Truths Falsehoods and Lies
The opposite of truth is not a lie.
When the weather person on the news predicts sunshine and instead it rains, did they lie? Of course not.
People make honest reasoned predictions that are wrong.
This is normal, and not just relevant to predicting the weather.
A prediction turning out to be false does not make it a lie.
Alternative facts?
Were scientists and educators prior to Copernicus liars teaching their students the sun orbits the earth? Of course not.
They were wrong and did not know that it’s actually the other way around.
Being wrong and teaching fiction as fact is a normal reality of the human condition and not just something that happens in the study of astronomy.
A claim that turns out to be false does not make the claim a lie.
So what is a lie?
Predictions and assertions are either true or false. Even lies can prove correct instead of wrong.
Lies require the intent to deceive. If the intent is there, whether the claim later proves true or false has no bearing.
What did the originator intend with their claim or prediction? This is the only question that can paint a statement as a lie or something else.
What is the opposite of a lie?
Sincerity is the opposite of a lie.
They are both children of intent but differ from each other in all ways that matter.
A mind’s motivation is either to express sincerity or it is not. If not, watch out for lies.
Let’s distinguish between liars and the uninformed. One can be helped, the other is better to avoid.
Why does this matter?
Anyone can be wrong.
Not everyone chooses to lie.
When we don’t distinguish falsehoods from lies we give liars a pass, as if they were the same as confused or uninformed.
Don’t give liars a pass.
And don’t go down roads where a liar made the map.
