I've always valued honesty, and I try to stick to the truth as much as I can, but as i get older, I find that I often get in trouble for telling the truth. Do you think lies are necessary, especially if you want to avoid confrontation, or conflict? And if lying to others also mean lying to yourself, how can you redeem yourself?
2007-03-06 12:26:42 · 12 answers · asked by ginger ♥ edward cullen 4 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
I think that there's a difference between a social lie and a malicious lie. I don't have a problem with social lies, which I personally define as a lie about something of relative unimportance that is told to spare someone's feelings or prevent other harm. I do definitely have a problem with malicious lies. I think, however, that many situations fall somewhere in the middle, and that's when there's another element that's important - tact. It's possible to speak the truth in many ways; being tactful and sensitive is, to me, the best way to tell a painful truth that MUST be said. Ultimately, I find being honest to simply be easier in a variety of ways; I just make sure that I choose my words and my times carefully.
2007-03-06 12:41:42 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Ask Scooter Libby whether honesty is the best policy or whether one ought to lie to avoid trouble. As far as philosophers go, Immanuel Kant argues that one ought always avoid lying because telling the truth is the right thing to do. Of course, I do not advise telling one's significant other that he or she looks fat in jeans. But all that a person has to do in such situations is to be tactful. Methinks that Cowell (on American Idol) often mistakes a lack of tact for "honesty." But being honest does not mean disregarding the feelings of others. That is simply foolish and sometimes dangerous.
2007-03-06 22:19:55 · answer #2 · answered by sokrates 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is not easy to be honest but it truly is the best policy. It all boils down to personal motivation for everything you say and do, including honesty.
It is hard when we see around us liars, politicians lieing, advertisements lieing, Santa Claus, the tooth fairy, etc etc. But you have to do what is right to you. Hopefully the right thing.
Sometimes, rather than lie, and this is a grey zone, one can lie by omission. At times, to keep the peace, a small lie is the best in the long run. I never lied to my kids other than those above, because I wanted to set that example. Besides, I have a "glass face" and blush when I tell an untruth!
As for redemption, that is between me and Allah. If there has been no harm done I leave it at that. If there was harm, I do my best to make things right with the victim of my dishonesty.
2007-03-06 20:49:23 · answer #3 · answered by Noor al Haqiqa 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Someone above brought in Kant. For Kant lying was like urinating in the pool of human trust, and just because you might be dealing with dishonorable people, that is no excuse for lying. Kant may be extreme, but the principle is a good one. Lying to a liar just demonstrates to him that his lying is normal, and adds to the cumulative distrust.
___Brutal honesty, or using a fact to hurt someone gratuitously, contains a lie in the concealment of the motive.
___If you put yourself into the position of a life-ally of another person to whom you must tell a hard truth, it will be a lot easier to pull it off graciously. If your girlfriend or wife asks if those proverbial pants make her a-- look fat, you can answer best if you think about how she would feel about going out with the appearance of those pants.
2007-03-07 03:33:23 · answer #4 · answered by G-zilla 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Honestly I believe in telling the truth too but the thing is people never really want to hear the truth because it always ends up hurting someone . I dont think lies are neccesary but in some cases i think it it required a bit so you dont hurt someone. I dont think lying to someone is lying to yourself unless your a chronic liar and you start to believe your own lies. so thats my opinion on the truth and that is the truth. Hope I Helped
2007-03-06 20:33:22 · answer #5 · answered by ♥♥TinaThat...ME♥♥ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all think, Why did i have to lie anyway. If it is something simple like a friend askingyou if they looked fat in some dress and they did, tell the truth cuz its better for them from hering it from you rather than their crush or something. If you lied and you want to redeem yourself, talk to the person.
2007-03-06 20:31:19 · answer #6 · answered by Krishna 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Honesty is ALWAYS the best policy. This is fully explained in the book "Another Thought" by OC Tross
2007-03-06 21:44:13 · answer #7 · answered by ken123 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hmmmm, do you want an honest answer? Maybe what you are doing, rather than the act of telling the truth about it, is the problem. Just a thought.
2007-03-06 21:14:30 · answer #8 · answered by kipster968 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Honesty is only appropriate when you are dealing with honorable people.
In other words, you seldom need to be completely honest anymore, due to the general decline in morality.
2007-03-06 20:30:01 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Does the truth really matter? No. All that matters is what people chose to believe. Is there a god? I don't think so, so for me, there isn't. But some believe that there is a god. That gos is truth, so for them god does exist. They follow his rules, they pray to him, they create him and up hold him and share him with others which makes him as real as you or me. Yet I don't believe, so his rules, beliefs, and ideals don't apply to me, therefore, he doesn't exist. It's all on you. What do you want to believe?
2007-03-06 20:38:08 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋