2007-09-15 05:18:09 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
Depends on your intent... yes if you are being malicious, manipulative, dishonest for your own benefits... NOT if its to spare someone else a lot of pain or torture.... (White lies etc)
I don't think you CAN just say yes or no to this sort of dilemma. Its based on ethics and using sound moral judgements.
2007-09-15 05:48:09 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think it depends why you are lying and what you mean by lying. Meaning have raised the issue of intent, though I personally think intent misses the point. I think we may have to consider the fact that lying may help us to see the bigger picture, the whole truth. However one may question then if this is really lying.
I think the same applies to the person who is a civil servant, who mentioned his/her duty to protect individuals right to privacy as being an acceptable lie. Though one may question here if simply reminding the questioner that one cannot answer this question, thus avoiding the lie.
In response to your question, it seems more detail is necessary. How do you define a lie? Is telling someone that a new car is waiting outside for them a lie, when no car is not? What if the persons house is on fire and they refuse to leave (for whatever reason), or they have a history of being immobilized by panic in tense situations? Here your lie has potentially saved a life? Though was it a lie, or a skillful means to save a life?
2007-09-15 14:36:13 · answer #2 · answered by Student 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes I believe that it is. When my father was alive he always told me to tell the truth. If you tell one lie you have to tell another to cover it. I have been to court on two occasions and one tribunal. I won every case on the basis that I told the whole truth. When being cross examined the lies start appearing and your opponent is disgraced. I have told white lies many years ago, when found out I was ashamed and felt foolish.
2007-09-15 12:44:11 · answer #3 · answered by Tango 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No. Lying is OK when the truth wont fit.
2007-09-15 12:38:03 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No it is not.
As a former civil servant, I was taught to lie in order to protect certain people's privacy. And I have to say I fully agreed with the principle.
2007-09-15 12:29:59 · answer #5 · answered by archery_dave 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nope! Sometimes its better to tell a fib, than to hurt with the truth! (Ask any man who has been confronted with the question: "Do these pants/skirt/blouse/tc. make me look fat?"!) . . .
Pure stupidity to admit that it does - rather be safe and say "No sweety - it makes you look sexy!"
2007-09-15 12:29:10 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The world is balanced on positive and negative. Thanks God.
Is food good for you? Not if it´s poisoned.
Is killing a human being or animal bad? Not if you kill him before he kills you.
Same goes for lie. What you don´t know does not hurt you.
2007-09-16 09:10:21 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Morally, yes it is. Ethically, it would depend on the amount of harm it would bring to others, or how much it would protect others.
2007-09-15 15:22:48 · answer #8 · answered by Hot Coco Puff 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
nothing is wrong if the situation calls for it
2007-09-15 14:14:32 · answer #9 · answered by manapaformetta 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, it is part of British culture.
2007-09-15 14:08:39 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋