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Jean-Charles Longuet

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Telling the truth: are there limits?

Two recent talks focused on "Truth" as something good/moral. Practically, however, some information may cause havoc: the Wikileaks diplomatic data disclosure, for example, coulad have put some people at risk.

How should we manage the decision to disclose (or not) such information? Or manage the moral dilemma when telling a lie may have a positive outcome?
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[update 2012/11/25] The conversation initially mixed a few things : Truth is something that is not as obvious as it seems, and Lies are more related to a deceiving/manipulative intention that to the hiding of some Truth.

Anyway, all points of views are welcome.

Related Talks:
Topics: Lies morality society truth
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    Jean-Charles Longuet

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    Nov 26 2012: If you're curious about implicit/explicit language, the link provided by Arkady (thanks to him) is definitely worth a look :

    http://wordyenglish.com/lit/language_and_human_nature.html

    Feel free to comment it.
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      Mitch SMith 50+

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      Nov 26 2012: Yes, the modes of communication outlined by Alan Fiske are important to know:
      However, to Dominance, Reciprocity and Communality, I would add leadership.
      Perhaps the unballancing of the dominance mode came to us by way of the Roman Latin which gave a place for the imperative, but no place for natural respect.
      Either way, the talk by Pinker has to do with "honesty" not truth.

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