by Judith Roinich

Created on: July 03, 2007

Is an act either honest or dishonest, must it be either the truth or a lie?

The word dishonesty itself implies deceit, lies and corruption with just a hint of extortion. A dishonest person cannot be trusted. In contrast a person deemed by his peers or society to be honest is virtuous, possesses integrity and usually high moral values. This man can be trusted. There are no grey areas, its black and white. Society functions on this set of beliefs.

Once dishonesty has been divulged, there are credibility issues and consequences to be dealt with. Does this dishonesty affect human decision-making because the very structure of society ultimately depends on the nature and quality of its decisions. Every day ordinary citizens have to make choices in relation to their the work and lifestyle but the consequences of those decisions should only affect a small number of people. However, decisions made by corporations, large organizations and governments have the potential to alter the lives of many, and the requirement to be scrupulously honest in assessing the outcome of their deliberations is vital. Decisions which are influenced by a hidden agenda of personal gain will have no regard for honesty because the truth may not lead those players to their objectives. In some cases the dishonesty may begin as a cover up for an insignificant indiscretion but often escalates as time passes. The situation then becomes more complex and deteriorates as the web of lies continue.

Dishonesty can tug at the very foundations of society - it has the potential to grossly destabilize and ultimately destroy it.
-

Learn more about this author, Judith Roinich.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.