Honest, True, or Authentic? (They're Not the Same Thing)

Honest, True, or Authentic? (They're Not the Same Thing)

Author: Gwendolyn Dolske, PhD & Rudy Salo | Philosophy & Education Podcast August 19, 2026 Duration: 48:33

Honesty might be the character trait we claim to value most, but what does it actually mean to be honest, and how is that different from simply telling the truth, or "being authentic"?

Philosopher Christian Miller, author of The Honesty Crisis, joins us to untangle these distinctions and make the case that honesty is eroding faster than we realize, from deepfakes and AI-written schoolwork to the quiet ways social media rewards dishonesty that flatters our own side.

We dig into virtue ethics and what it actually takes to be an honest person in practice, not just in principle, including a great real-world case study from Rudy's own world of contract law, where the professional "rule" is to draft every agreement in your client's favor while staying strictly honest. That tension opens up a bigger conversation about whether honesty is ever context-dependent, and what that means for how we behave online, where the rules, and the witnesses, are different.

Before the interview, Gwen and Rudy also talk through a few legal questions raised by the ongoing Lindsay Clancy trial, which has drawn significant public attention. It's less about the case itself and more about the exercise: using tools from past episodes on misinformation, conspiracy thinking, and justice to think more critically about how a case like this gets covered; which is, at its core, exactly what this podcast is for.

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Learn more about Professor Miller's work: ChristianbMiller.com 


Hosted by Gwendolyn Dolske, Ph.D., and Rudy Salo, Good Is In The Details operates on the belief that the most profound insights are often hidden in plain sight, waiting to be unpacked. This philosophy and education podcast doesn't just skim the surface of big topics; it lingers there, examining the nuances of how we think, learn, and ultimately live our lives. You'll hear thoughtful, meandering conversations with scholars, authors, and practitioners from diverse fields, all centered on how ideas from ethics, culture, and critical thinking intersect with our daily realities. The hosts have a knack for breaking down complex academic concepts without losing their depth, making each episode feel like an engaging seminar you can enjoy on a walk or during your commute. Rather than offering easy answers, this podcast provides the tools and perspectives to ask better questions, finding the substance in the subtleties that we often overlook. It’s for anyone who believes that understanding the framework of an argument or the history of a thought is just as important as the conclusion. Tune in for a consistently thoughtful exploration of the books, theories, and cultural forces that quietly shape our world.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Good Is In The Details
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