Is lying ever justified? I can understand someone being economical with the truth if it is personally embarrassing subject, they do not want to incriminate themselves or a member of their family or they want to protect themselves or their family. I am not a Buddhist but as I understand it is question of how noble your intention is. Airing someone else's dirty linen might be telling the truth, but is it laudable? Giving information that is useful to criminals or terrorists might be telling the truth but is not laudable. Neither is the behaviour of a national intelligence double agent. During WW2 any Allied servicemen who were captured and were uncooperative with Nazi military intelligence would have done the right thing.
I try never to lie But sometimes people really want you too so I give in and do it but I always feel really bad
I don't see an issue with lying when it comes to little things that would get you into trouble if you told the truth. My parents have asked me if i smoke weed before, or if i skipped class, or if i've done something wrong. And obviously my answer is always no... why would i admit to such things? But when it comes to something more serious, I never lie. I consider myself to be a very honest person, I've never lied to my girlfriend or any of my friends, and I've only told "white lies" to my parents, which was for the best. I'm sure my parents don't want to know everything i do, lying is for the best sometimes.
i'm a very honest person an dont lie in general.but i would have no problem lieing to protect someone.some lies are good ones,just all depends on the circumstances.
I agree, lying isn't always bad... lying could save lives, if a person broke into your house, holding you at gun point asking where you're family is hidden, are you going to tell them if you know because you think "lying is wrong"? or are you going to lie and say you don't know?
I'm a firm believer in firm believers,,lol. Okay,,on topic,, Lying,,it's a question of relativity. I'm not sure if it's called "relational morality", or "relativistic morality", or just telling the truth as much as it can do good, and not going further. I tell you no lie. I lie. (toy with THAT one, will ya?) I'd easily lie to make a profit to humanity, and a loss to religious and ethical considerations. At times you have to do what's right for the ol' insides, rather than what kind of rigid rules the brain lays down. I mean, think about it. In the name of God, people have been massacred, brutally treated, torn asunder,,etc., cultures destroyed, families torn apart, the poor and the disadvantaged disposed of,,unmentionable things, too horrid to number. (I just threw that last part in there, since it sounded like something cool, out of a Hollywood movie,,,geee,,:sunny: ) Butt sea, sometimes you just have to do what you have to do,,, (Good, but it sounds like rhetoric,,or maybe "Red-Toe-Rick", rhetoric's good buddy). Butt "C", there's a real difference in what's the rule in our head vs. the rule in our heart. This is a cool thread. I'm likin' it.
ethics are a difficult thing to understand anyways they exist only in the mind so the answer really is lying can be justified by some and not by others. so long as we operate beyond a conscious level be it a self conscious one we will all perceive morality and values differently.
If you're a man, you should never lie. If you're a woman, you should lie only to protect your favorite man's pride.
Lying is never justified. You can make all the excuses you want for why it is ok for you to lie, but that is all they are, is excuses. If the truth wont do... don't say anything at all... that isn't all that hard. The 'scenarios' that have been presented as justification, are bullshit... If you are captured in war and being questioned, you can keep your mouth shut. You are going to face the same consequences by not talking, as you are by lying or by telling the truth. If you lie, and they find out, the consequences will likely be worse. As for all the excuses such as, if you are going to get into trouble or such... Have some honor... if you can't stand with pride behind what you are doing... just why in the fuck are you doing it in the first place? When you lie, you only accomplish one thing... you devalue yourself and what you say.
How can a means justify anything? A means is just a method, not an argument or a goal. Unless you mean that following a strict rule is a way of justifying the arrival at a undesirable ending, like if following the Categorical Imperative ended up creating a nation without nuclear weapons, which is then bombed the fuck out of by nations WITH nukes. In which case any sane person would have to disagree with you. I will say this however - what is the source of this 'honesty' which so many of you espouse? Is it not just a way of gaining the feeling of power over those who you feel are stronger than you in other ways?
It's all just a big head trip, for insecure people, if there's no humanity behind the approach, but only ethical/logical considerations. People seem to have to think themselves righteous, but in doing so, often make some pretty boneheaded decisions.
you clearly aren't understanding morality. to some people killing could be considered righteous who said it wasn't? there's a law to condemn it but it's still subjective. anyways i feel what you do may not always be ethical but it doesn't mean the outcome isn't the most utilitarian "does my avatar look big in this????" "no it looks lovely?" you have stated people have bonehead opinions you may think mine is doesn't mean it actually is acquiescing the point further.
i mean an action may be immoral but the end result is moral. this is consequentialism. think of gandhi he is seen as an ethical leader and his actions were ethical - peaceful protesting etc. but he broke the law this is immoral. however it was for the greater good wasn't it?
I hate lying and I suck at it. I would lie to a cop or an authority figure. I can't bring myself to lie to friends and family. Omitted facts are not lies. It depends on the relationship.
sometimes the truth can create a disaster , harm many people . better to say lie . and when the truth won't make harm then you tell the truth . isn't weird that the lies of 60 or 70 we learn now what really happen . or a saying in my country . lie is bread for truth . exact translate . meaning the more you lie the less the truth is important (in time) .
