Is there are difference between lying and "not telling the truth"?

Question

What is the difference? When would you use one and when the other?

Answer 1

There is a difference. I can honestly say I have never lied. However, if I did'nt want to tell something I just would'nt. For example, when I was a teenager my parents asked me if I was smoking and I simply replied, -"I don't want to talk about it". I did'nt have to lie in order to not say something.

A lie is a horrible thing. If you are not ready or don't feel comfortable talking about something, don't say anything but lies...Lies are incredibly hurtful to both, who is saying them and who is listening to them.

Be safe, don't lie and take care!

Answer 2

Yes, there is a difference.

Lying implies that you have actually said something. Say, hypothetically, you had cold pizza for breakfast, but you tell a friend that you had eggs and toast. That is lying.

"Not telling the truth" can mean that you are withholding something. It's like telling the truth, but not giving every single detail.

Well, you should never lie. But using either of these things is a person's own decision. It depends on the situation and what one decide is best to do in that situation.

Answer 3

I would think that lying is a blatant statement or group of statements known to be patently false. Not telling the truth, while possibly a euphemism for lying, could simply be a failure to provide complete disclosure - in essence, a sin of omission rather than commission.

Answer 4

This topic has been addressed by philosophers when discussing "omission". For example, when there is a duty to report a crime (generally there is no duty to report minor crimes in the US but perhaps for felonies and definitely when you are subpoeanad to appear in court), and failing to report it results in punishment, the view is that the omission is also a crime.

Philosophers often treat omission of words and acts separately.

Morally speaking, the failure of an olympic swimmer to give aid to a baby drowning in shallow water would be wrong. Legally, there might be no duty of care toward the infant. Thus the only punishment for the swimmer for watching the baby drown would be the moral condemnation of his community.

In real life, we have seen a similar legal duty placed upon people certified in CPR to aid victims in need. There are also laws that protect them against getting sued for acting out these duties.

Hope that helps. See the link below.

Answer 5

A lie is a lie and not telling the truth is lying. No other way around it - untruth, lie, story, whatever you want to call it, all the same thing and is wrong anyway you tell it.

Answer 6

Yes . They are called white lies . You would use a white lie to tell your spouse / partner they don't look fat in those white polyester pants . A child lies to please others . Then there's the "not telling the truth" that equals lying , on an important required document , where omitting can mean more than a white lie ..such as Senator Harry Reid , when he omitted telling Congress about his million dollar land deal .

Answer 7

Some lies are told me not hurt and to be tactful. Then there are the malicious lies told to hurt nd destroy. Both are not telling the truth but for different reasons and this to me makes an untruth or a lie.

Answer 8

No difference, if you are not telling the truth then you are lying and if you are lying, you can escape by lying that you are not telling the truth.... a nicer way of saying you are lying.

Answer 9

You lie when you speak an untruth.

You are not telling the truth when you say nothing or dodge a question involving honesty. A so called "lie by omission." Politicians are masters of this.

Answer 10

Well I guess you could not tell the truth on accident. Like say that antarctica is near the north pole. That wouldnt be lying if you really thought it was true. That's what I'd say.