Proof that Every Sentence can be a Lie

Or a Truth

Robert Thibadeau
LieCatcher
Published in
2 min readMay 20, 2024

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We can prove that every sentence can be a lie by considering the sentence itself and providing a verbal context for its interpretation.

(1) Every sentence can be a lie.

This can be proven true in this way:

Without changing the sentence, we predicate it declaring it is not true:

(2) It is not true that every sentence can be a lie.

But now we can also say, by the same predication operation that:

(3) It is not true that it is not true that every sentence can be a lie.

And find that truthful or interpretable as well. Every sentence can indeed be a lie.

I can also continue the predication as well ad infinitum while retaining the interpretation that this Sentence (1) can be the truth or a lie.

Similarly, I can take the positive form of the original sentence, as in:

(4) Every sentence can be the truth.

(5) It is not true that every sentence can be the truth.

(6) It is not true that it is not…

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Robert Thibadeau
LieCatcher

Carnegie Mellon University since 1979 — Cognitive Science, AI, Machine Learning, one of the founding Directors of the Robotics Institute. rht@brightplaza.com