Overview

Many people (both philosophers and not) find it very natural to think that deceiving someone in a way that avoids lying--by merely misleading--is morally preferable to simply lying. Others think that this preference is deeply misguided. But all sides agree that there is a distinction. In Lying, Misleading, and What is Said, Jennifer Saul undertakes a close examination of the lying/misleading distinction. Saul begins by using this very intuitive distinction to shed new light on entrenched debates in philosophy of language over notions like what is said. Next, she tackles the puzzling but widespread moral preference for misleading over lying, and arrives at a new view regarding the moral significance of the distinction. Finally, Saul draws her conclusions together to examine a range of historically important and interesting cases, from a consideration of modern politicians to the early Jesuits.

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9780199603688

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Reviews

Saul's writing is clear and lively, presenting theoretical notions and debates in a manner that should be accessible to readers from a variety of backgrounds ... makes real progress on some important philosophical questions, and is an entertaining and rewarding to boot. Ishani Maitra, Times Higher Education

To provide a proper analysis of lying, Saul will have to find some way of accommodating the fact that we always disbelieve what we say. Who knows how she might do it. But, given the dexterity with which she handles the matters addressed in Lying, I wouldnt bet against her. Jamie Whyte, The Philosophical Quarterly In this excellent and enjoyable book, Jennifer Saul explores issues at the convergence of the philosophy of language and ethics. Her book is an excellent addition to a growing literature of what might be considered applied philosophy of language... a rewarding read that is sure to provoke interesting dialogue about how to define lying, our notions of what is said, and the moral difference between lying and misleading. Luvell Anderson, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews Analytic philosophy of language is rightly admired for its clarity, logical acumen and attention to subtle linguistic detail. Too few of us, however, pursue the connections between philosophy of language on the one hand, and issues in value theory on the other. Fewer still attempt to shed light on problems in the philosophy of language by drawing on ethics. Jennifer Saul, a leading voice among traditionalists, attempts just this in her latest book ... In our view, Sauls experiment is a smashing success. It has been years since we read such a pioneering and stimulating book in our sub-field. Melissa MacAulay and Robert J. Stainton, Philosophy in Review Saul's writing is clear and lively, presenting theoretical notions and debates in a manner that should be accessible to readers from a variety of backgrounds ... makes real progress on some important philosophical questions, and is an entertaining and rewarding to boot. Ishani Maitra, Times Higher Education

Author Information

Jennifer Saul is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Sheffield. She works in Philosophy of Language, Feminist Philosophy and Philosophy of Psychology. She is especially interested in finding ways that philosophical debates (like that over what is said) connect up with real-world concerns (like lying and misleading). And she likes nothing better than an excuse to discuss political scandals in great detail. She is also the author of Simple Sentences, Substitution, and Intuitions (Oxford University Press 2007) and Feminism: Issues and Arguments (Oxford University press 2003). She is Director of the Implicit Bias and Philosophy Research Network.

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