University of Virginia Library

Rid The Notion

Accordingly, this Honor System
does not define a lie as an untruth.
In this regard the system comports
with my own belief that we had
better get rid of the notion that a
lie is saying something untrue, and
adopt the notion that a lie is saying
something untrue hoping that
someone will rely on that to their
harm and to your benefit.

Turning away from the moral
justification, I would like to address
my remarks to what I call the
idealistic justification. Simply put,
the Honor System creates a sense of
community and mutual trust at the
University of Virginia in which each
individual can develop his potential
to the fullest. A university must
provide its students with an
environment in which they can
develop themselves in any way they
see fit without outside interference.
I think that as you go through this
institution you will find that the
University of Virginia has, relative
to other universities in this country,
a unique sense of community. The
sense of community here is
exemplified by the easy interchange
of ideas among you and your follow
students, and between the students
and the faculty; I think the Honor
System does a great deal to
promote that.