Every schoolchild has heard the thought experiment: If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it,does it make a sound?
I was thinking about this with regards to 'POTUS' DJT's incessant lying. With any lie, there are two participants - the liar and the recipient. Does the intent of the liar or perception of the recipient change the value or intent of the lie? For the U.S., this is not merely a thought experiment. The answer will have broad and long lasting implications for the future of the country, especially in regards to Constitutional rights, freedom of press/speech and transparency.
If a lie is told by someone without the intent of lying, is
it a lie? [American press tends to say no. The intent of the liar is more relevant than correcting the lie for the sake of viewers.]
If every pronouncement is presumed to be a lie, is it a lie? [In some respects, this is fiction... But we are currently living under a president who seemingly cannot utter a truthful statement.]
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