A false statement is a statement that can be either willfully or unknowingly untrue. Though "fallacy" is often used as a synonym for "false statement" this is not what is meant by "fallacy" in logic or most formal contexts.

A false statement need not be a lie. A lie is a statement that is known to be untrue and is used to mislead. A false statement is a statement that is untrue but not necessarily told to mislead, as a statement given by someone who does not know it is untrue.

Examples of false statements

• A Misleading Statement (Lie): John told his little brother that sea otters aren't mammals, but fish, even though John himself was a marine biologist and knew otherwise. John simply wanted to see his little brother fail his class report, in order to teach him to begin projects early, which help him develop skills necessary to succeed in life
• A Statement Made Out Of Ignorance: James, John's brother, stated in his class report that sea otters were fish. James got an F after his teacher pointed out why that statement was false. James did not know that sea otters were in fact mammals because he heard that sea otters were fish from his older brother John, a marine biologist.

In Law

In some jurisdictions, false statement is a crime similar to perjury.

In U.S. law, a "false statement" generally refers to the United States federal false statements statute, contained in 18 U.S.C. Section 1001. ^[1] This statute is used in many contexts. Most commonly, prosecutors use this statute to reach (1) cover-up crimes such as perjury, false declarations, and obstruction of justice; and (2) in government fraud cases. ^[2]

The statute criminalizes one who "knowingly and willfully":

(1) falsifies, conceals, or covers up by any trick, scheme, or device a material fact;
(2) makes any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation; or
(3) makes or uses any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry.

References

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