THE SUBPERSONAL STRUGGLE BETWEEN ENLIGHTENMENT AND DISILLUSIONMENT

Abstract

An account of  self-deception is proposed in the lines of  an evolutionary explanationof belief  and deception. The distinction between offensive and defensive deception is adopted in the context of the co-evolutionary struggle, referenced by Robert Trivers, John Krebs and Richard Dawkins. We argue that the latter is a sub-product of  evolution while some instances of  the former are genuine adaptations with specifiable benefits. The instances we endorse as authentic cases of  self-deception are the ones which Ryan McKayand Daniel Dennett classify as positive illusions. The upshot will be an explanation of self-deception in terms of  ‘self-concealment’ conceived within the context of  the subpersonal struggle between enlightenment and disillusion.