Is telling a lie the same as with holding the truth from someone, or does it all fall into the same catagory
2007-07-11 07:02:25 · 32 answers · asked by Darkchild 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
Your question and the comment after require different answers - they're not really asking the same question.
Is lying the same as deception? On one level, yes. Deceit is being caused and both suggest intent to make someone think the reverse of the truth, for self-serving reasons.
Is telling a lie the same as withholding the truth? No. Some examples. In a court of law, you answer the questions presented to you and only those. If they don't ask, you don't have to volunteer information (though if you say Not guilty and you are, that's a lie...) Then, I'm sure every day people withhold the truth from others out of kindness or a desire to protect them. Telling the absolute truth might involve saying, "I think you're ugly", "Your bottom really does look big in that" or "You're going to die." Unless it's your job as a doctor or nearest relative, you probably wouldn't want to be the one to tell someone the last truth, even if you were aware the person didn't know yet. You withhold the truth because it's not your role to do the telling. So, I don't believe that withholding the truth - and maybe it's only your truth - can necessarily be equated with telling an outright lie. I think you need to consider the motive for withholding the truth.
2007-07-11 07:40:11 · answer #1 · answered by SHE 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would say that they are related, but not the same. A lie is one form of deception, but not all deception is the equivalent of a lie.
In a conflict situation such as war or a competitive game, deception is often expected. There is no express or implicit agreement to be transparent, and hence no breach of faith. For instance, a bowler sends down 4 balls which break one way, then one that breaks the other. He hopes to deceive the batsman but is not lying to him: the batsman expects this sort of trickery - it's all part of the business. Similarly when I false-card when playing Bridge, or a Poker player bluffs; it's deception, but it's fair play within the rules, and so not a lie.
In such cases, of course, lies are possible and are clearly distinguished from ordinary deception. If (let us say) in a battle I send out a white flag for a parley, I am appealing to a well-known rule of war that white flags are to be respected, and that there will be a short-term truce until the discussion is over. Now, if the party with the flag suddenly open fire at close range, I am clearly guilty of lying. My deception was a breach of faith. On the other hand, if I display false colours (those of my enemy) to deter him from firing on my position, this is a normal ruse of war. Both sides can do this without shame; the other guys should look out for themselves. The deception is not a lie.
Hope this helps.
2007-07-11 07:30:43 · answer #2 · answered by Michael B 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Lying is a form of deception. Deception means causing someone to believe something that is not true.
You can lie by commission - saying something that is not true, or by ommission - failing to tell the truth and thereby allowing someone to believe something that is not true.
2007-07-11 08:43:07 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
lying: an intentionally false statement
deception: to cause someone to believe something that is not true
they seem to mean the same thing
but I always thought that when you are lying the other person may know that you are lying. but in deception the deception stops when they find out.
2007-07-11 07:20:48 · answer #4 · answered by fondls 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Deception IS a lie, withholding the truth is totally something else. It depends on why you have withheld the truth for a start.
2007-07-17 04:33:56 · answer #5 · answered by Janet B 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are both the same just done in different ways. Lying is blatant and outright while deception is a less blatant and more insidious.
2007-07-18 08:11:05 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would say that lying implies telling a verbal falsehood, whereas there are many ways to deceive, visually, by action and attitude, by implication, and even verbally without actually lying - with holding information, giving factual information but out of context etc etc.
2007-07-11 07:14:51 · answer #7 · answered by Avondrow 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
They are slightly different ie In court you promise to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth. That means only to the questions asked so if you are not asked the question you do not volunteer it. On the other hand if you are applying for an insurance the rule of utmost good faith applies so youi volunteer all of the truth ie previous claims your last consultation with a specialist etc
2007-07-11 07:09:43 · answer #8 · answered by Scouse 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Yes, a lie is a false statement made with deliberate intent to deceive; an intentional untruth; a falsehood.
Deception is the act of deceiving; the state of being deceived.
Both definitions include the word 'deceive' so they are one and the same.
2007-07-11 07:12:31 · answer #9 · answered by a_gentletouch 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
To lie is to make someone believe something you know is not true. To omit something, or withhold a truth, is to make someone believe something you know is not true. Both are deceptive practices.
2007-07-16 02:04:01 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋