Truth and lies

[Xamonas Chegwé]

Surely, calling something a 'lie' implies a deliberate attempt to deceive?

If I had met John but had no knowledge of his twin brother Jack, I might claim to have seen John kissing a woman other than his wife, being unaware of the fact that I actually saw Jack kissing his wife. But I wouldn't be lying, merely mistaken. The statement would be just as untrue in either case.

And what if I did know of Jack's existence, and had deliberately said that I had seen John kissing Jack's wife with malicious intent? But what if it really was John kissing Jacks wife and I had just assumed it was Jack? I would then be trying to lie but actually telling the truth, wouldn't I?

If this sort of logical conundrum interests you, I can recommend reading the books of Raymond Smullyan.