What is the ethical explanation of lying?

Answer 1

When the higher duty calls for the salving of feelings. However, there ARE lies that must revealed, regardless.

Answer 2

I believe, Marko F, just offered you an elegant argument in favor of a "white lie". But, I still say: a lie is a lie; no matter how you cut it. What do you ultimately gain, for instance, by denying your own ethnicity, just to "live" to be the cowardly witness to the horrible fate of your fellow human beings (Jewish or otherwise)? Yes, there are definite evolutionary / self-preserving advantages to lies and deceitful conducts; they certainly would NOT have been employed in the manifold self-interest cauldron of the human experience, otherwise. Still, the ethical argument must always center around the HOPE that there will eventually come a "human moment" beyond our tunnel self-preservation / procreation vision, where an altogether higher perception of reality shall prevail. ... There have been countless examples of true courage and peaceful martyrdom in the history of humanity - it's just that most of us haven't caught up with the illuminated ones yet.


-.- Are you answering the question, or chatting with MY answer? ... Besides, what do YOU know about ethics - you merely live for revenge (according to your own confession)? LOL

Answer 3

There are times when lying is the best possible alternative from a survival, and, therefore, from an ethical standpoint if you believe survival to be a virtuous goal. Let me cite an example of what I mean, making use of a story that comes from humor actually used during the Holocaust.

Goebbels was touring German schools. At one, he asked the students to call out patriotic slogans.
"Heil Hitler," shouted one child.
"Very good," said Goebbels.
"Deutschland über alles," another called out.
"Excellent. How about a stronger slogan?"
A hand shot up, and Goebbels nodded.
"Our people shall live forever," the little boy said.
"Wonderful," exclaimed Goebbels. "What is your name, young man?"
"Israel Goldberg."

See. Now the better answer there would have been, "Maximilian Schloss." Even if it were a lie.

Answer 4

Lying is "Prime Time" and Ethical is "Comedies".

Ethical is the principles of life..Lying is the behavior.

They do not go together by any means...A lie is a lie..

Answer 5

Prefering the benefits of a necessary action rather than the consequence of the right one.

Answer 6

[ЭΩ∞], peaceful martyrdom is retarded.

If everyone had to take a lie detector test and fail it to survive, the truth martyrs would all be dead.

When truth violates life, it stops being true.

To make it clear, if one person had to lie to save 6 billion people, and he chose to tell the truth, he would martyr us all for a principle and "truth" as such would cease to exist.

Answer 7

Not telling the truth

Answer 8

I'm not sure, but if you ask 100 different politicians you will get 100 different answers.

Answer 9

so u don't have to tell the truth

Answer 10

"it was for your own good."