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From MIT Technology Review:
Evolutionary biologists have long thought that lying ought to destroy societies. Now computational anthropologists have shown that nothing could be further from the truth.
It's easy to see how lying reduces the level of trust between individuals and so threatens the stability of societies. So how do societies survive all this lying?
Today, we get an answer thanks to the work of Gerardo Iñiguez at Aalto University in Finland and a few pals (including Robin Dunbar, an anthropologist from the University of Oxford of Dunbar's number fame). These guys have simulated the effect that lies have on the strength of connections that exist within a social network.
But they've added fascinating twist. These guys have made a clear distinction between lies that benefit the person being lied to versus lies that benefit the person doing the lying. In other words, their model captures the difference between "white" lies, which are prosocial, and "black" lies, which are antisocial.
(Score: 2) by aristarchus on Friday June 13 2014, @11:55PM
What do you call a white lie without consent, at least tacit consent? In a court, under oath, a white lie is still perjury.
(Score: 2) by wonkey_monkey on Saturday June 14 2014, @09:03AM
It's called a white lie. That's what a lie is when it's practically harmless and saves hurting someone's feelings. It doesn't matter whether the recipient knows you're lying or not. It's still a white lie.
Well, yes, obviously, but who's talking about court?
systemd is Roko's Basilisk
(Score: 2) by aristarchus on Saturday June 14 2014, @10:15AM
Let me put it this way: if they do not know you are lying, then it is a black lie. A white lie can save feelings only when there is a tacit agreement to do so. If you try to save my feelings when I expect the plain truth from you, it is no longer a white lie, no matter what you think you are doing all by your lonely.
The more interesting case is whether you can lie to some one who does not have the capacity to consent to a white lie, such a children or someone traumatically injured. Or someone who definitely should not be wearing those pants.
(Score: 2) by wonkey_monkey on Saturday June 14 2014, @12:45PM
That may be your definition, but it's not mine or most dictionaries'.
Oh no you di'n't!
systemd is Roko's Basilisk