2006-10-24 04:01:17 · 16 answers · asked by Orditz 3 in Social Science ➔ Other - Social Science
Good question...very thought-provoking.
To me, there's a difference between a "lie" and an "untruth".
Telling something that is untrue, but that you honestly BELIEVE to be true is merely telling an "untruth".
Telling something that is untrue that you KNOW is untrue is a "lie".
To me, in order for an untrue statement to be a "lie", the person telling it must KNOW it is untrue, and have the intent to deceive or mislead.
Just one man's opinion, based on college philosophy classes.
This also begs the question: Is it then possible to tell a lie that is actually true?
For example: I see you walk into a room that I know has only one door. Unknown to me, you slip out the window. Someone comes and asks me if you are in that room. I honestly believe that you are...since I saw you walk in and haven't seen you walk back out the only door...but I want to lie to this person, so I say, "NO...they're not in there".
I have told the truth...you're NOT in there...but I intended to tell a lie. Was I actually lying?
Kinda like the old philosophy conundrum:
A loving mother gave her baby poison, but she actually thought it was medicine that would cure it. The baby died.
A bad mother gave her baby medicine that she thought was poison, wanting to kill it. Instead, the medicine cured the baby. Which one...if either...committed murder?
2006-10-24 04:17:44 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
How does the person know it's a lie - going by the first sentence in your question. Did someone tell the person he/she just told a lie? In which case, of course, the person knew.
That's like asking 'if a tree fell in the forest and there's no one around to hear it, did it make any noise?'
2006-10-24 04:10:55 · answer #2 · answered by theophilus 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A lie is only a lie if you believe you are lieing. Check with Webster. If you believe you are telling the truth it is truth, although incorrect, but not a lie. It's almost like an opinoin at that point.
2006-10-24 04:11:07 · answer #3 · answered by Peter P 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You said if some one tells a "lie", then in this case it is known to be a lie and nothing more.
2006-10-24 04:04:15 · answer #4 · answered by omandyyy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes... a lie is a lie. It may be a lie they don't believe in...lol. But it's still a lie
2006-10-24 04:10:03 · answer #5 · answered by svmainus 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. If the person who is speaking genuinely and truthfully believes what he/she is saying to be accurate 100%---it is not a lie. They may be WRONG, but they are not lying.
Lying is knowingly saying something false.
2006-10-24 04:03:03 · answer #6 · answered by Ralley 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I agree with Railey and Anne B. There is a difference between lying and being misinformed. Lying is an intentional act of deception. Saying something with misinformation is an unintentional act of ignorance.
2006-10-24 04:12:41 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
no a lie is something you know is not true but you say it anyway
2006-10-24 05:33:33 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Intentionally it's not a lie; but we may call it a FALSE STATEMENT.
Kamil Duruca
2006-10-24 04:41:36 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Of course they are not lying at that moment...they believe it to be true..so they are just misinformed and wrong...there is a big difference between lying and being misinformed...lying is when you KNOW it is not true but say it anyway...
2006-10-24 04:08:03 · answer #10 · answered by Anne B 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋