The Four-Way Test

The Four-Way Test is a nonpartisan and nonsectarian ethical guide for Rotarians to use for their personal and professional relationships. The test has been translated into more than 100 languages, and Rotarians recite it at club meetings:

Of the things we think, say or do:

1. Is it the TRUTH?2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?3. Will it build GOODWILL and

BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all

concerned?

We value truth telling, but sometimes it’s hard.

Why?

Research suggests our emotions and intuitions focus on protecting our worldview and personal identity rather than updating our beliefs based on the most accurate information.

Oxford Dictionary 2016 word of the year: post-truth

“circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief.”

“Tragedy of the Commons.”

A well-known tragedy of the commons is pollution: we all gain from clean air and water, but some individual polluters gain more, at least in the short term, by polluting the environment, harming all of us.

Similarly, we all benefit from a society where we can trust each other to tell the truth, but some individuals gain more, in the short term, by abusing this trust and polluting the truth.

Fortunately, the environmental movement of the 1970s has now resulted in a situation where many people started recycling and our society passed environmental legislation.

In the same way, we can change individual behavior and public policy alike to be more oriented toward the truth through the Pro-Truth Movement, and the Pro-Truth Pledge is one aspect of this movement to help fight deception.

What if we could readjust and practice rational thinking and decision making?

What does it really mean to tell the truth?

SHARE THE TRUTH

SacrificeBalanceClarifySourceVerify

HONOR THE TRUTH

AcknowledgeRetractDefendAlign

ENCOURAGE THE TRUTH

Request RetractionsChallengeRespect ExpertiseCelebrate Updating

How might we benefit if our community leaders committed to being truthful?

Truth is a value that has the power to include diverse populations and provide an opportunity for collaboration.

That is the future we imagine.

The Pro-Truth Pledge, created by a group of behavioral scientists, and led by Dr. Gleb Tsipursky, combines all of these strategies. By doing so, it provides a tool that motivates all who take it to share accurate information and avoid sharing misinformation.

I Pledge to Share, Honor,

and EncourageThe Truth

Thank you for all you do and the example you set as individuals, parents, business and community

leaders.