So a lot of people have been saying it's okay to lie if your intentions were good, if the lie results in good, etc. Well I wanted to know in this particular situation, from a philosophical point of view is lying acceptable. Say you had a friend who jumped to a conclusion about you, ex. he or she thought you were rich based on how you dress yet you know you aren't rich. Your mom just happens to get discounts at clothing stores. Is it wrong not to tell your friend that you aren't rich if he or she doesn't ask? What if he or she did ask and you didn't tell them the truth because you wanted to remain friends with them due to the fact that you feel the only reason you guys are friends is because you are supposedly rich and you don't want to lose him or her if they find out otherwise.
2007-10-21 05:41:57 · 10 answers · asked by ms.l_thoms 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
One big problem with dishonesty is that our human nature has a tremendous capacity for self deception. When we are dishonest, we soon learn that our lies are most believable when we believe them ourselves. So we soon come to the point where we can't distinguish our own lies from the truth.
2007-10-21 05:56:15 · answer #1 · answered by Matthew T 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lying if your intentions are good. This is a self-deceptive statement. Lying is always selfish. For example, when your wife/girlfriend comes in with her new dress/outfit and asks how she looks, but you don't like it, and you lie saying it looks nice, that is a selfish lie. Now, assume you go out and she is embarrassed because she looks silly in her new outfit. You save face seflishly at the cost of your loved one's feelings. You can say all you want that you tried to protect your loved one's feelings, but really it was your own self you cared about. The same thing goes for finding a tag sticking out on a co-workers shirt. Let them know. A small embarrassment is better than a worse one. Most people will thank you.
If your so-called friend wants to be with you because he or she thinks you are rich, then what kind of friend is that? Tell the truth. You'll learn what kind of friend you really have. I have a little money, but I don't buy expensive clothes. People don't judge me that way. Want to know why? Because they know who I really am. I let people know where I stand. I only ask one thing in return. Just do the same for me.
There is no such thing as a good lie. EVER.
There is no worse thing a person can do to another than to lie. Murder, rape, racism, these things are all forms of lies or denial to truth. It doesn't matter that your lie is "small" or a "little white lie". Don't lie. No one is perfect, of course. But do your best.
Be honest in all that you do. You will find great respect in the eyes of others, at least those who matter.
2007-10-21 06:23:30 · answer #2 · answered by Starmark 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ok, well you have a deeper issue going on than a misconception. Why would you want a person for a friend who only wants to be a friend for monetary reasons? That's not a friend, and will never be a friend. That is a user, you are the usee. Friends are people who love you for who you are, or despite who you are. You, yourself need to find out why you are hanging around this person. What drives you to be with them?
If the friend asks you if you are rich, (which is rude), I would say it's really none of your business. See what happens, don't be mean about it, just say it gently. If they aren't a true friend, they probably will get mad and not respect your wishes, then you are still protecting your own interests. Nothing is lost. If they are a true friend they will respect that and go on as if nothing occured.
2007-10-25 05:06:43 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't see how that's a valid reason for lying. Why would you not tell him the truth about your economic status and how you obtain your clothes? What possible negative reaction could exist in telling the truth that would require you to lie? Loss of a friendship doesn't cut it.
The only time a lie is justified is if it can pass muster with the principle of double effect. This principle states that an evil can be committed if in doing so it would prevent an even greater evil from occurring, and in performing the action one must intend the good. Loss of a friendship is a bad thing, but not something evil in itself, especially if the loss of friendship is due to something as shallow as your economic status.
A great example of justifiable lying would be the case of living in Nazi Germany and you supported the hiding of Jews to escape death. If interrogated by Nazi officials as to the whereabouts of Jews, you could justifiably lie because you would be preventing a greater evil - the murder of innocent people - with the lesser evil of lying.
2007-10-21 05:59:46 · answer #4 · answered by Jude & Cristen H 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First of all I am one of those people who thinks a lie is a lie no matter what.If your friends asks if you are rich then tell them no as if that is the only reason they will be your friend then they are not the kind of friend I would want in life.A friend is someone who stays your friend no matter what. Tell them you are rich in many ways other than having a lot of money(.Money doesn't make a person)
2007-10-21 05:59:03 · answer #5 · answered by mamaw2305 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Who in heavens name said that a, Lie is OK! You have to remember every word about a lie that you tell. But to tell the truth. You have to remember nothing. (Duh!)
Tell your so called friends exactly where you got the clothes (They all ready classed them as being ritzy) The joke will be on them. Not on you. Who knows. They may all go to the same store for clothes just like yours. Bob.
2007-10-25 04:01:13 · answer #6 · answered by bob J 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've got to ask...If you feel that if they knew you weren't rich, then they wouldn't want to be friends with you, then would you want to be friends with them anyway? If someone only likes you for something you aren't, and something which should be irrelevant to friendship, then are they worth having as a friend?
2007-10-21 05:55:06 · answer #7 · answered by Rafael 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
hallo , u r going for friendship , not to cheat others
i am sorry to the fact 'we r thinking or giving more importance
to material aspect rather then charecter '
u r not lying if u try to hide ur status , u r just cheating
to the cause , and insulting ur guardians [ parents ].
2007-10-25 04:23:40 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just keep a balance is what I say. Lying to someone about radical things is bad but white lies about clothes and stuff is ok for me since it keeps us balanced in life.
2007-10-21 06:01:10 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Relationships based on falsehoods are false relationships.
2007-10-21 05:45:44 · answer #10 · answered by Matt O 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋