Situations in which we can't be completely honest?

Question

“Honesty is universally valued, at least in principle. In practice, however, there are many cases in which governments, businesses, and individuals should not be completely honest.”

can you give me example for each: (or a situation )

agree/diagree
+reasons

Answer 1

yes there are many times one cant be completely honest. there are social workers who work for agencies and their job is to find out about a person. if they intent to keep their job theyll find out, even while not being totally honest with the person. i consider that unethical. i wouldnt insult a freind, but i would tell her if something was strange about what she was waering, called giving my valued opinion. Businesses, dont even get me started, they are rarely honest. someone who wants to sell me a cell phone will lie like the dickens so he/she can get the sales commission. of course lying, acts of ommission, and not being completely honesr are different from each other but the result might be the same. people who go on-line and talk are not always honest with each other!

Answer 2

1) Governments:

A man is working for the US Central Intelligence Agency and is a double agent, meaning that he is selling screts to the Iraqi government (hypothetical situation... just used them because we are currently at war with them) that he is trying to obtain information from, for our government. He has come across plans for an experimental small yield nuclear weapon and a shielding case that will make it virtually undetectable to weapons tracking systems world wide. This means that a person could theoretically sneak it into and through airport security as a carry on bag or briefcase, and use it in any country in the world. The CIA finds out about it, and kills the man before he can sell the weapon plans. They must deny everything, because they would not want anyone to know that they even had such a weapon in the first place.

2)Businesses:

A company is developing new technology that has not yet been patented. It will revolutionize the communications industry, making personal and business communications simpler and faster. It is the sole brainchild of an engineer that works for the company, and is unlike anything else on the planet. A company would put out misinformation about the project, even within its own personnel to prevent the possibility of industrial espionage. Nobody wants Sony or Nextel or whoever stealing the information and developing their own counterpart before it gets patented.

3) Individuals:

I have 7 words for you, the bain of men everywhere... "Honey, does this make me look fat?". No man alive is going to answer his wife..."Now that you mention it, yeah, you look like a beached whale in that dress!"... just not gonna happen, unless he wants a divorce, or at the very least, a few nights on the couch.

Hope this helps...

Answer 3

IF ANSWERING TRUTHFULLY WOULD HURT THE OTHER PERSON'S FEELINGS THEN A LITTLE WHITE LIE IS ACCEPTABLE.
ONE OF MY SON'S WALKED A LITTLE BOY HOME FROM THE BUS STOP EVERYDAY SINCE THE BOY'S MOM WAS VERY SICK. THE PEOPLE HAD VERY LITTLE MATERIAL THINGS. THEY BARELY MANAGED TO KEEP WARM. THE LITTLE BOY TOOK MY SON INTO THE HOUSE TO SHOW HIM HOW HIS ROOM HAD BEEN REDECORATED.
THE "ROOM" WAS ONLY A CURTAINED OFF PORTION OF THE PARENT'S ROOM. IT SURE WASN'T MUCH TO
LOOK AT. BUT THE LITTLE BOY WAS SO THRILLED, MY SON ACTED JUST AS IMPRESSED.
MY SON CAME HOME, GATHERED UP SOME THINGS AND TOOK THEM BACK TO HELP THE BOY MAKE HIS ROOM EVEN MORE SPECIAL.

Answer 4

I don't think what you say is right. I mean seriously the more we lie the more people don't trust you. Like if you lie to your parents they don't trust you as much so you sometimes can't do things your friends can because u lied. Same way in business.