Lying versus misleading, with language and pictures: the adverbial account

We intuitively make a distinction between lying and misleading. On the explanation of this phenomenon favored here-the adverbial account-the distinction tracks whether the content and its truth-committing force are literally conveyed. On an alternative commitment account, the difference between lying and misleading is predicated instead on the strength of assertoric commitment. One lies when one presents with full assertoric commitment what one believes to be false; one merely misleads when one presents it without full assertoric commitment, by merely hinting or otherwise implying it. Now, as predicted by the well-supported assumption that we can also assert with pictures, the lying/misleading distinction appears to intuitively show up there too. Here I'll explain how the debate confronting the two accounts plays out both in general and in that case, aiming to provide support for the adverbial account.

Automated summary

We can distinguish between lying and misleading based on whether the content and its truth-committing force are literally conveyed or not. Lying involves presenting false information with full assertoric commitment, while misleading involves presenting it without full assertoric commitment, through hints or implications. The distinction also applies to asserting with pictures. This article aims to explain and provide support for the adverbial account by examining the debate between the two accounts.