Critically evaluate the common view that white lies are morally permissible. Are white lies morally permissible? Why or why not?
In this essay, I will argue and conclude that white lies are morally permissible. I will further discuss when in my belief it is morally permissible. I will discuss justification of using white lies, protecting the well-being of another, defending another because of emotional sensitivity. Would it be advantageous or disadvantageous telling the truth? Morally, are you obligated to lie with the intend to protect someone? I will argue from the point of views of theories permitting a lie if the benefit outweighs the bad; if the advantage outweighs the disadvantage. The Utilitarian, Consequentialist supports permissible …show more content…
If a murderer comes to my door, asking the whereabout of my daughter, and I am aware that my daughter will be seriously harmed as a result of I disclosing her whereabouts to this murderer, I think in this scenario, a white lie, withholding the truth or lying that I do not know where my daughter is; in this scenario I believe it would be morally permissible. I do believe there are exceptions where white lies are permissible, and the above case illustrates such condition. As per the consequentialist there are consequences for lying, however, the scenario described above, in which the end result, could be life threatening a white lie would be morally permissible. “Utilitarianism, lie or the truth must be judged by a calculation between advantages and disadvantages. In other words, if a lie to maximize the benefits of a situation, the utilitarian moral is lying, it would be even worst not to lie” http://www. the-philosophy.com/Kant-right-to-lie. Here, the outcome of lying is positive than the truth. A defensive lie justifies that act of a white lie in the above scenario, as if the murderer’s intent is to kill my daughter upon being aware of her whereabouts, the end result being seriously harmful, it is my belief, that a defensive lie here, is morally permissible. Dworkins reports on a woman’s husband’s death by
In this essay, I will argue and conclude that white lies are morally permissible. I will further discuss when in my belief it is morally permissible. I will discuss justification of using white lies, protecting the well-being of another, defending another because of emotional sensitivity. Would it be advantageous or disadvantageous telling the truth? Morally, are you obligated to lie with the intend to protect someone? I will argue from the point of views of theories permitting a lie if the benefit outweighs the bad; if the advantage outweighs the disadvantage. The Utilitarian, Consequentialist supports permissible …show more content…
If a murderer comes to my door, asking the whereabout of my daughter, and I am aware that my daughter will be seriously harmed as a result of I disclosing her whereabouts to this murderer, I think in this scenario, a white lie, withholding the truth or lying that I do not know where my daughter is; in this scenario I believe it would be morally permissible. I do believe there are exceptions where white lies are permissible, and the above case illustrates such condition. As per the consequentialist there are consequences for lying, however, the scenario described above, in which the end result, could be life threatening a white lie would be morally permissible. “Utilitarianism, lie or the truth must be judged by a calculation between advantages and disadvantages. In other words, if a lie to maximize the benefits of a situation, the utilitarian moral is lying, it would be even worst not to lie” http://www. the-philosophy.com/Kant-right-to-lie. Here, the outcome of lying is positive than the truth. A defensive lie justifies that act of a white lie in the above scenario, as if the murderer’s intent is to kill my daughter upon being aware of her whereabouts, the end result being seriously harmful, it is my belief, that a defensive lie here, is morally permissible. Dworkins reports on a woman’s husband’s death by