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A Theory of Truth in Autobiography

Author

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  • JAMES M. BUCHANAN
  • ROBERT D. TOLLISON
Abstract
The ‘truth’ in autobiography depends on the observable historical record of a person's life. The less attractive the observed life, the more ‘truthful’ is the autobiography. This result does not require differential standards of honesty among autobiographers. It does depend on the presupposition that there exists a common value scale along which lives may be judged, and upon the common directional bias toward the ‘good’ in all autobiography. Die «Wahrheit» von Autobiographien hängt davon ab, inwiefern das Leben einer Person historisch beobachtbar und dokumentiert ist. Je weniger attraktiv das beobachtbare Leben ist, desto näher liegt die Autobiographie bei der Wahrheit. Dieses Ergebnis resultiert nicht aus unterschiedlichen Ehrlichkeitsstandards von Autobiographien. Vielmehr hängt es von der Annahme ab, dass es eine allgemeine Wertskala gibt, mit welcher die Leben bewertet werden können, und vom generellen Ausmass der «Beschönigung» in Autobiographien. La «vérité» dans les autobiographies dépend des traces historiques observables que laisse la vie d'une personne. Moins la vie observée d'une personne est séduisante, plus l'autobiographie est véridique. Cette conclusion ne résulte pas d'une quelconque différence d'honnêteté entre ceux qui écrivent leur vie. Elle découle de l'hypothése qu'il existe une échelle de valeur commune à laquelle il est possible de juger les vies. Elle provient aussi d'un biais systématique et partagé par toutes les autobiographies, selon lequel chacun cherche à ne garder que le «bon».

Suggested Citation

  • James M. Buchanan & Robert D. Tollison, 1986. "A Theory of Truth in Autobiography," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 39(4), pages 507-517, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:kyklos:v:39:y:1986:i:4:p:507-517
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-6435.1986.tb00675.x
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