Part VIII. On the Eighth Precept of the Decalogue

¶1.

The eighth precept declares: "You shall not speak false testimony against your neighbor";¹ it therefore prohibits a lie by which the neighbor's reputation is injured. It is extended by some to every injury which is inflicted on the neighbor by words or by equivalent signs. Whatever the case may be, at least because of the connection of the matter, we shall speak: 1° of the injury of truth, or of lying; 2° of the injury of reputation, or of detraction; 3° of the injury of honor, or of insult; 4° of the injury of secrecy.

¹ Exod. XX, 16.

The Eighth Commandment

Within this part

Section I. On the Injury of Truth, or on Lyingnn. 1062–1065
Section II. On the Injury of Reputationnn. 1066–1079
- Chapter I. On Detractionnn. 1066–1075
  - Article I. On the Notion, Division, and Morality of Detractionnn. 1066–1069
  - Article II. On Causes Excusing Detractionn. 1070
  - Article III. On Restitution on Account of Detractionnn. 1071–1074
  - Article IV. On the One Hearing Detractionn. 1075
- Chapter II. On Rash Judgment, Opinion, and Doubtnn. 1076–1079
  - Scholion. On Whisperingnn. 1078–1079
Section III. On the Injury of Honor, or on Insultnn. 1080–1086
- Scholion. On Derisionnn. 1084–1086
Section IV. On Injury of a Secretnn. 1087–1091