A Lie To Save A Life

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What is the morality of a lie? Morality and ethics is a topic widely discussed in philosophy. There is a distinctive difference in the perspectives of ethics held by Kantians and those who hold a utilitarian view of ethics. Kantians believe that the ethical standpoint of a decision be made purely on the decision itself, whereas Utilitarian’s judge the ethics of the situation based on the outcome. Kant believes that “good will has nothing to do with the outcome” (Garner PowerPoint). In the case of comparing these two views a simple example will be used: a lie to save a life. Using Kantian philosophy a lie is always immoral and wrong, no matter what the situation is. Kantian ethics establishes the idea that good will be based on the action itself rather than outcome or any inclination one may have to perform an act could be good will. …show more content…

In an attempt to justify Kant’s argument that there is a possibility that the person who is hiding found a way out therefore lying could in fact kill the victim and telling the truth will save him we will analyze a counterpoint. What if Kant is wrong, what if the victim logically assumes that they will be safe; therefore they do not try to find a way out of the house. If the host lies and calls the police they can find the murderer and arrest him, but if the host tells the truth the murderer would come in and possibly kill both people and then leave and there would be no justice for those deaths. Or even worse, they come in and kill the victim and leave the host. Anyone would feel guilt for letting that happen, and while Kant says that there would be no blame, and that the host did what is morally right, they would not feel that way and they would blame themselves. Kant could not argue this possibility, and while he may say that there would be no blame on the person, that is not how most people would rationalize the

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