Dissimulation

Dissimulation is a form of deception in which one conceals the truth. It consists of concealing the truth, or in the case of half-truths, concealing parts of the truth, like inconvenient or secret information. Dissimulation techniques include: camouflage (blend into the background), disguise appearance (altering the model) and dazzle (obfuscate the model). Dissimulation differs from simulation, in which one exhibits false information. Dissimulation commonly takes the form of concealing one's ability in order to gain the element of surprise over an opponent.

Examples

• In software development, dissimulation is the logical converse of simulation. In this context dissimulation is a worthwhile tool for protection against a differential attack, implemented by having semantically equivalent executions look different. This goal is to prevent automated tools from detecting and distinguishing any meaningful differences between such executions.

• Dissimulation can be used as an effective form of amusement (see Candid Camera); it is also used in corporate environments for training and measurement activities (e.g. "mystery shoppers".)

• Pool hustling might be seen as a form of dissimulation, because the hustler conceals their real talent. Yet it may also (or instead) be considered a form of simulation, because every pool hustle conveys false information about the hustler's abilities.

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See also

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Dissimulation

• Machiavellianism

References

• Of Simulation and Dissimulation An essay by Francis Bacon on the subject.
• Dissimulation and hypocrisy from The Summa Theologica of St. Thomas Aquinas
• Letters to his Son by Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield. Lord Chesterfield is an advocate of dissimulation and in these letters to his son often he explains what dissimulation is and contrasts it with simulation, see for example LETTER LXXI LONDON, May 22, O. S. 1749.
• Al-Taqiyya/Dissimulation, from Al-Islam.Org
• Perspectives on truthfulness in the Jewish tradition