When Is Lying Ok Research Paper

When Is Lying Ok?

Lying is a very controversial topic. Some thinks that lying is never ok, people like Immanuel Kant, a German philosopher who argues “Truthfulness in statements which cannot be avoided is the formal duty of an individual to everyone, however great may be the disadvantages.” But then those who use white lies thinks that lying is ok especially when a circumstance at hand can be avoided by lying. To me, lying is only acceptable when an event comes up that by lying protects that person either emotionally or physically or both. Emotional and/or physical events that could potentially change that person for the worse. That’s the only time lying is justified and adequate.

Not telling the truth sometimes is the best outcome of a situation. Harold Smith, 64, was going through treatment for a kidney tumor. He didn’t tell his daughter about the tumor but instead lied about it. “I tried to protect her. It slowed down the anxiety,” Smith said. Something as serious as a tumor, is not easy to say out loud. And if the lie shielded his daughter from emotional stress, anxiety, and sadness then lying was the right choice. If an infrequent scenario occurs where you should lie (more likely you have to as a moral obligation) comes up, would you lie? Especially if it is to save a life? According to an interview called

As stated by Brad Blanton in the same interview Brad Blanton: Honestly, Tell the Truth “Because it keeps you locked in the jail of your own mind. You have to remember what you told each person. You have to think about what the person’s reaction might be, and you start manipulating information to control the outcome. Delivering the truth is easier, takes less time, and is less stressful.” He is talking about how keeping a person from the truth isn’t the best idea, for both you and the person. It makes everything more complex. Except for rare times, as written