This book develops a new, realistic, and powerful conception of trust that allows for the analysis and design of any trust relationships. It is demonstrated that trust always relates to restrictions on freedom, is conditional, and that the pretense of trustworthiness is widespread. This conception of trust is derived from in-depth investigations of relevant phenomena and an intensive engagement with the pertinent literature. As a result, it is possible to understand trust-based social relationships better than before. By incorporating a theory of signs, this conception possesses characteristics of an epistemology of social relationships.