Review of “Why everyone (else) is hypocrite”

Review of “Why everyone (else) is hypocrite”

by Robert Kurzban

Reviewed by Jordan Hedberg

Summary of the Book’s Main Points

Robert Kurzban states in his book that the human mind is a not a singular entity but a collection of different “selfs” each with specific job to perform. To better understand the concept of multiplicity in a single human mind, he borrows a concept from computer science known as a module. Modules are programmes that take in data and perform a specific function based on the data received. Kurzban explains that over the course of evolution, the human brain has developed millions of modules that overlap and often conflict with each other. Although there is a hierarchy of which modules act in certain situations, activation of several modules at the same time with different functions is the source of why humans often contradict themselves.

In Kurzban’s opinion, modularity of the human mind is why a person can clearly desire to lose weight, but when awaking at midnight succumbs to the desire to eat an entire cake. Certain modules in the brain want to be included in human society as a non-obese person but other modules want to store high-density calorie food in the form of fat. The conflict between the two modules appears to others as hypocrisy, even if they suffer from the same inconsistency. Kurzban points out that the human mind is designed to point out hypocrisy in others while simultaneously ignoring hypocrisy within itself.

Throughout the book Kurzban explains why it is often advantageous for the brain to be good at self-deception and the effects of hypocrisy on society. From the standpoint of pure survival and reproduction, hypocrisy modules are beneficial. However, for a semi-rational society supposedly set in the values of liberty, hypocrisy is damaging. Kurzban points out how political topics such as abortion, drugs, and liberty have serious inconsistencies on both sides of the argument. To make the situation worse, the call of hypocrite is often used to bolster the position of one group over another, even though such action is hypocritical. Few know why they take certain positions on a subject, but the belief in true equality is often ignored during the debate.

In the end, Kurban shows that true liberty is beneficial to all humans but our hypocrisy compromises the integrity of a equitable society. Understanding that the human mind has many “selfs” is the first step into understanding and solving many individual and societal problems through modularity.

Rating

I believe that understanding that the human brain is complex and not fully understood makes this book a must read. For too long the power and weakness of humans has been the subject of science, history, and politics. Kurzban attempts to address why humans react to situations from an empirical standpoint and it is refreshing. The only criticism is that it was not advertised that this book addressed more than modularity and applied it to political subjects. I was pleasantly surprised but it would be worthwhile for the publisher to state that this is a semi-political topic book and it might get more attention from the public.

4 ½ out of 5