PHILOSOPHY TOPIC - Lying versus Freudian Slips

[Shion]

I'm sure there's a name for this but I don't seem to see it on the unresolved philosophy wikipedia page.

Is it considered lying if you say something that is untrue without knowing you're saying it?

This is true: My favorite color is blue.

If you asked me what my favorite color was and I said "red", this would be untrue. And I know I said it, so I've lied.

But let's say I have had the color red on my mind all day and I'm only half-paying attention to the conversation. You ask me what my favorite color is and I say "red" out of a freudian slip answer but am not aware I'm saying it because my mind is on other stuff. What I've said is untrue, but what I think I've said is true to my mind.

If you asked me if I was lying and I said yes, that would have been true for what came out of my mouth but not what my brain was telling me I was saying.

A polygraph measures the heightened blood pressure as a result of the fear of being caught lying, but if you know you're not lying then you won't be detected by the polygraph because you have nothing to hide. Disregarding the accuracy of an actual machine, if you ended up lying physically but according to your mind it was truth and you ended up fooling yourself, what would you consider it?

I love this kind of shit by the way....unresolved philosophical questions. But it's like alcohol; can't do it too much at one time or you'll go nuts.

 

[stillwantmore]

Well, psychology is a one of my favorite subjects (made an A+ at college level actually). My take on this concept is that there's really no clear cut answer. People are completely capable of convincing themselves of whatever they want to. I can for example, convince myself that a red ink pen is blue, even though to the outside observer, it is clearly red. What MY MIND accepts as truth, is what determines what color the pen actually is to me. It does not matter what anyone else things regarding the pen and its color...it only matters what my mind has convinced me. After all, the individual is motivated by their own ego, and mind. One could argue that the outside world influences the individual as well. That can be the case for many, if not most people, but at the same time there are individuals who are truly motivated and driven by their own thoughts.

 

[DLD]

Interesting you bring up color Still as I have monochromatic vision, meaning I see no color, only shades of grey. My doctor said that the colors I think I see are manufactured in my mind and I attach mental values to account for color. This is hard to understand but a good example is a few weeks ago I woke up and put on a bright blue polo shirt. I went through my day with my blue shirt with complete faith it was blue. When I got home that night I was going to the bathroom and my son said something about my green shirt, my mind instantly switched and right in front of me and like magic the shirt went from blue to green...very cool experience.

 

[tester8888]

Is it considered lying if you say something that is untrue without knowing you're saying it?
It's not lying if your intention was not to beguile. It could be that you just gave an uncontemplated answer, an uninformed answer, or
did not understand or properly hear the question. It is not lying if the questions involves a dynamic answer or situation.

As for favorite color--
Favorite color for what? It would certainly be strange to say your favorite color for eyes is red or purple.
A highly dynamic and/or situational preference, can not be considered lying, if it is true to your present state of mind. Favorite color is a
preference, which is not bound to the constraints of reason or logic.

 

[Turnover]

Once I axed somebody and then got arrested no seriously I dont think it is possible to be honest 100% of the time. I discussed this with a really awesome children's psychology worker when I was younger and he told me there is unseen that we are not honest about in our daily lives. You can always tell the truth but there will be moments you come across you will need to keep your mouth shut when it is in YOUR best interest and I dont consider that lying or wrong; just life.