Overview
Lying is the act of making a false statement with the intention to deceive. The ethics of lying is one of the oldest debates in philosophy.
Core Idea
Is it ever right to lie?
- Absolutist (Kant): No. Lying treats the other person as a tool and destroys the basis of communication.
- Utilitarian: Yes, if it produces better consequences (e.g., the “white lie”).
Formal Definition
A lie typically requires:
- Falsity: The statement is false.
- Intent: The speaker intends to deceive.
- Assertion: The speaker presents the statement as true.
Intuition
- The Murderer at the Door: (Kant’s famous example). A murderer asks where your friend is. Do you lie?
- Kant: No. You cannot control the consequences, but you can control your own integrity.
- Most People: Yes! Saving a life is more important than telling the truth.
Examples
- White Lies: “That dress looks great on you.” (Social lubricant).
- Noble Lies: The government lying to the public “for their own good” (Plato’s Republic).
- Bullshit: (Frankfurt). The bullshitter doesn’t care about truth or falsity; they just want to persuade. This is distinct from lying.
Common Misconceptions
- Misconception: Lying by omission isn’t lying.
- Correction: Deception can occur without words. Most ethicists consider misleading omissions to be morally similar to lies.
- Misconception: If I cross my fingers, it doesn’t count.
- Correction: Intent is what matters.
Related Concepts
- Deception: A broader category than lying (includes camouflage, acting).
- Truthfulness: The virtue of loving the truth.
- Perjury: Lying under oath (a crime).
Applications
- Medicine: Should a doctor tell a patient a grim prognosis if it will destroy their hope? (Therapeutic Privilege).
- Politics: Is it possible to be a successful politician without lying?
Criticism and Limitations
- Trust: Lying erodes trust. Once you lie, people doubt everything you say.
- Complexity: Sometimes the truth is too complex to explain (e.g., to a child), requiring a simplification that is technically a lie (lie-to-children).
Further Reading
- Lying: Moral Choice in Public and Private Life by Sissela Bok
- On a Supposed Right to Lie from Benevolent Motives by Immanuel Kant
- On Bullshit by Harry Frankfurt