Vowstruthtelling

Vowstruthtelling is a term used in ethics and rhetoric to describe a normative practice in which individuals commit themselves to truth-telling as a core component of vows, promises, or public statements. It emphasizes consistency between claimed beliefs and conveyed information, and treats honesty as a foundational element of vow-making rather than a contingent virtue.

The term is a neologism formed from vow, truth, and telling and has appeared in contemporary discussions of speech ethics and philosophy of language. It is typically debated as a principle that guides how people disclose information in binding commitments, as well as how they disclose uncertainties or limits to what they assert.

In practical terms, vowstruthtelling encourages speakers to avoid deliberate misrepresentation when swearing or promising, to reveal relevant uncertainties, and to correct false or misleading statements promptly. In professional contexts, it intersects with codes of conduct, oath-taking, and the obligations of clients, patients, or citizens to know or be told the truth about risks, outcomes, or policies.

Scholarly debates around vowstruthtelling address tensions between absolute truth-telling and other duties such as privacy, strategic persuasion, or social harmony. Supporters argue that it promotes accountability and trust, while critics warn that rigid adherence to truth-telling can backfire in situations requiring tact, discretion, or safeguarding information.