Is withholding information the same a lying?

Answer 1

It depends on how you are using the question. Philosophical, or legal... Thus, you will get a variety of perspectives, practices, and opinions.

I would argue that legally, both can be crimes. There are instances when laws specifically require a duty or action. For instance, if a child is being endangered, social workers, teachers, and others in certain positions are required to report it. In instances such as this, an act of omission is as bad as an act of commission.
In senate investigations, people testifying can be held in contempt if they withhold information, just as much as lying. However, the government also constantly withholds information from the people; noone accuses them of lying.

A church website comments that, "There are times when we have a moral obligation to withhold truth from someone - such as when a person is not an authority over us, and has no legitimate right to the information. But withholding information is not the same as lying about it."

Basically I would have to say that in a legal situation, the specific law would have to be consulted to see if it details acts of omission/witholding. In ethics, I would have to examine the situation. There is not a pat answer ethically, but must be determined on a case by case basis.

Answer 2

The question is not clear.

It is not the same as lying if I have a RIGHT to withhold information. If someone asks a soldier a question, about a classified document, for example, he may have a right to withhold information.

Or, the person may be under a duty to remain silent (such as a lawyer, or physician or clergyman, who all have a legal privilege to refuse to divulge what someone has told them in confidence. )

But, if I don't speak, or only tell a partial truth, it may be the same as lying if the hearer relies on the speaker.

All of us may be guilty of withholding information about ourselves to , parents, children, spouses, friends, lovers. IS that "lying" ?

Perhaps sometimes those closest to us could not bear to know ALL about us ! As the character of the Marine colonel played by Jack Nicholson in "A Few Good Men" yells on the witness stand to the attorney played by Tom Cruise, ......"You can't handle the truth ! " Maybe we don't want our boyfriend or girlfriend to know ALL about our prior lovers . Some things may be better left unsaid.

Interersting question. You know, there is no one answer.

Answer 3

no- obviously not, by withholding information your are in effect saying nothing, if you speak an untruth then that is a lie. example- if i ask you what color the white wall is and you respond by saying you don't know-well that is withholding information- i can only assume that you know the truth but choose to say nothing, if i ask the same question and you answer green, well you have blatantly offered information that is patently false and so a lie.look in a court of law or criminal investigation this line is not so clear cut but for the purpose of this question the difference should be obvious.

Answer 4

Withholding information is not lying because the person is just keeping silent since telling the truth might incriminate himself especially when it is concerning legal matters.

Answer 5

No with holding information is not lying ,no law in the world has the right to make a person supply information if the person does not want .What about (human rights).To extract or force a person to divulge information is illegal under international human rights act and it applys to all people in every country .

Answer 6

Yes. Check out income tax laws for one good example.
Telling your child certain things, like Santa Claus exists or how babies come from the cabbage patch is lying, but it is a lie that is not for personal gain and probably is not as serious as some of the other examples.

Answer 7

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Answer 8

Not exactly. If you withhold information, it means you know something you didn't tell.
lying would be to give informationknowing it was false.

Answer 9

Well, if you have to ask this question; you probably know the answer.
In legal circumstances the area is pretty open. Technically if you are not asked you don't have to answer. However, if you listen to your conscience (and the circumstance is in a different area) you may want to rethink you decision.

Only you can answer the question Hope I could help.

Answer 10

I concur with Karielynn. This answere is meant to correct my pressing the wrond circular node.
I just want to add that the relationships contained in the question are extremely relativistic.The word `same' has metaphysical conotations.