Full Idea
The 'principle of charity' is a misleading term, since there is no alternative if we want to make sense of the attitudes and actions of the agents around us.
Clarification
The 'principle of charity' says 'assume that most of what other people say is true'
Gist of Idea
There is simply no alternative to the 'principle of charity' in interpreting what others do
Source
Donald Davidson (Davidson on himself [1994], p.233)
Book Reference
'A Companion to the Philosophy of Mind', ed/tr. Guttenplan,Samuel [Blackwell 1995], p.233
A Reaction
I suppose so, but only with a background of evolutionary theory. I would necessarily assume charity if a robot spoke to me.