2007-08-05 05:54:35 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
A half-truth is truth, yes, but partial.
Now a partial truth can be uttered either because, in sincerity, it is all the truth that is known or, with deceit - to make believe that it is all the truth, that it is the most important part of the truth. Politicians are experts at this; it is dangerous to tell an outright lie, because they fear the courts and libel action. But just feed the people that bit of the truth you want them to believe; they know nothing anyway, so they will think it is all of the truth. And if they think that, it certainly is not the politicians" fault.
Deliberately telling a half-truth works better and is safer than lying, because with lying one can be found out later, but what is wrong with telling the truth?
2007-08-05 07:58:57 · answer #1 · answered by shades of Bruno 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When you are given a half-truth, do you belive (if the person has any credibilty with you at all) the whole banana? For me a half-truth is as good as a lie because there remains something that is concealed.
So, I say it's a lie.
2007-08-05 05:59:47 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't mix your terms here.
Generally, a lie is an intentional attempt to decieve. If someone tells you something that they earnestly believe to be true but turns out to be false, are they lying? Likewise, it is possible to fool some people by telling complete truths... but they are still deceptions.
So a half-truth may or may not be a lie, depending on why you are being told it.
Old textbooks are filled with things that aren't true. Usually very few of them are lies.
2007-08-05 06:50:41 · answer #3 · answered by Doctor Why 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A half-truth is a method of lying. By offering some partially reliable information while withholding other crucial information a complete picture of a situation is withheld and the half-truth becomes a vehicle of deception.
2007-08-05 06:02:28 · answer #4 · answered by Common Sense 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Legal cases in the area of fraud, deceit and the like often say: a half truth is a whole lie. A half truth will often/usually lead the recipient along a road to the false conclusion desired by the "offeror" of the "fact". :)))
2007-08-05 06:01:22 · answer #5 · answered by drakke1 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
can be truth
becaue the lie is what they dont need to know
can be a lie
because the truth is trying to make them to believe
2007-08-05 06:12:21 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Something is either true or false. Give me an example of a half truth.
This applies to reality, too. Something exists or doesn't exist. Something is real or unreal.
When we don't know the full story, then we say we are uncertain about what is true or untrue, what is real or unreal.
But that's a problem of knowledge. Facts are independent of what we are conscious of. Reality is independent of what we believe, think or feel about it.
2007-08-05 06:01:27 · answer #7 · answered by DrEvol 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Half truth is like saying you're just a little bit pregnant.
2007-08-05 12:39:53 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, first you would have to decide whether or not truths exist. For me every trinket of information could hold some falsities. All words evoke different images in the minds of the beholder, and so every body's truth is different.
2007-08-05 05:58:27 · answer #9 · answered by the slightly amusing answers of 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
lie truths should be always 100%
2007-08-05 06:01:46 · answer #10 · answered by MidxNight 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋