“All Cretans are liars”. –Epimenides of Crete, 6th Century, B.C.
If the above quote is true, then what is the truth? In the course of human relations, paradoxes such as the above arise frequently, including times when trying to determine the truth. If it is true that all Cretans are liars then Epimenides spoke the truth, but– a citizen of Crete, himself– the truth is that he is lying! He is therefore truthful when he lies and lying when he is truthful.
So what is the difference between what is true and untrue? And when is something that is untrue a lie? Think of something you believe to be true. Then think of something you believe to be untrue. Now alternately have each of these experiences in rapid succession– first one, then the other one hundred times…I will wait…
Finished? Examine each experience one more time. What specifically has changed about each one? Or as is more often the case, what do you notice about the difference(s) between those two things?
Confused yet? Good. Confusion is often the state of consciousness we achieve while trying to determine the truth about things such as, the truth. Confusion is what many people report after doing the exercise above. That is, two successive thoughts tend to integrate and the difference between them may become less clear.
It gets better. In order to be able to determine whether something is true or not, it is first useful to understand something about this notion of truth. Throughout time, human beings have developed many models for understanding and coding the interactions of people in their environment: Including, what is true and what is not. Each of us samples the environment through his senses and uses certain filters that help form a “map” of reality. Essentially, each person’s map differs based on what portion of the environment is sampled by his sensory systems and what filters he uses. “Filters” have to do with what and how much people pay attention to. Consequently, nobody’s map represents the entire territory!
For example, ask ten different people for directions to a particular destination. You will likely witness several different “maps” firing off. Undoubtedly, many will lead you astray. But which ones represent the truth? So far, all of them; and none of them. Since we do not operate directly upon the world but rather, through coded interpretations received and experienced by our sensory systems, each of our maps, which include our beliefs about “truth”, will differ somewhat from those of others!
Now, to understand the difference between something that is untrue and that which is a lie, return to the example of individuals, each providing directions to a single destination. Although you might have become lost by accepting some of their “maps” and corresponding directions, it is unlikely that any of those people deliberately attempted to deceive you, either by providing the wrong information or an insufficient amount of information. For the latter to have occurred, one would have had to distort the coded information received and used by his sensory systems, thereby altering his map to reflect that which he knows not to be present.
When a magician waves his wand and shouts, “Presto!”, and the enormous elephant that was moments ago on stage suddenly disappears, we understand that what appeared to be true was really untrue. It was an illusion performed by a highly skilled entertainer. We can smile inwardly believing that what is true exists backstage, where the props that created the illusion as well as the elephant, shifting its weight and breathing heavily, would be instantly visible!
However, realizing that the audience knows it was actually an illusion, if the magician had attempted to convince people the elephant really did disappear, that it was not an illusion, he would be purposely misleading them, hence, lying. As opposed to untruths, lies are usually committed for some personal gain without consideration of the consequences to any other person(s) who may be affected. For example, a job applicant who omits– or falsifies– information in order to achieve the favor of a prospective employer is lying. Chances are this attempt to hustle a job will affect no other person. On the other hand, suppose the job in question is an airline pilot? That is the sort of situation that makes it compelling to be able to determine when someone is lying. So how can one tell? Be here next time…