessive indulgence in bullshit can eventually erode an individual's capacity to recognize or value the truth at all.

The analysis traces the concept back to the idea of humbug, a term Frankfurt explores as a more polite precursor to bullshit. While humbug involves deceptive misrepresentation, Frankfurt finds it insufficient to capture the full scope of modern bullshit. By breaking down the components of the term, he highlights how bullshit functions as a tool for persuasion that requires no knowledge of reality. Ultimately, Frankfurt concludes that because bullshitters disregard the very foundations of civilization—a shared respect for the truth—they pose a more insidious threat to society than those who simply lie.

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