It most likely is some combination, different from person to person. People are maddeningly complicated. They can act on pure instinct or precision planning, then proceed to either blatantly lie and/or completely misdiagnose their own motives, thus confidently spew nonsense. As independent spirits, it's our role to figure it out, and we can also be a hot mess of blindness, ulterior motives, and foolishness.
What if it's both?
I understand what you're saying though.
'Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of Tyrants; it is the creed of slaves.'
- William Pitt the Younger
It most likely is some combination, different from person to person. People are maddeningly complicated. They can act on pure instinct or precision planning, then proceed to either blatantly lie and/or completely misdiagnose their own motives, thus confidently spew nonsense. As independent spirits, it's our role to figure it out, and we can also be a hot mess of blindness, ulterior motives, and foolishness.