Lying

That lies should be necessary to life is part and parcel of the terrible and
questionable character of existence.

Most of us would accept that, at times, lies, evasions and deceptions are necessary.
In politics and governance, as in our private life, a little lie is unavoidable in certain
circumstances. At the same time though, it is universally agreed that lying is in itself
wrong. The discovery of a lie always shines the liar in a bad light. Indeed, a single lie
can destroy a whole reputation for integrity.

We accept that lying has its utility, even necessity, yet we retained a strong
condemnation of it - as if to keep it somehow within boundaries. This deeply divided
attitude reveals that that there are sometimes justifications for lying – if under the
right circumstances, lying is acceptable and even necessary, but otherwise, it should
be condemned and frowned upon.

Plato said that lies are not only evil in themselves, but infect the soul of those
who utter them. He thereby states the uncompromising view that a moral life has
room only for truth. But these austere views are not universally shared. Lying is
defended by those who recognize that without lies, individuals would have no inner
privacy, life would be plagued with boredom and sorrow, and much evil would ensue.

Some argue that lies are justified when truth would cause or exacerbate conflict.
Moreover, they would say, lies can be merciful, in protecting people from the terrible
truth; as when a doctor tells a terrified patient that all is well. And we can think of
countless cases where lies promote harmony, restore justice, remedy injustice,
counteract worse lies, and protect important truths. In all these cases what justifies
the lie is the benefit of its outcome; if it does more good than harm, it is justified.

Others may say that lying is always wholly unacceptable, but it is all right sometimes
to tell an untruth, which is a different and lesser thing. It is accordingly acceptable to
tell an untruth when it protects the other from injury, to his feelings or otherwise.
‘Am I ugly?’ asks your neighbour. ‘I wouldn’t use the word “ugly”,’ you reply; ‘you
have a distinctive face.’ Even religious moralists agree; they say that the Bible
cautiously licenses ceryain untruths, as when Proverbs say, ‘When words are
many, transgression is not lacking; but the prudent are restrained in speech’, and
the Kirk in Scotland teaches that it is a sin to tell an untimely truth.
So we accept, even sometimes applaud, ‘white lies’, and recognise that the
truth need not always be the whole truth. The fact that falsehoods are required says
a lot about life, because it suggests that human relationships are never fully free of
the unease and tension that sensitivities, jealousies, and uncertainties bring.