Combining Philosophers

Ideas for Anaximander, John Duns Scotus and Michael J. Sandel

unexpand these ideas     |    start again     |     choose another area for these philosophers

display all the ideas for this combination of philosophers


2 ideas

3. Truth / A. Truth Problems / 3. Value of Truth
Speak truth only to those who deserve the truth [Sandel]
     Full Idea: The duty to tell the truth applies only to those who deserve the truth.
     From: Michael J. Sandel (Justice: What's the right thing to do? [2009], 05)
     A reaction: [from Benjamin Constant, in opposition to Kant] I prefer the idea that we should use people 'after our own honour and dignity' (Hamlet), which means speaking the truth even to Donald Trump (for those of you who remember 2018). But not always.
Careful evasions of truth at least show respect for it [Sandel]
     Full Idea: A carefully crafted evasion pays homage to truth-telling in a way that an outright lie does not.
     From: Michael J. Sandel (Justice: What's the right thing to do? [2009], 05)
     A reaction: Nicely put. He refers to an incident in Kant's life. I think of the great equivocation controversy at the time of the 1605 Gunpowder Plot. See the porter in Macbeth. All I ask is that people care about the truth. Many people don't. Why?