Whereas we make assertions about a world as it already exists for us, when we make a declaration, we seek to bring forth something new in the world. Whereas assertions relate to the past (the exception being pending assertions), declarations are future focused. It is the linguistic act of declaration that allows us to play a part in the design of our future.
Examples of declarations include:
- “I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
- “You are guilty.”
- “I am resigning from my job as of today.”
- “I want to go to the movies.”
- “Let all men know that this is sacred ground.”
Each of these statements creates or seeks to create a new reality. The first creates the social contract of a marriage and from the moment of the declaration, the two people involved live in a different sort of relationship. The second declaration brings with it the consequences of guilt and possibly punishment. The third declaration sets in train a series of events for both the individual resigning and the company from which he or she has resigned. The fourth declaration speaks to the expression of a desire for the future. The fifth declaration defines the sacredness of a piece of ground.
By their nature, declarations create a context for the future. When President Kennedy, with the authority of a US President, declared the United States would put a man on the moon before the end of the decade, he put the identity of his country at stake. The United States would now be assessed in the context of his declaration. So, it is for all of us. Whenever, we make a public declaration, as with any speaking, we put our identity up to be defined or redefined.
For instance, if I declare to my friends that in the next three months, I will lose 5kgs in weight, they will judge me based on how well my declaration is fulfilled. This is important distinction. We all make declarations and we can choose whether to make those declarations only to ourselves or share them with others. By keeping our declarations to ourselves, we do not create a context for others regarding that declaration. People will not know what we are seeking to achieve. If we share our declarations with others, we put our identity at greater risk, but we also provide ourselves with a greater chance of bringing our declaration into being through the opportunity that others will support us in fulfilling our declaration. This chance is further enhanced if we can gain specific promises of support from those people.
Let us look at this through an example where I declare I want to have a healthier weight much lower than what it is currently. I could keep this declaration to myself and no-one would ever know what I was attempting. I might aim to eat a healthier diet and exercise more, believing that will be enough. However, my friends know I love chocolate and other foods I might want to avoid, and so they will still offer them to me putting temptation in my way and possibly undermining my attempts find a healthier weight. However, if I make a declaration to others and ask for their help, they may assist me in fulfilling my declaration by not tempting me with certain foods and supporting me should I look like wavering. From this perspective, our public declarations are more likely to generate change than our private ones.
Whereas an assertion is distinguished by being true or false supported by acceptable evidence, a declaration is based on the authority the community and the listener gives the speaker. “I now pronounce you husband and wife” is only relevant to two people wanting to get married if the person speaking is a priest, celebrant or other person with the authority vested by a society to declare marriages. Hence a declaration is not true or false but rather valid or invalid depending on the authority given the speaker. This is a critical distinction as authority plays a pivotal role in our relationships and in defining how we see ourselves and others. The topic of authority will be explored in more depth in the document, ‘Relationships’.
A sincere declaration is initially made by someone who believes to varying degrees he or she has the authority to make that declaration. However, if the declaration involves others, then it is only valid for those others when they give authority to the speaker. Hence making a valid declaration can be looked at in this way:
- The speaker believes they have or will be given the authority to make the declaration
- The speaker makes the declaration
- Others validate (accept) the declaration, granting the speaker authority
As these steps fall on a timeline there can be a gap between each of them. With the gap between steps two and three, there is a period of time where the declaration is neither valid nor invalid, rather it is pending until the listener grants authority or not. For example, I might send you an e-mail saying that I have accepted an invitation for both of us to go to a party tonight. Until you respond to my declaration in some way, I do not know whether you have accepted this decision or not and therefore I am not sure whether my declaration has been validated by you and whether you will come to the party with me. Until you respond to my declaration, I would be unwise to commit to other actions such as hiring a limousine. Only in your response is my declaration of acceptance for both of us validated.
