I am afraid that I have to admit the flaw in my own argument. You have demonstrated the soundness of your point.
As with most things there is a very narrow exception to the standard "honesty is the best policy." The very narrow exception is this: When your enemy is torturing you to extract information that he intends to use to harm your loved one, a deceptive lie is the morally good act.
I knew of this exception from the start but tried to guide the discussion around it because, IMO, the exception is broadly misinterpreted to include such nonsense as "honor among thieves" and all that. It is also used to justify brutal despotism for the sake of some percieved "higher" good.
For what it's worth I had defined the issues as such, a few days ago:
“Truth” in the context I have been using it is a commitment to seeking, honoring, and presenting facts with sincerity of action, character, and utterance in the context of trust with one's self, one’s fellows, and society at large.
No one bought into my narrow definition, so in the broader scheme of truth/deception, yours is the better argument. Good job. |
