ABSTRACT
The art of deception is by no means unique to humankind; in fact the ability to deceive is a basic survival tool for much of the animal kingdom. Horned toads inflate themselves with air in order to exaggerate their size. Countless animals and some plants as well are adept at camouflaging themselves, either to appear less edible or to capture prey more easily. Capuchin monkeys are able to learn deceptive practices in a human training environment, such as intentionally making an incorrect choice in order to fool a competitor. Moral and legal social norms can therefore be seen as tools developed and sustained by a group of people in order to gain some control over its individual members. The perennial presence of corruption begs for an explanation. The ability to deceive is crucial for all living creatures. The law of survival of fittest supports the development of deceptive capabilities, but requires also abilities to detect and punish swindlers and thieves.
