Is it OK to ever tell a lie?
Conventional rules base their authority from a person, group or practice. Example: Keep your promises, or keep your hands to yourself.”
Moral rules are “stronger” imperatives, and do not depend on the same kind of authority as conventional rules as mentioned above.
Violations of these moral norms seem to “shake the rafters” with much more serious obligations, consequences and reactions. These moral directives may include “No hitting others,” or “Do not lie.”
As we have studied some of the implications of telling lies---from childhood to adulthood---you are expected to answer the not-so-simple question : Is it ever OK to lie?
To make it even more interesting, please go to the site below and see how other thinkers have responded to this question and why.
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Do not reply to that blog site; you are there to check out a variety of other responses to this question. Come back here and share your answer with everyone here on our site! (75-100 words).
Ruth M.
ReplyDeletePhilosophy 250
Conventional rules base their authority from a person, group or practice. Example: Keep your promises, or keep your hands to yourself.”
Moral rules are “stronger” imperatives, and do not depend on the same kind of authority as conventional rules as mentioned above.
Violations of these moral norms seem to “shake the rafters” with much more serious obligations, consequences and reactions. These moral directives may include “No hitting others,” or “Do not lie.”
Is it okay to lie? They say it's never okay. Poeple do it everyday several times a day. I have told a few white lies to my kids. For example: sitting to close to the tv will make you blind, and if you keep making that face it's going to stay that way. I've lied to get my way with the husband and to get myself out of trouble before. I morally and ethically know its not okay but when presented with a situation I think we all go the good way instead of the right way.
Jenny B
ReplyDeletephil 250-951
I firmly believe that it ok to lie in certain situations. Although Lying is someting that everyone that knows me knows that I do not get over very easily. I was working in the healthcare field in geriatrics. There is this one man in particular tat I rememeber very well, we'll call him george. George had many things medically wrong with him and one was dementia. He was placed in the nursing home fifteen years prior to me meeting him. When he was placed his wife was placed in the home with him as well, they shared a room and seemed like they were joined at the hip. Everyday he would serenade her with his accrodian, singing to her many love songs from their old country, Italy. A few years before I had met George his wife, Ruthy had passed away. The first day I met him he had asked me where Ruthy was, I asked him who she was and he explained to me that she was his "lovely wife". Before I had a chance to tell him that she had passed on one of the nurses interupted and said, "Georgey, Ruthey is out shopping with the girls and she will be back after dinner." The nurse explained to me that he had no short term memory and in a hour or so all of this conversation would be forgotten and it was best to lie to him than to make him relive the horrible moment when he found out that Ruthy had passed. As far as I know he is still going up and down the halls of the third floor looking for his soul-mate waiting for her to return.
PHIL250-951
ReplyDeleteIs it ever OK to lie? I think it depends on the lie and why it's being told. If you do something seriously wrong I don't think you should lie just to keep out of trouble because eventually the truth always comes out and the punishment will be much worse. If you are telling a lie to help protect someone from harm that is different it is our moral obligation to protect the ones we love. I have told little lies before, I think anyone with children has: Santa is coming, the tooth fairy, the Easter bunny, Sitting to close to the TV hurts your eyes, swallowing the seeds in the watermelon will make one grow in your tummy and the list goes on and on. We don't lie to them to be deceitful but to make growing up fun and let them have an active imagination. Therefore I think little lies are ok if there is no intent on hurting someone in the act.
Angela N.
ReplyDeletePhil250-951
I think depending on what the lie is about it is sometimes okay to lie. Sometimes in life it is nessesary to lie to prevent hurting someone and keep everyone happy. People lie everyday do I think that is ethical no but just like a few of the girls stated in their posts about the elderly patient and the santa thing but to get on a stand in a court room and lie now that is different!
Semika B
ReplyDeletePhil 250
I dont think its ok to lie although there are times and situations that we have to lie. I believe that everyone lies aout 1 thing or another. I will lie in the case were im protecting someone from hurt harm or danger. But to tell an out right bold face lie i would not say that would be something i would do. so after saying this i think this is a double stanard question that have a dual answer.
Sasy C.
ReplyDeletePhil250-951
I do think it's ok to lie if the situation calls for it. If it is not going to hurt someone's feelings but in turn save hurting a person's feeling or saving a person's life or my own then yes. However, I believe that with every lie there is repercussions and in most cases the truth almost always comes out eventually.
John H.
ReplyDeleteSome time it is ok to lie. It is ok to lie if one's life is threatend or somebody else life is threatend. Most of the time it best to tell the truth. In most cases it will cme out sooner or later.
Amy Schafer
ReplyDeletePhil 250-951
Some situations you are forced to tell a lie. Even if it is a white lie, it is still a lie. It is important for you to understand when you are lying so you don’t get used to this way of thinking or believe it to be true. Even in childhood they know the difference between a lie and the truth but choose a lie so they do not get into trouble. In the 20/20 episode we watched with the children peaking at the toys while the instructor left the room. When asked if they peaked they said know when in fact they did. This is an honest lie but if it is not addressed the child may go on thinking it is okay to lie when it is not.
The definition of a lie is "a deliberate attempt to mislead". The definition itself makes lying sound so wrong. While I do not believe anyone should make a habit of lying, there are situaions where lying is justified. Lies of ommissions should be tolerated.These are not actual lies but omitting information. Lies that protect someone's life or feelings should be allowed. My father hates hospitals and the thought of him having to stay in one stresses him greatly. Before we can get him to go to the doctor, we have to lie to him and promise him that he won't have to go to the hospital. So far, we have been able to keep this promise but we all know that one of these days, it will be a lie and he will have to be hospitalized. This is a lie I can live with.
ReplyDeleteIm not going to define what a Lie is because we all know what they are and how to use them. The question is: Is it ever ok to lie? I feel that it all depends on the circumstance. I have lied to many people even family, Im not proud of it but it was always to protect them from something. I have lied to keep from people I love or care about from getting up upset at what would usually be a bad time, Im not the kind of person to kick someone when there down. I personally can’t stand the people that feel that they need to tell the truth all time every time no matter how it affects others. I feel that if you lie for the right reasons then it is ok. If you have to lie to save a life, save face, protect someone or ease someone without putting them in future danger.
ReplyDeleteI think that it depends on the situation that you find yourself in and how you are using that lie. An appropriate use of a lie I would assume is what I tend to agree with. In class the idea of being at a persons house who has been in a kitchen all day preparing a meal for you to eat, and you sit down to eat it and you find that you do not like it. Do you tell them you think it is horrible? Or do you go about telling them that it is good because you know how hard they have worked on this meal and how much it means to that them. I definitely believe that a lie is sometime unavoidable but should be something that people use with great caution (because they always come back at you).
ReplyDeleteAlex H.