Truth in Public Life

How can we speak of truth in an era of lazy assertions and unstable facts? We must, these intelligent essays implore us. Discovering the truth and, indeed, telling it are vital if we are to enjoy a civilised society in which everyone is free to flourish.

Vernon White shows that absolute truth exists and explains why and how it matters morally, while Stephen Lamport describes why truth is important to sustaining civilised society and argues that truth is central to other essential, human qualities. Finally, in her contribution, Claire Foster-Gilbert explores the challenges of truth-telling for public servants: for politicians, who are routinely not believed; for civil servants, whose ministers may only want to hear those facts tht support their policy ideas; for journalists, tempted to tell the story that is ‘too good to check’; and for judges, police officers – even us.