Do we lie to protect others? Do we aviod or exaggerate the truth? Is it impossible not to lie? Are we truely honest?
2007-10-15 21:47:17 · 14 answers · asked by Spartacus 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
If I'm honest, I say the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Whether it hurts someone else is another matter.
However, I can be truthful, without being 100% honest. Everything I say is true, but I decide to not say certain things for certain reasons (I don't want to hurt someone, I don't want them to know everything etc.
So being honest means saying the truth, but saying the truth doesn't necessarily mean being absolutely honest.
2007-10-15 21:57:38 · answer #1 · answered by AL 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No it's not. Truth is fact that is in agreement with reality. Honesty (and dishonesty) is tied to man's disposition.
But the 2 interrelate. If someone tells the truth, he is said to be honest. That's an example where there seems to be a close correspondence between truth and honesty but it doesn't make them synonymous.
If someone exaggerates the truth, though, he lies and is being dishonest.
The 2 words are like a seesaw.
2007-10-16 00:54:37 · answer #2 · answered by Lance 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most times it is. Do you notice that it is a fact of life that sometimes we have no choice to lie to someone about the death of a close one or some other very sensitive matters or news? To tell the absolute truth in some situations is to court more troubles or even tragedies.Young kids are often told untruths to sexy questions about the 'birds and the bees'.
It is therefore not considered a sin to lie if there is a justifiable reason to do so. But in normal interactions between relatives, close friends and working colleagues, we must persevere to be sincere, otherwise no one is going to trust you, once you have been proven to tell too many lies. It will be extremely hard to be believed again and you may lose someone for life. Not worth it. Flexibility, humility and common sense must prevail in the handling of truths and honesty.
2007-10-15 22:08:05 · answer #3 · answered by Dolphin-Bird Lover8-88 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Truth stands alone in any given situation while honesty is our choice to practice the truth, as we perceive it.
By lying we protect our selves even if we’re convinced that we do it to protect others. How can a lie protect when it creates a falsified aspect of the actual events?
For some people lie is a second nature one that conceals their real identity, which they are unable to accept as it is.
Some people prefer lies as they are unable to handle the truth whereto others are concerned i.e. voters choose to believe the lies of politicians because they hope some of those to be true.
One single lie requires a thousand more to cover it while truth stands alone.
2007-10-15 22:13:00 · answer #4 · answered by MARY B 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Honesty is the expression of one's own beliefs, value for value.
Truth is a word to justify the imposition of those beliefs on others.
Honesty actually happens; Truth is just a fallacy and does not exist in objective terms.
2007-10-15 23:42:18 · answer #5 · answered by Lucid Interrogator 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Come off it, everyone but everyone lies... to some extent. No one is totally honest and truthful all of the time. And no one wants them to be!
Its not necessarily wrong, its more to do with your motives FOR lying. And there are degrees of dishonesty. And your reasons for doing it. Father Christmas, Tooth Fairy, etc. these are all forms of dishonesty as they are NOT true. But would you rather take away the magic of Christmas for all kids under the age of 5?
I don't think it is impossible to NOT lie, but it might be impossible to NOT lie AND to have any friends!! I think everyone needs to use their own moral judgement when they decide to be truthful and honest, and when they decide to "distort" it.
2007-10-15 22:07:09 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Honesty is linked to the character of a person; truth is only based on what the person is saying. Consequently, I wouldn't say saying the truth is to be honest: it depends on the person's motivation for saying the truth and what the person has got to gain from it.
2007-10-15 22:07:31 · answer #7 · answered by soniaandree 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Truth is totaly different with honesty. While truth does not depend on you, it's you that is or isn't honest.
It is NOT imposible not to lie, at all.
We Can Be truely honest.
2007-10-15 22:06:29 · answer #8 · answered by Eric Gump 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Truth is not the same as honesty. You can honestly believe something that is untrue.
2007-10-16 00:45:19 · answer #9 · answered by andy muso 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes it is, but is honesty synonymous with truth?
2007-10-15 21:56:40 · answer #10 · answered by Kerbachard! -El Wapo™ © 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋