Is it possible for any utterance to be completely honest?

[LOVEthroughINTELLECT]

In other words, is there some degree of deception behind every utterance?

Someone may ask me where I live but even if I understand exactly what the person is asking and the word(s) that I speak/write are factually true, the tone, the syllables that I stress, etc. could consciously or subconsciously be an attempt to hide the fact that, say, I am uncomfortable answering the question.

It seems to me that in theory it is not possible for any utterance--spoken, written, or both--to completely correspond with the thoughts and emotions of the speaker/writer.

If that is true then it seems that that would mean that there is not simple honesty, only degrees of honesty.

 

[acropolis]

language is inexact by nature, so your intended meaning and the meaning interpreted by your listener will always be a little different.

 

[The Nihilist]

only children and drunks are completely honest

 

[pgp_protector]

Is it possible for any utterance to be completely honest?

no.

 

[pgp_protector]

no.

That was completely honest.

 

[ArnautDaniel]

Oh every utterance is completely honest.

It just might not say what the speaker intended.

That doesn't stop you from learning a lot about the speaker regardless of their intent.

 

[Corey]

In other words, is there some degree of deception behind every utterance?

Someone may ask me where I live but even if I understand exactly what the person is asking and the word(s) that I speak/write are factually true, the tone, the syllables that I stress, etc. could consciously or subconsciously be an attempt to hide the fact that, say, I am uncomfortable answering the question.

It seems to me that in theory it is not possible for any utterance--spoken, written, or both--to completely correspond with the thoughts and emotions of the speaker/writer.

If that is true then it seems that that would mean that there is not simple honesty, only degrees of honesty.

I refer you to George Lucas's words as spoken by Obi-wan Kenobi in Return of the Jedi.

 

[quatona]

In other words, is there some degree of deception behind every utterance?

Someone may ask me where I live but even if I understand exactly what the person is asking and the word(s) that I speak/write are factually true, the tone, the syllables that I stress, etc. could consciously or subconsciously be an attempt to hide the fact that, say, I am uncomfortable answering the question.

It seems to me that in theory it is not possible for any utterance--spoken, written, or both--to completely correspond with the thoughts and emotions of the speaker/writer.

If that is true then it seems that that would mean that there is not simple honesty, only degrees of honesty.

Due to the nature of verbal commuication the message sent is never congruent with the message received.
I don´t see how this has any relevance for the honesty (or lack thereof) of an utterance,though.

 

[Vigilante]

Due to the nature of verbal commuication the message sent is never congruent with the message received.
I don´t see how this has any relevance for the honesty (or lack thereof) of an utterance,though.

+1.

We observe a given structure in the world and its inhabitants.

We construct sounds ("words") which represent concepts which represent the world-structure. Our sentences seek to approximate the structure of those concepts (related in sentences) with the structure we observe in the world.

Given that the world is not the concepts, and that the concepts are not the words, we will always have to deal with structural disconnection and approximation.

I wouldn't feel too bad about having to deal with a necessary part of reality, though. :] You're not trying to mislead people by relaying an incomplete structural account.

 

[Shizzle]

In other words, is there some degree of deception behind every utterance?

How about tongues being the closest you get to being completely honest, and actually being it?

1co14:14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.

 

[paug]

Defining the word "honest" would help out.

 

[LOVEthroughINTELLECT]

Defining the word "honest" would help out.

An honest utterance is an utterance that is made without any conscious or sub-concscious intention of deceiving any listener/reader in any way.

 

[LOVEthroughINTELLECT]

language is inexact by nature, so your intended meaning and the meaning interpreted by your listener will always be a little different.

Due to the nature of verbal commuication the message sent is never congruent with the message received.
I don´t see how this has any relevance for the honesty (or lack thereof) of an utterance,though.

I am not talking about unintended miscommunication.

I am talking about intentional deception.

 

[quatona]

I am not talking about unintended miscommunication.

I am talking about intentional deception.

Yes, that´s how I initially understood your question (and my answer would be: why should it be impossible to say something without the intention to deceive? I don´t know that I am usually intending to deceive).
But then you wrote:

It seems to me that in theory it is not possible for any utterance--spoken, written, or both--to completely correspond with the thoughts and emotions of the speaker/writer.

A statement that I would agree with, but the problem described does not allow the conclusion that therefore the intention is deception.