How does bullshit differ from lying and from telling the truth?
The truth-teller and the liar both care about the truth (one serves it, one hides it); the bullshitter ignores it entirely.
Frankfurt's three-way contrast turns on one axis — the speaker's relationship to the truth:
| Speaker | Relationship to truth | What they aim to do |
|---|---|---|
| Truth-teller | Believes the statement is true | Describe reality correctly |
| Liar | Believes it is false | Lead you away from a truth they know |
| Bullshitter | Doesn't care either way | Get away with saying whatever suits them |
The liar and the truth-teller are "playing on opposite sides of the same game": both keep their eye on the facts, because you can only deliberately conceal a truth you yourself recognise. The bullshitter has left the game — their eye is "not on the facts at all." That's why a liar must know the truth to lie well, but a bullshitter needs no such conviction.
Tip: A useful test — could the speaker still say this if they had no idea whether it was true? If yes, it leans toward bullshit.