Lying: Moral Choice in Public and Private LifeIs it ever all right to lie? A philosopher looks at lying and deception in public and private life—in government, medicine, law, academia, journalism, in the family and between friends. Lying is a penetrating and thoughtful examination of one of the most pervasive yet little discussed aspects of our public and private lives. Beginning with the moral questions raised about lying since antiquity, Sissela Bok takes up the justifications offered for all kinds of lies—white lies, lies to the sick and dying, lies of parents to children, lies to enemies, lies to protect clients and peers. The consequences of such lies are then explored through a number of concrete situations in which people are involved, either as liars or as the victims of a lie. |
Contents
| 3 | |
TRUTHFULNESS DECEIT AND TRUST | 17 |
NEVER TO LIE? | 32 |
WEIGHING THE CONSEQUENCES | 47 |
WHITE LIES | 57 |
Letters of Recommendation | 68 |
Veracity | 84 |
JUSTIFICATION | 90 |
LYING TO ENEMIES | 134 |
LIES PROTECTING PEERS AND CLIENTS | 146 |
LIES FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD | 165 |
DECEPTIVE SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH | 182 |
PATERNALISTIC LIES | 203 |
LIES TO THE SICK AND DYING | 220 |
CONCLUSION | 242 |
Notes | 289 |
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Common terms and phrases
adversary system alternatives appeal argue argument Augustine avoid believe benefits chap chapter child circumstances claim clients common concern consequences consider crisis danger death debate deceived deceptive practices Dietrich Bonhoeffer discussion doctors dupes duty Ethics evaluation example excuses fact false falsehood G. J. Warnock give harm harmless honesty Hugo Grotius human individuals informed consent injure intention J. L. Austin John Rawls justified Kant kind Law of War lawyers liar lies told lives lying to enemies matter means ment mislead moral choice mortal sin never Nicolai Hartmann one's parents paternalistic patients perspective physicians placebos political problems professional protect question religious require result risks rules secret sense Sissela Bok social society someone speak statement studies subjects Summa Theologica tell the truth thought threat tion tive true trust truth-telling University Press utilitarian veracity white lies word wrong York