The Honesty Crisis: Preserving Our Most Treasured Virtue in an Increasingly Dishonest World | Dr. Christian Miller

What happens to our character when being dishonest becomes easier and more rewarding than ever before? Wake Forest University philosophy professor Dr. Christian Miller joins host PJ Wehry to discuss the "honesty crisis" and how modern technology reshapes our most fundamental virtue. Dr. Miller explores the findings of The Honesty Project and his book The Honesty Crisis: Preserving Our Most Treasured Virtue in an Increasingly Dishonest World. They examine the psychological and philosophical boundaries of honesty to reveal how motivation is just as important as truth-telling. In this conversation they explore: Why honesty requires more than just accurate behavior and must include selfless or dutiful motivations. The flaws of a "mixed bag" character where people act honestly in some settings but reliably cheat in others. How the rise of AI and the internet created a "double-fold" crisis by increasing the incentives to lie while making it easier to avoid detection.The specific moral dangers of sermon plagiarism and why using AI to generate religious messages compromises the integrity of the speaker.Why celebrity culture creates a negative feedback loop that encourages protecting a public image through deception. Practical strategies for maintaining honesty through community accountability and frequent moral reminders. This is a conversation for anyone interested in psychology and ethics who wants to understand the hidden forces eroding our integrity and how to build a more honest life. Make sure to check out Dr. Miller's book: The Honesty Crisis: Preserving Our Most Treasured Virtue in an Increasingly Dishonest World 👉 https://a.co/d/03WsKT5YCheck out our website at chasingleviathan.com Who thinks that they can subdue Leviathan? Strength resides in its neck; dismay goes before it. When it rises up, the mighty are terrified. Nothing on earth is its equal. It is without fear. It looks down on all who are haughty; it is king over all who are proud. These words inspired PJ Wehry to create Chasing Leviathan. Chasing Leviathan was born out of two ideals: that truth is worth pursuing but will never be subjugated, and the discipline of listening is one of the most important habits anyone can develop.Timestamps0:00 Introducing Dr. Christian Miller2:06 Honesty: Beyond Simply Not Lying9:03 How Philosophy and Psychology Research Honesty Together16:01 Six Honesty Crisis Case Studies Driven by Technology19:26 What Makes Sermon Plagiarism Dishonest30:00 When Executives and Professionals Secretly Outsource Thinking to AI39:07 Turning AI-Generated Sermons Into Books and Prestige41:34 How Celebrity Status Directly Incentivizes Lying and Spin45:57 Lance Armstrong, Coverups, and Protecting a Public Image52:28 Can We Realistically Stop Student Cheating With AI54:48 Deepfakes, Accountability, and Rebuilding Honest Character Today