Responsiability of public figures: The speech act of politicians’ promise

Abstract

The paper indicates the importance of publicly spoken word by politicians whose responsiability is greater than the responsiability of ordinary citizens, due to the nature of the work they do. Using examples of the speech acts of promising in the field of politics, the author tries to show when such an act might be considered unethical. This could be the case when promising is used out of habit or without serious intention to fulfill the promise (like, for example, in election campaigns). In those cases, the speech act of promising lacks ?seriousness? and might be considered unethical for several reasons: due to the failure of expectations (according to John Searle), due to misleading, disrespect for dignity, and the like. Guided by John Austin?s theory of performatives, according to which something is promised by the mere utterance of promise, the author tries to show that every speech act of promise spoken publicly can be counted as unethical act under certain circumstances, as well as that politicians- are morally responsiblie for making promises in the public domain.