Is it justifiable?
2007-07-12 09:54:28 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
yes, lies said to protect rather then to harm.
If a innocent man was hunted down by an unjust Inquisition,
a simple white lie can protect him.
If a boy was to die from cancer, and the true will do nothing but cause him more pain, is a simple white lie, not worth the cost?
lying is just a tool, its how we use it that determines if it was good or bad.
2007-07-12 10:18:02 · answer #1 · answered by Ashamed2beHuman 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
What this really comes down to is the question "How much is your integrity worth?"
Let's draw a ridiculous example. A madman says to you, "Tell me I'm a good, peaceful person or I set off this nuclear device and kill a million people!"
Is your integrity worth the lives of a million people? Can you justify that?
And if you can't, isn't it possible that there's some lesser extreme that might be a good exchange to compromise yourself for? Peace to a dying man, perhaps? Avoiding needless injury to a friend?
Mightn't it be sometimes, in fact, a VERY good thing to harm yourself to help others? Isn't this the essence of altruism? Even though it's a lie that's the vehicle for it?
2007-07-12 17:04:56 · answer #2 · answered by Doctor Why 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
This was one of the first questions asked in my first ethics class years ago. One compelling argument to advocate the submission of less than the truth would be to save a life. For instance if your home was perpetrated by a sociopathic killer and you were asked if you were the only one home replying yes knowing full well that your children were hiding in the basement crawl space. Who among us would damn a parent for this action? Surely not another parent with an unconditional love for their child(ren) and a moral responsibility for their welfare.
2007-07-12 17:08:16 · answer #3 · answered by angrycelt 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Ghandi said "The Truth is Always Right". And he was a Lawyer. An omission of truth might be justifiable.
2007-07-12 17:17:02 · answer #4 · answered by phil8656 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sure, just try being totally honest for a week, with the employer that ask for that extra job to be done, will you do it, with the child that says do you want to play, or take me out someplace, with the spouse who ask an opinion about something,,,,
yes, many times you might have a positive response, but there are days/times when you just want to say "NO" i dont want to, i dont want to listen, leave me alone, cant you see i am busy/tired/not in the mood etc etc,,yet its better to not give a totally honest response, or even to lie and say "sure, i want to do that", we all have things we have to do, it doesnt help to be honest and say "i will do it, but i dont want to"
nor does it help anyone if your asked by a loved one "do you think i did ok", to tell them honestly "no , i think you totally screwed up"
2007-07-12 17:24:33 · answer #5 · answered by dlin333 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lie is never justified. If you would prefer to not answer the question, do so.
For an example of what can happen if a person lies, read the "Wall" by Sartre.
2007-07-12 17:18:02 · answer #6 · answered by scotishbob 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The Bible only condemns one type of lie. False testimony.
2007-07-12 18:07:57 · answer #7 · answered by jsardi56 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, provided people continue to use truths to substantiate malicious behavior and actions unimpeded by truths.
2007-07-12 17:06:24 · answer #8 · answered by Answernian 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It can be, it depends on where you've drawn the line in the sand for yourself.
2007-07-12 17:25:04 · answer #9 · answered by Kesey 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yup, everything has the right to be. That is indeed puzzling.
Good luck!
2007-07-13 07:48:40 · answer #10 · answered by Alex 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋