"Biggest Lies in History" Topic

"According to myth, a young George Washington confessed to cutting down a cherry tree by proclaiming, "I cannot tell a lie." The story is testament to how much respect Americans have for their cherished first president and honesty in general. Unfortunately, in the annals of history it seems there are 10 dishonest scoundrels for every honorable hero like Washington.

Supposedly, the truth can set you free. But for many, deceit holds the key to money, fame, revenge or power, and these prove all too tempting. In history, this has often resulted in elaborate hoaxes, perjuries, and forgeries that had enormous ripple effects…"
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Amicalement
Armand

Five steps forward then four steps backwards; it's the human way. We eventually get to the truth. I too once believed that Columbus discovered that the world was round; and only many years later leaned that the ancient Greeks proved that the Earth was round through mathematics.

"The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing." – Socrates

(smile)

Amicalement
Armand

Certainly debatable. Nazi propaganda and the Dreyfus affair would make it on my list, but nothing of the other stuff.

Sheer audacity would imho put the "baby incubator" story that helped to kindle the first Gulf war up as a candidate.

Better yet the "contemptible little army", a sleight that certainly made many an honest Tommy give his best to show the dastardly Huns – when in fact the term is a purely British propaganda fabrication.

@USAFpilot
"The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing." – Socrates

Wouldn't this be the polar opposite to Dunning-Krueger?

If this is the case I must be bloody genius!

The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing

The Socratic quote is an oxymoron and was probably used by Plato for it's hyperbolic effect. It's an example of a self-referential paradox.

On the other hand, Dunning-Kruger says that people who are competent in a subject have the cognitive abilities to see the extent of their competency.

So D-K may have it as:

"The only true wisdom is knowing the limitations of your knowledge".

That's not the same as knowing nothing.

@Bowman

Apparently my self-deprecating and sarcastic wit is not appreciated here.