I believe there is no correct answer to the question "is lying justified or not". One must look at the situation and how it must be dealt with. For example, in a situation where a lie will keep someone from being emotionally or physically hurt, then I believe that it is morally right. But in a situation where a lie is told out of spite, meanness, manipulation, etc., then I believe it is not morally just. These types of lies usually backfire and create sticky situations.
Morally just lies are told for the good of an individual or society. A real life example of this would be a German willing to risk their lives to save a persecuted Jew. Miep Gies, the woman who hid the Frank family during the Holocaust, told many lies to the Nazis to preserve their safety and lives. This is an example of a morally ethic lie. An example of this from Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing is when Don Pedro lies to Hero about his identity to help woo her for Claudio, "I know we shall have reveling tonight. I will assume thy part in some disguise, And tell fair Hero I am Claudio" (I.1.258-60). Although this plan is deceiving, in the end it brings Hero and Claudio together happily. This lie is a morally just lie because it is productive and furthers the relationship of Hero and Claudio. It gives Claudio a chance to be with the love of his life, because he may have been too shy or afraid to actually to take the first step. Ethically just lies are ones that are positive, helpful, and constructive.
A morally unjust lies are ones that are scheming and misleading. An example of this in real life would be a lie to deny cheating on the test, or robbing a bank, or even adultery. These types of lies are ones that hurt or trick others. One of the main plot points in Much Ado About Nothing
is built on a tangled web of lies. Don Pedro, Claudio, and Leonato all scheme to force Beatrice and Benedick to fall in love, "I, with your two helps, will so practice on Benedick that, in despite of his quick wit and his queasy stomach, he shall fall in love with Beatrice. If we can do this, Cupid is no longer an archer; his glory shall be ours, for we are the only love gods" (II.1.321-25).
Although the men may have good intentions, it is morally wrong to toy with the emotions and feelings to two people. To trick Benedick and Beatrice is definitely morally wrong and I believe that the men have no right to play games with their love. If the two ever find out about the plan, they will be furious, embarrassed, and it will ruin the relationship between the two of them.
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8 comments:
I totally agree with your idea that lying is sometimes justified. Say you lived during WW 2 and you were hiding some Jews from the Nazis and some Germans came to your door looking for where they had gone. Do you tell them there are Jews in your home and let them and your family be killed? Is a lie in this case justified? YES!!! Of course you lie to the Nazis. There are cases where lying is justified. Nice Post!
I feel the same way about how this question doesn't really have an answer. and like you said it totally depends on the circumstance and the reason for the lie. Your real life example of lieing to the Nazis was a very influencial example and I really liked it. Your post, I thought was very well-written and thoughtful, nice job!
Amanda,
I agree with what you said about having to look at the situation before you decide if the lie was just or not. Your connection to the Frank family and Miep Gies was very interesting and so true! Miep was lying to protect the family for the horrible concentration camps and was keeping them safe. Great post!!
Amanda,
Decent response to the question, I agree with you on the fact that it depends on the situation to tell if the lying was justified or not, this is exactly what I stated in my blog, and as they say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so thanks. Anyways I disagree with how you said that others shouldn't play with love, it is sometimes necessary for others to get involved in the affairs of others. Two people might be perfect for eachother and never know it unless someone else helped them notice. Pretty much just watch the movie Hitch (Sorry I don't know how you italicize this, so just imagine it is italicized). Decent response.
-Ben
I agree with the idea that lying is not always good or bad. However, its pretty much impossible to tell if a lie will end up hurting someone. On the flip side, its also hard to gage if a lie is manipulative, mean or out of spite. For example, Miep Gies's lie was to protect others, yet it also manipulated and (if your an antisemite/nazi) could be considered mean. Although Gies's lie was brave and heroic (in my opinion), it may not be so in others opinions. I think that even if a lie is ethic, it should not always be said, and unethical lies might be good ones in the end. There is no true way to differentiate between a good and bad lie.
Great Job!! i agree with what you said about lying being justified on some occasions. Your real life example of the Nazis was a good point. And if you r lying on behalf of your families safety it is worth it. Really Good job!!
I also agree with you that you have to look at the situation in order to figure out if a lie is truely justified. I also loved the examples you used. Great job!
I agree with your response to the question. Lying depends on the situation at hand and can be either positive and negative. I agree with your statement that the question of whether or not lying is ever ethically or morally justified can't be answered. It depens on the persons values and the situation. I loved your real life example!!
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