Without going into the argument about whether lying is intrinsically wrong,
there are utilitarian reasons why environmentalists should tell the truth.
If we are found out lying or exagerating, people will lose confidence in us
and this will give ammunition to those who wish to discredit us.
As an example, Jim mentioned E.O. Wilson's article in "science" stating
that the extinction rate is "only" 4000 per year and not 10000. Personally
I think 4000 is still horrifyingly high, and it would make no difference to
me whether I accepted the lower or higher figure. I have always believed
Wilson's figure of 10000 because he is a scientific authority. However, I
will check out the "science" reference, and if what Jim says is correct,
then I will never trust Wilson again. His lying or exageration has had the
opposite effect to the one he intended. If he lied about the higher figure,
how do I know that his lower figure is not also an exageration?
Michael Morris
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