2006-08-05 23:39:46 · 39 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
Telling the truth makes us honest as well as brave. Truth is strength.
2006-08-06 02:11:21 · answer #1 · answered by latterviews 5 · 0⤊ 4⤋
A very challenging question.
The word has several meanings, but I think what they all boil down to is that to be dishonest is to be deceptive in some way.
Not telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, is always dishonest, strictly speaking - though there are, of course, some situations in which telling the truth could be the wrong thing to do (depending on what sort of ethics you subscribe to).
Another way of being deceptive is to steal. People who steal are deceiving others (and sometimes themselves) that something belonging to another belongs to themselves.
Then there's cheating and swindling of various kinds.
In general, misleading people about what is true, genuine or original is dishonesty. You could even argue that the use of cosmetics and cosmetic surgery is dishonest.
We live in a world that is currently dominated by commerce or business - call it what you will, it promotes all kinds of dishonesty. Does anyone think commercial advertising is ever honest? Even if you go into business with the best of intentions, you will be forced (not merely tempted, but forced) into dishonesty in order to compete and survive. Business is swindling and cheating regulated by law.
So there's much more to honesty than telling the truth. To be honest is to avoid practicing any sort of deception - including self-deception.
2006-08-07 13:51:14 · answer #2 · answered by brucebirdfield 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Some folks justify their cruel words in the guise of being honest.
"I'm just being honest with you," is always a prelude to telling you something nasty about you. Obviously an honest person is going to have to lie at times to make things right. I remember a new employee who made a mistake. She was scared so she came to me for help before anyone else knew about it. I knew the environment there, and they would eat her up alive and threaten to fire her. The mistake was not serious, as far as that goes, but it greatly inconvenienced the worker who took over. The worker who took over could and would make things ugly for her. So I made up some other way the mistake happened that seemed natural, and was some one else's mistake from the preceding section before it even got to us. The next day everything was copacetic, and to this day that new employee, who is not a new employee anymore, is a good worker and an asset to the company. So an honest person is going to do what is right, most of the time --wink.
2006-08-05 23:53:40 · answer #3 · answered by pshdsa 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Psychologists are grappling with this question too. Some believe that attitude follows behaviour i.e a truthful person is honest OR behaviour follows attitude i.e by speaking the truth you become honest.
I believe the latter works & gives you hope that you can become whatever you choose to be.
Happy Friendship to this whole Yahoo community !!
2006-08-06 00:33:11 · answer #4 · answered by Praxis 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Every one's considered & believed to b honest, as nobody knows the truth, hence the saying goes, honesty's the best policy. no matter whether U tell the truth or lies, but B honest in both.
2006-08-05 23:52:14 · answer #5 · answered by JD 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Telling truth is the first step to become honest.
2006-08-05 23:43:37 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. One is considered honest in the way he uses truth.
2006-08-06 17:13:56 · answer #7 · answered by A 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
technically yes, but being purely honest isnt always good. When the Nazis turned up on Anne Frank's doorstep and asked if anyone was hiding in the house, being honest would have been the worst thing to do...Things are never black and white. Truth isnt good, and lies evil. Same with honesty, depends on how you use it.
2006-08-05 23:49:44 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No.
Honesty consists of what is told as well as what is not. Actions like cheating or stealing, even if one doesn't have to lie to do them. are dishonest. One can also be dishonest with himself. And, if one tells the truth but only the partial truth, he is not honest.
2006-08-06 00:34:34 · answer #9 · answered by Jessica LeAnn 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes - but not 100%.
To be a completely honest person:
You also need to be true to yourself
You need to face your fears
You need to respect other peoples' privacy, lifestyle, choices and personalities
You need to know WHEN to be honest, HOW to be honest and WHY
You need to follow through all of this with integrity.
I don't think it is possible to be completely honest - but telling the truth is a good start!
2006-08-05 23:46:42 · answer #10 · answered by chocolette 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes
if Ur lieing with someone its better to tell the Truth,that will make u honest
2006-08-05 23:45:44 · answer #11 · answered by richa 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋