The Social Consequences of Self-Deception

In this two-day conference, psychologists, philosophers, economists, and biologists discussed the nature of self-deception and its social consequences. Discussion topics include: What is self-deception? Why does self-deception exist? How does self-deception shape politics? How does self-deception shape academia? What if I self-deceive?

Agenda

Friday, October 3 
Session One: What is Self-Deception? 

9:00-10:30 am
Alfred Mele, Emotion and Desire in Self-Deception
Bill von Hippel, Self-Serving Bias and Self-Deception

Session Two: Why Does Self-Deception Exist 

11:00 am-12:30 pm
Robert Trivers, The Elements of a Scientific Theory of Self-Deception 

Session Three: Topics in Self-Deception 

2:00-3:30 pm
Andrew Schotter, A Lab Experiment Where Subjects Self-Deceive
J Barkley Rosser, Self-Fulfilling Chaotic Mistakes: Some Examples and Implications

Session Four: What if I Self-Deceive? 

4:00-5:30 pm
Robin Hanson, Are Disagreements Honest?

Saturday, October 4 
Session Five: How does self-deception shape politics? 

9:00-10:30 am
Tyler Cowen, Self-Deception as the Root of Political Failure 

Session Six: How Does Self-Deception Shape Academia? 

11:00-12:30
Art Diamond, Reflections
J Barkley Rosser, Reflections