Ethics of a HalfTruth The Foundation of Democracy

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Ethics of a Half-TruthThe Foundation of Democracy

• By Donald Bressler, Matt Moore

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Political Advertisements

• Found in all media
• Large part of our society
• Easy way of communication
• Display particular views
• Represent our nation and its government
• Only source of information
• Have the potential to persuade

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Ad in Question

• Put out by the Bush admin.
• During the Olympics
• Full of half truths

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Argument

• It is unethical for the president of a democracy
  to use half truths and loaded terms

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Democracy

• People are supreme
• Obligations among people to communicate
• Equality of opportunity for all to grow
• Freedoms
• All built on the truthfulness of the presenter

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Truthfulness

• Truth vs Truthfulness
• A commitment
• Based on a matter of faith
• To the audience from the speaker
• To the best of their knowledge
• Devoid of personal biases
• Without restrictions or distortions

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Necessity of Truth

• Therefore, it is essential for a speaker in a
  democratic society to fulfill their commitment to
  be truthfulness concerning the information they
  are providing the public in order to up hold the
  values that make up the very fabric of our
  democracy

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Analysis

• Standard of Accuracy
• Can not tolerate restriction or distortion
• Half-Truth
• Afghanistan
• Iraq
• Unethical
• undemocratic

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Conclusion

• A Leader of a democracy
• unethical
• If the commitment is not fulfilled
• As the audience