
imagine that you’ve been lied to by your partner or closest friend it’s a hurtful
partner or closest friend it’s a hurtful
partner or closest friend it’s a hurtful lie and you feel let down and
lie and you feel let down and
lie and you feel let down and disappointed after all lying is a
disappointed after all lying is a
disappointed after all lying is a violation of trust and it destroys
violation of trust and it destroys
violation of trust and it destroys humans relationships a lie has social
humans relationships a lie has social
humans relationships a lie has social and political consequences a single lie
and political consequences a single lie
and political consequences a single lie can bring down a political party or
can bring down a political party or
can bring down a political party or government Hitler coined the expression
government Hitler coined the expression
government Hitler coined the expression the big lie in mine Kemp a lie so
the big lie in mine Kemp a lie so
the big lie in mine Kemp a lie so colossal everyone would believe it
colossal everyone would believe it
colossal everyone would believe it because no one could believe that the
because no one could believe that the
because no one could believe that the truth could be so hideously distorted
having really held a conversation with
having really held a conversation with someone who lives in a fantasy world
someone who lives in a fantasy world
someone who lives in a fantasy world where you suspect everything said is
where you suspect everything said is
where you suspect everything said is just total exaggeration you might be
just total exaggeration you might be
just total exaggeration you might be dealing with a pathological liar
dealing with a pathological liar
dealing with a pathological liar typically a pathological liar is
typically a pathological liar is
typically a pathological liar is narcissistic selfish and delusional
narcissistic selfish and delusional
narcissistic selfish and delusional lying becomes compulsive and habitual
lying becomes compulsive and habitual
lying becomes compulsive and habitual pathological liars suffer false memory
pathological liars suffer false memory
pathological liars suffer false memory syndrome many believe they’ve
syndrome many believe they’ve
syndrome many believe they’ve accomplished superhuman feats this kind
accomplished superhuman feats this kind
accomplished superhuman feats this kind of compulsive lying is regarded as a
of compulsive lying is regarded as a
of compulsive lying is regarded as a psychiatric disorder we all lie on
psychiatric disorder we all lie on
psychiatric disorder we all lie on occasions most of us might tell a white
occasions most of us might tell a white
occasions most of us might tell a white lie to save someone’s feelings but most
lie to save someone’s feelings but most
lie to save someone’s feelings but most of the time we tell the truth we are
of the time we tell the truth we are
of the time we tell the truth we are brought up in a culture which has a deep
brought up in a culture which has a deep
brought up in a culture which has a deep respect for telling the truth some would
respect for telling the truth some would
respect for telling the truth some would argue that in our culture we are
argue that in our culture we are
argue that in our culture we are compelled for tell the truth about
compelled for tell the truth about
compelled for tell the truth about ourselves and our feelings even when the
ourselves and our feelings even when the
ourselves and our feelings even when the consequences might be painful sharing
consequences might be painful sharing
consequences might be painful sharing our private lives and converting and
our private lives and converting and
our private lives and converting and others actually creates intimacy and
others actually creates intimacy and
others actually creates intimacy and relationships in the age of social media
relationships in the age of social media
relationships in the age of social media there’s a fashion a fascination with the
there’s a fashion a fascination with the
there’s a fashion a fascination with the lives of ordinary people we have become
lives of ordinary people we have become
lives of ordinary people we have become the confessional Society reality TV
the confessional Society reality TV
the confessional Society reality TV rules Western society has established
rules Western society has established
rules Western society has established the confession as one of the main
the confession as one of the main
the confession as one of the main rituals that we rely on for the
rituals that we rely on for the
rituals that we rely on for the production of truth not only in the
production of truth not only in the
production of truth not only in the social media but also in the courtroom
social media but also in the courtroom
social media but also in the courtroom in the newsroom and in the classroom
in the newsroom and in the classroom
in the newsroom and in the classroom truth is central to all our institutions
truth is central to all our institutions
truth is central to all our institutions and human communication is only possible
and human communication is only possible
and human communication is only possible against a background of truth and truth
against a background of truth and truth
against a background of truth and truth telling
telling
telling can you imagine a society based on
can you imagine a society based on
can you imagine a society based on systematic lying where no speech is
systematic lying where no speech is
systematic lying where no speech is reliable you couldn’t believe a stranger
reliable you couldn’t believe a stranger
reliable you couldn’t believe a stranger giving street directions or trust the
giving street directions or trust the
giving street directions or trust the newspaper report or a friend who
newspaper report or a friend who
newspaper report or a friend who confides in you truth in is a deep
confides in you truth in is a deep
confides in you truth in is a deep cultural practice in the West yet we
cultural practice in the West yet we
cultural practice in the West yet we take it for granted and only question it
take it for granted and only question it
take it for granted and only question it when we were exposed to the consequences
when we were exposed to the consequences
when we were exposed to the consequences or the effects of a lie but truth also
or the effects of a lie but truth also
or the effects of a lie but truth also takes many different forms and has
takes many different forms and has
takes many different forms and has changed the shape over time the ancient
changed the shape over time the ancient
changed the shape over time the ancient Greeks had a concept Alethea meaning
Greeks had a concept Alethea meaning
Greeks had a concept Alethea meaning unconcealed or openness truth was seen
unconcealed or openness truth was seen
unconcealed or openness truth was seen as a form of personal disclosure in
as a form of personal disclosure in
as a form of personal disclosure in Greek mythology ilithyia
Greek mythology ilithyia
Greek mythology ilithyia is the daughter of Zeus she’s the
is the daughter of Zeus she’s the
is the daughter of Zeus she’s the goddess of truth and she’s pitted
goddess of truth and she’s pitted
goddess of truth and she’s pitted against the gods of deception trickery
against the gods of deception trickery
against the gods of deception trickery and lies the ancient poet Homer uses the
and lies the ancient poet Homer uses the
and lies the ancient poet Homer uses the word Allah fear in the Iliad and the
word Allah fear in the Iliad and the
word Allah fear in the Iliad and the Odyssey to mean truth where truth has to
Odyssey to mean truth where truth has to
Odyssey to mean truth where truth has to do with the reliability of what is being
do with the reliability of what is being
do with the reliability of what is being said by one person to another it
said by one person to another it
said by one person to another it opposite for hermas liable deception
opposite for hermas liable deception
opposite for hermas liable deception then verily my child I will tell you the
then verily my child I will tell you the
then verily my child I will tell you the truth this is the ritual sentence that
truth this is the ritual sentence that
truth this is the ritual sentence that occurs five times in the Odyssey the
occurs five times in the Odyssey the
occurs five times in the Odyssey the word often occurs in the phrase the
word often occurs in the phrase the
word often occurs in the phrase the whole truth to tell the whole truth in
whole truth to tell the whole truth in
whole truth to tell the whole truth in this sense is not just to utter some
this sense is not just to utter some
this sense is not just to utter some sentence which is true it is to give the
sentence which is true it is to give the
sentence which is true it is to give the whole account to tell the whole story in
whole account to tell the whole story in
whole account to tell the whole story in the Iliad
the Iliad
the Iliad for example Achilles asks Phoenix to act
for example Achilles asks Phoenix to act
for example Achilles asks Phoenix to act as umpire in a chariot race and to
as umpire in a chariot race and to
as umpire in a chariot race and to report back to him the truth the
report back to him the truth the
report back to him the truth the traditional oath required of a witness
traditional oath required of a witness
traditional oath required of a witness in court proceedings you know to tell
in court proceedings you know to tell
in court proceedings you know to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing
the truth the whole truth and nothing
the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth
but the truth
but the truth dates from this ancient source 3,000
dates from this ancient source 3,000
dates from this ancient source 3,000 years ago in this ancient tradition
years ago in this ancient tradition
years ago in this ancient tradition Alethea is a matter of being truthful
Alethea is a matter of being truthful
Alethea is a matter of being truthful and open in one’s personal dealings with
and open in one’s personal dealings with
and open in one’s personal dealings with another so what can what a said can be
another so what can what a said can be
another so what can what a said can be taken by hearers as reliable and
taken by hearers as reliable and
taken by hearers as reliable and trustworthy it seems like all classical
trustworthy it seems like all classical
trustworthy it seems like all classical cultures have a notion like truth
cultures have a notion like truth
cultures have a notion like truth Chinese philosophy uses the term vowel
Chinese philosophy uses the term vowel
Chinese philosophy uses the term vowel which means way in the sense of path but
which means way in the sense of path but
which means way in the sense of path but thou also refers to a philosophical
thou also refers to a philosophical
thou also refers to a philosophical tradition concerned with moral education
tradition concerned with moral education
tradition concerned with moral education and rightful action it functions like
and rightful action it functions like
and rightful action it functions like truth in the Western tradition thou is
truth in the Western tradition thou is
truth in the Western tradition thou is the intuitive knowing of life that
the intuitive knowing of life that
the intuitive knowing of life that cannot be grasped theoretically or as a
cannot be grasped theoretically or as a
cannot be grasped theoretically or as a concept that can only be known through
concept that can only be known through
concept that can only be known through the actual living experience of one’s
the actual living experience of one’s
the actual living experience of one’s every day’s existence it represents the
every day’s existence it represents the
every day’s existence it represents the underlying natural order of the universe
underlying natural order of the universe
underlying natural order of the universe and refers to the spiritual
and refers to the spiritual
and refers to the spiritual enlightenment that follows from living
enlightenment that follows from living
enlightenment that follows from living the proper way
the proper way
the proper way in Buddhism the Four Noble Truths
in Buddhism the Four Noble Truths
in Buddhism the Four Noble Truths comprise the issuance of the Buddha’s
comprise the issuance of the Buddha’s
comprise the issuance of the Buddha’s teachings they include the truth of
teachings they include the truth of
teachings they include the truth of suffering and the truth of the path that
suffering and the truth of the path that
suffering and the truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering which can
leads to the end of suffering which can
leads to the end of suffering which can be learned as the realities of the world
be learned as the realities of the world
be learned as the realities of the world by those who have reached Nirvana
by those who have reached Nirvana
by those who have reached Nirvana I teach suffering its origin cessation
I teach suffering its origin cessation
I teach suffering its origin cessation and path that’s all I teach the Buddha
and path that’s all I teach the Buddha
and path that’s all I teach the Buddha the clear two and a half thousand years
the clear two and a half thousand years
the clear two and a half thousand years ago the Persian philosopher Avicenna in
ago the Persian philosopher Avicenna in
ago the Persian philosopher Avicenna in the book of healing defines truth as
the book of healing defines truth as
the book of healing defines truth as that which in the mind corresponds to
that which in the mind corresponds to
that which in the mind corresponds to what is outside it the Islamic tradition
what is outside it the Islamic tradition
what is outside it the Islamic tradition puts a premium on truth-telling and
puts a premium on truth-telling and
puts a premium on truth-telling and avoidance of lying and deception
avoidance of lying and deception
avoidance of lying and deception I will not claim that truth is universal
I will not claim that truth is universal
I will not claim that truth is universal to all cultures but it certainly seems
to all cultures but it certainly seems
to all cultures but it certainly seems to underwrite the classical
to underwrite the classical
to underwrite the classical civilizations Testament now here’s an
civilizations Testament now here’s an
civilizations Testament now here’s an interesting word Testament means
interesting word Testament means
interesting word Testament means testimony witness evidence proof all
testimony witness evidence proof all
testimony witness evidence proof all relating to the family of truth one
relating to the family of truth one
relating to the family of truth one source very influential in Western
source very influential in Western
source very influential in Western culture as you know as the New Testament
culture as you know as the New Testament
culture as you know as the New Testament in the Gospel of John Jesus says I am
in the Gospel of John Jesus says I am
in the Gospel of John Jesus says I am the way the truth and the life he says
the way the truth and the life he says
the way the truth and the life he says to his followers you know the truth and
to his followers you know the truth and
to his followers you know the truth and the truth will set you free
the truth will set you free
the truth will set you free we analyze this we see Christianity
we analyze this we see Christianity
we analyze this we see Christianity truth this part of the Godhead and
truth this part of the Godhead and
truth this part of the Godhead and Christianity truth is divine and as
Christianity truth is divine and as
Christianity truth is divine and as Augustine argues much later later lying
Augustine argues much later later lying
Augustine argues much later later lying is a sin one historical consequence of
is a sin one historical consequence of
is a sin one historical consequence of this is that truth is associated with
this is that truth is associated with
this is that truth is associated with spiritual freedom later political
spiritual freedom later political
spiritual freedom later political freedom and it’s also expressible in
freedom and it’s also expressible in
freedom and it’s also expressible in language it’s the basis for the
language it’s the basis for the
language it’s the basis for the secularization of truth in science
secularization of truth in science
secularization of truth in science during the 17th century when truth
during the 17th century when truth
during the 17th century when truth becomes a property of sentences a very
becomes a property of sentences a very
becomes a property of sentences a very brief history of the concept of truth
brief history of the concept of truth
brief history of the concept of truth reveals that it changes its meaning over
reveals that it changes its meaning over
reveals that it changes its meaning over time so for example in the Middle Ages
time so for example in the Middle Ages
time so for example in the Middle Ages truth shifts from a subjective concept
truth shifts from a subjective concept
truth shifts from a subjective concept associated with my truth meaning my word
associated with my truth meaning my word
associated with my truth meaning my word both into a more objective one used in
both into a more objective one used in
both into a more objective one used in the political realm to refer to legal
the political realm to refer to legal
the political realm to refer to legal documents truth comes to mean being in
documents truth comes to mean being in
documents truth comes to mean being in accord with the law in accord with the
accord with the law in accord with the
accord with the law in accord with the facts and later in accord with reality
facts and later in accord with reality
facts and later in accord with reality this then is the essence of empirical
this then is the essence of empirical
this then is the essence of empirical science we’re true really means an
science we’re true really means an
science we’re true really means an accurate representation of the world of
accurate representation of the world of
accurate representation of the world of reality
reality
reality in 1684 a German philosopher makes a
in 1684 a German philosopher makes a
in 1684 a German philosopher makes a distinction between truths of reason and
distinction between truths of reason and
distinction between truths of reason and truth of fact that is between necessary
truth of fact that is between necessary
truth of fact that is between necessary and contingent truths so truths of
and contingent truths so truths of
and contingent truths so truths of reason mathematical truths like two plus
reason mathematical truths like two plus
reason mathematical truths like two plus two equals four which is true by virtue
two equals four which is true by virtue
two equals four which is true by virtue of the meaning of the sign of the plus
of the meaning of the sign of the plus
of the meaning of the sign of the plus and the equal throughs effect by
and the equal throughs effect by
and the equal throughs effect by comparison a true by virtue of being an
comparison a true by virtue of being an
comparison a true by virtue of being an accurate description of reality to
accurate description of reality to
accurate description of reality to describe a state of affairs in the world
describe a state of affairs in the world
describe a state of affairs in the world so science is distinguished by a success
so science is distinguished by a success
so science is distinguished by a success in describing the world by its
in describing the world by its
in describing the world by its predictive power by its problem-solving
predictive power by its problem-solving
predictive power by its problem-solving and explanation even though its
and explanation even though its
and explanation even though its rationality and progress might be open
rationality and progress might be open
rationality and progress might be open to question this is the basis for
to question this is the basis for
to question this is the basis for science and scientific method when
science and scientific method when
science and scientific method when claims to knowledge don’t meet these
claims to knowledge don’t meet these
claims to knowledge don’t meet these standards we call them pseudoscience
standards we call them pseudoscience
standards we call them pseudoscience really the difference between astronomy
really the difference between astronomy
really the difference between astronomy on the one hand
on the one hand
on the one hand and astrology on the other and the West
and astrology on the other and the West
and astrology on the other and the West besides scientific and mathematical
besides scientific and mathematical
besides scientific and mathematical truth we also have a tradition of truth
truth we also have a tradition of truth
truth we also have a tradition of truth telling it was initiated by Socrates
telling it was initiated by Socrates
telling it was initiated by Socrates revolving around four questions who was
revolving around four questions who was
revolving around four questions who was able to tell the truth about what with
able to tell the truth about what with
able to tell the truth about what with what consequences and what relation to
what consequences and what relation to
what consequences and what relation to power these practices linked
power these practices linked
power these practices linked truth-telling to the law to education to
truth-telling to the law to education to
truth-telling to the law to education to history to the media and to ourselves in
history to the media and to ourselves in
history to the media and to ourselves in ancient Greek and Roman culture
ancient Greek and Roman culture
ancient Greek and Roman culture truth-telling was a risky business
truth-telling was a risky business
truth-telling was a risky business related to the duty to help others a
related to the duty to help others a
related to the duty to help others a truth-teller sometimes risks his life
truth-teller sometimes risks his life
truth-teller sometimes risks his life and uses his freedom to choose frankness
and uses his freedom to choose frankness
and uses his freedom to choose frankness and see the persuasion truth instead of
and see the persuasion truth instead of
and see the persuasion truth instead of falsehood or silence criticism instead
falsehood or silence criticism instead
falsehood or silence criticism instead of flattery and moral duty instead of
of flattery and moral duty instead of
of flattery and moral duty instead of self-interest in moral ever fear is of
self-interest in moral ever fear is of
self-interest in moral ever fear is of death instead of life and security and
death instead of life and security and
death instead of life and security and Western philosophy following Plato we
Western philosophy following Plato we
Western philosophy following Plato we talk of knowledge as justified true
talk of knowledge as justified true
talk of knowledge as justified true belief there is for something to be
belief there is for something to be
belief there is for something to be knowledge it must have a pull a belief
knowledge it must have a pull a belief
knowledge it must have a pull a belief condition a truth condition and a
condition a truth condition and a
condition a truth condition and a justification condition that must
justification condition that must
justification condition that must advance reasons or evidence in the shift
advance reasons or evidence in the shift
advance reasons or evidence in the shift to information media society these
to information media society these
to information media society these conditions no longer apply here is no
conditions no longer apply here is no
conditions no longer apply here is no truth belief or justification condition
truth belief or justification condition
truth belief or justification condition there is just information and it may be
there is just information and it may be
there is just information and it may be misinformation or disinformation but
misinformation or disinformation but
misinformation or disinformation but today we live in a post truth era as
today we live in a post truth era as
today we live in a post truth era as opposed to truth really would
opposed to truth really would
opposed to truth really would the oxford dictionary named it would
the oxford dictionary named it would
the oxford dictionary named it would the year in 2016 post truth refers to a
the year in 2016 post truth refers to a
the year in 2016 post truth refers to a situation where appeals to emotion and
situation where appeals to emotion and
situation where appeals to emotion and personal belief trump objective facts
the economists ran an article both truth
the economists ran an article both truth politics out of the line referring
politics out of the line referring
politics out of the line referring through donald trump during his campaign
through donald trump during his campaign
through donald trump during his campaign when he claimed barack obama is the
when he claimed barack obama is the
when he claimed barack obama is the founder of islamic state along with
founder of islamic state along with
founder of islamic state along with hillary clinton imagined that obama and
hillary clinton imagined that obama and
hillary clinton imagined that obama and clinton the founders of the worst
clinton the founders of the worst
clinton the founders of the worst terrorist movement within the west even
terrorist movement within the west even
terrorist movement within the west even his close supporters were perplexed
his close supporters were perplexed
his close supporters were perplexed brexit and trump’s triumph in the u.s.
brexit and trump’s triumph in the u.s.
brexit and trump’s triumph in the u.s. election indicates a dramatic turn
election indicates a dramatic turn
election indicates a dramatic turn against the global international order
against the global international order
against the global international order it’s fueled by a coincidence of older
it’s fueled by a coincidence of older
it’s fueled by a coincidence of older conservative social values
conservative social values
conservative social values anti-immigration sentiments climate
anti-immigration sentiments climate
anti-immigration sentiments climate change denial and some worrying trends
change denial and some worrying trends
change denial and some worrying trends to do with white supremacist
to do with white supremacist
to do with white supremacist working-class folk from the d
working-class folk from the d
working-class folk from the d industrialized areas of the u.s. got
industrialized areas of the u.s. got
industrialized areas of the u.s. got left behind when american manufacturing
left behind when american manufacturing
left behind when american manufacturing when eastern search of cheap labor trump
when eastern search of cheap labor trump
when eastern search of cheap labor trump style and as american first policies are
style and as american first policies are
style and as american first policies are delivered by twitter it’s a form of
delivered by twitter it’s a form of
delivered by twitter it’s a form of media that lacks all reflection in
media that lacks all reflection in
media that lacks all reflection in fact-checking
fact-checking
fact-checking post truth media is linked to the
post truth media is linked to the
post truth media is linked to the earlier concept of sound bite and photo
earlier concept of sound bite and photo
earlier concept of sound bite and photo opportunity it completely bypasses
opportunity it completely bypasses
opportunity it completely bypasses public discussion and the regime of the
public discussion and the regime of the
public discussion and the regime of the 24-hour news cycle there’s no
24-hour news cycle there’s no
24-hour news cycle there’s no opportunity for discussion or argument
opportunity for discussion or argument
opportunity for discussion or argument just a series of empty and and
just a series of empty and and
just a series of empty and and verifiable statements issued in the
verifiable statements issued in the
verifiable statements issued in the deafening echo chamber
deafening echo chamber
deafening echo chamber to medium now fate news is full of
to medium now fate news is full of
to medium now fate news is full of hoaxes misinformation distortion it’s
hoaxes misinformation distortion it’s
hoaxes misinformation distortion it’s published with the intent of deceiving
published with the intent of deceiving
published with the intent of deceiving it takes the big lie to another level as
it takes the big lie to another level as
it takes the big lie to another level as the postmodern art of politics where
the postmodern art of politics where
the postmodern art of politics where believers where supporters believe
believers where supporters believe
believers where supporters believe something only if it agrees with their
something only if it agrees with their
something only if it agrees with their own deep-seated prejudices
own deep-seated prejudices
own deep-seated prejudices welcome to the Flat Earth Society that
welcome to the Flat Earth Society that
welcome to the Flat Earth Society that turns its back on truth so what are we
turns its back on truth so what are we
turns its back on truth so what are we to make of all this well that’s entirely
to make of all this well that’s entirely
to make of all this well that’s entirely up to you but I leave you with this
up to you but I leave you with this
up to you but I leave you with this final thought George Orville said in the
final thought George Orville said in the
final thought George Orville said in the time of deceit telling the truth is a
time of deceit telling the truth is a
time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act
”
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