Lies and Fake News
A Kantian Approach
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5380/dp.v22i3.100750Abstract
This article explores the contributions of Kantian philosophy to contemporary debates on information disorders, with a focus on fake news. It begins with Kant’s definition of lying, emphasizing the conditions of declaration, untruthfulness, and intentionality as fundamental criteria for distinguishing misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation. The article argues that, unlike approaches centered on the medium of dissemination, these Kantian criteria offer a more precise delimitation of the concept of fake news. It then develops a critical analysis of Kant’s definition of lying within the framework of Doctrine of Right, highlighting the distinction between private law, which protects individual rights, and public law, which safeguards the rights of humanity and social trust—the foundation of the civil pact. The article concludes that the integration of these criteria provides a robust theoretical framework for critically understanding fake news and related information disturbances, contributing to ethical and legal discussions on legitimacy and responsibility in the public sphere.
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