Tags: volumen

The book (James, 2014) offers a philosophical typology of the asshole — not to insult, but to classify in the tradition of Aristotle and the biological sciences. A genuine asshole has three defining traits: it’s a stable character trait, the costs imposed on others are moderate (unlike a psychopath), and the behaviour is morally repugnant. The core of the type is an entrenched sense of entitlement — a belief, unjustified from any moral standpoint, that they deserve special treatment in cooperative social life, and one that adapts fluidly to new circumstances.

James identifies several subtypes. The boorish asshole openly flouts norms of courtesy and is often proud of it. The smug asshole presumes superiority and expects others to defer to him. The asshole boss is a situationally induced type, where positional power creates the condition. The blowhard is a talker who craves an audience despite having little of worth to say.

A recurring tactic across types is the dodge — shifting attention from the substance of an argument to the credentials of the person making it, or quibbling over petty details to distract and distort rather than engage honestly. This shades into bullshitting: speaking with no regard for truth. James uses Fox News as a case study in how this style can reshape an entire media landscape and win.

The theoretical backbone is Aristotle’s caution that precision should not be demanded beyond what the subject matter allows — virtue and vice are not mathematics.

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