 ラッセル関係電子書籍一覧 |
It does not at first occur to a young child that it is possible to lie. The possibility of lying is a discovery, due to observation of grown-ups quickened by terror.
Source: On Education, especially in early childhood, 1926, by Bertrand Russell
More info.: https://russell-j.com/beginner/OE08-020.HTM
a brief comment
Young children are honest and straightforward. However, when they frequently witness adults telling lies or hiding the truth, their own behavior can begin to change. In particular, if they observe adults they like occasionally telling small lies, children may also start telling lies from time to time. If the person they lie to is a parent, it usually does not cause serious problems, because the child is simply gently corrected out of love. But when the person is someone else, lies can sometimes lead to serious consequences.
Let us now turn our attention to the adult world. Under indirect democracy, particularly in parliamentary democracies, it is often said that "words are a politician's lifeblood." Yet, at the same time, those in power are sometimes mocked with the remark that "they never tell small lies, but they tell big lies without hesitation."
Why, then, are politicians so often prone to lying? Childhood education and upbringing within the family may play a role. Especially in the case of second- or third-generation politicians, it is not uncommon for children to witness their parents or grandparents lying frequently and learn that "lying is a useful tool in politics."
Even in the case of state secrets, democratic principles require that official documents be made public once the non-disclosure period expires. As a result, it often becomes clear that government leaders have lied to the public. However, by the time this happens, the politicians involved are usually either deceased or have retired from politics. These circumstances may contribute to their sense that lying is permissible. The public, in turn, tends to be surprisingly tolerant of past actions.
ラッセル関係電子書籍一覧
#Bertrand_Russell