Lying is one of the most common wrong acts, found in the people’s behavior. A scholar even told that there is no use of wasting the time thinking on lying because it is an inescapable part of human beings. This tendency is very often meant to deceit others by hiding the truth but every deception is not necessarily a lie. Sometimes lying is necessary for a smooth life because the truth is very harsh and not always acceptable in the practical life. Everything on this earth has at least two aspects usually, the lying is also not any exception and it is not always bad. A number of scholars have said that the lie, which is meant for the benefit of the needy people, is not a lie. This paper discusses the tendency of lying, several related aspects to lying, various ethical theories and opinions of thinkers on such tendencies.
Indispensable ingredients of a lie are – 1. Some information is corresponded. 2. There is an intention to deceit or mislead. 3. The liar realizes that whatever is being corresponded is not the truth. Sisella Bok, a known scholar on the subject, defines lying as “an intentionally deceptive message in the form of a statement.” St Augustine says “Every liar says the opposite of what he thinks in his heart, with purpose to deceive. “
There are several reasons why lying is considered wrong depending upon the situation from ethical point of view to the practical point of view. The lie works as a two edged sword, in many instances the lying affects the person to whom a lie is told but also it affects the liar in many cases once the lie is exposed.
Sissela Bok in her book “Lying: Moral Choice in Public and Private Life” has tried to know that lying can be justified or not, she mentions the process as a test of publicity. If we do not get into the lengthy processes and judge it very commonly, it is not that difficult to find the result whether a lie is good or bad. First of all ask yourself what is the purpose of lying, whether it is lie is justified or not then ask to your family members and your friends about the matter and receive their opinion on the issue. Finally get the opinion of some impartial people who are neither known to you nor have to do anything with the issue.
Deontologists recognize an act by its nature whether it is just right or wrong, irrespective of the fact that the particular act produces good results or bad results. According to this theory, a lie is wrong forever even when it is meant to benefit the people or produces some positive results. German philosopher Immanuel Kant was one of the most famous deontologists who observed lying as bad in every situation.
One more ethical concept is virtue ethics which says that what good people do is the ethics. The theory is silent when a righteous person starts telling lies under some circumstances.
Another theory, utilitarian analyzes a lie by its consequences. If lying produces good results which benefits the people, society or nation then the lie is not wrong. Lying is considered bad according to this theory only when it is for self interest, meant to mislead or deceit others. Like other theories it has also been criticized by believers of other theories.
References
Bok, S. (1999). Lying: Moral Choice in Public and Private Life. New York: Vintage Books.
Mazur, T. C. (n.d.). Santa Clara University. Retrieved December 19, 2011, from www.scu.edu: http://www.scu.edu/ethics/publications/iie/v6n1/lying.html
