Chapter 7
Truth and Deception
Fill-in-the-Blank Questions
1. The _______________ theory of truth holds that truth is based on objective reality.
2. The ________________ theory of truth says we need to make decisions about what is
true so we can get on with the business of interacting with the real world.
3. The _________________ theory says truth is achieved when our beliefs about
something connect with other beliefs we hold to be true.
4. _______________ _____________________ is the study of the relationship of language,
and what it does to us, and what we do to it.
Answers to fill-in-the-blank questions
1. The “correspondence” theory of truth is tied to the Peirce notion (from Chapter 1) of
tenacity.
2. The journalistic notion of objectivity is based on the correspondence theory of truth.
3. Coherence theories suggest that what is true is what makes the most sense in the real
world.
4. While the world is not limited, our ability to describe it is.
5. A semanticist would say it is appropriate to describe the world in “two–value” terms,
such as “right” or “wrong.”
6. A pragmatist approach to truth assumes that there are varying degrees of truth.
7. To remind us that our words are not the same as the real world, general semanticists
use the phrase “the map is not the territory.”
8. The “truth continuum” argues that non-truths told without intent to deceive are
closer to truth than persuasive speech that uses selective information.
9. News, facts, and truth are the same on the “truth continuum” in the textbook.
10. Most liars and deceivers tend to overestimate the forces that push them to lie,
according to the book Lying: Moral Choice in Public and Private Life.
11. Ethicist Lou Hodges says if a journalist must lie for a greater good, it’s best to pose
in a helper role (such as a doctor or firefighter) in order to do the most good.
Answers to true/false questions
For 1 through 3, match the category of theory of truth with its baseball umpire-related
description.
1. correspondence
2. coherence
3. pragmatic
A. “Some are balls and some are strikes, but they ain’t nothing until I call them.”
B. “Some are balls and some are strikes, and I call them as I see them.”
C. “Some are ball and some are strikes, and I call them as they are.”
4. A coherence theory to the truth can be problematic because:
A. the world cannot be measured.
B. few philosophers buy into this theory.
C. it is more likely to be used by journalists than by public relations practitioners.
D. the theory lets us be sincere in our beliefs—but sincerely wrong when compared to
reality.
E. the utilitarian perspective of truth is missing.
5. Media practitioners should use terms such as “most” instead of “all,” or “nearly
always” instead of “always,” to solve the semantic tendency toward:
A. blurring of abstraction levels.
B. the tendencies toward “allness.”
C. two-valued orientations.
D. the problem of being time-bound.
E. lying to audiences.
6. A justification model to help us decide whether or not to lie was proposed by:
A. Aristotle
B. Sissela Bok
C. William F. Gibbons
D. Immanuel Kant
E. Lawrence Kohlberg
7. Which of these is NOT a step in correct order in a justification model for lying?
A. Looking for an alternative without the use of a lie.
B. Thinking about moral reasons for lying, and counter-arguments.
C. Thinking of two separate examples of lies and settling on the one that will do the
most good or the least harm.
D. Asking what a public of reasonable people would say about the lie.
Answers to multiple choice questions
1. Discuss one of the two justification theories discussed in the textbook. Explain the
steps in the model, and the caveats included with each.
2. Discuss the items in the “truth continuum” presented in the textbook.
3. What are the differences among the correspondence, coherence, and pragmatic
theories of truth? Which one is a journalist more likely to follow? Which one is more
likely for a public relations practitioner?