ALEXANDRA TOFAN - XIB

CNER

WHAT IS LYING AFTER ALL?

As the title of my speech suggests, I would first like to pose these two questions: "What exactly is
lying and is it ever right to lie?".
Let's start off with the first question. Looking up the word "lie" in a dictionary, I found that it
simply represents false statements deliberately presented as being true. That's the definition that
everyone knows and relies on when deciding whether one is lying or telling the truth.
However, if we look deeper into the matter, we realise that a lie is not really the opposite of telling
the truth. One daring concept is that lies aren't necessarily false. How's that possible, you wonder?
It is believed that whether a statement is a lie depends solely on the intentions of the speaker. For
example, your friends invite you to a concert and, although you hate crowded places, you don't
want to disappoint them. So you lie and say "Of course, I'm sure I'm going to enjoy it". Contrary to
your expectations, you end up having a lot of fun and your initial lie becomes the truth. So you
told the truth. And yet you lied... Bearing this concept in mind, is the definition of lying accurate
at all? Some say that lying has nothing to do with telling the truth or not and that it should be
regarded as a relation between belief and intention. Lies as we know them are the product of the
speaker's mean intention to deceive.
Having established that, what about the second question? Is it ever right to lie? Or does deception
play a more important part in our lives, preventing - to some degree- emotional harm?
Let's look at what theorists have to say about this. According to Tony Coady, an Australian
philosopher, dishonesty has been perceived by all cultures as a "central human vice". Also,
various parts of The Bible have numerous references to this idea, making it clear that telling
lies is considered a sin ("The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful."
Proverbs Ch.12:22).
The new predicament we encounter is: Are all lies wrong?

ALEXANDRA TOFAN - XIB

CNER
Firstly, not all untruths are spiteful. Considering what I have just mentioned - that lies are created
due to one's mean intention to deceive - it seems only logical that what people call "white lies" are
not really lies at all. In such cases, full honesty can be hurtful, cruel and -although if we may not
realise it now - even unwanted. It can ruin social relationships and make us come across as rude,
cynical or ignorant.
Therefore, we reach what seems like a terrifying conclusion regarding a world claiming
democracy, fairness and morality: sometimes, deception is not a vice but a social virtue. Perhaps
deception, not truth, is what connects us. Ironically, it does so by separating our own, real
thoughts and beliefs from the others or even ourselves.
Nietzsche once asked: "Why must we have truth at any cost, anyway?". It was an odd question
coming from philosophy, the domain seen as seeking the truth and nothing but the truth.
But I'm asking you this: Where does the truth lie? What is truth and what are lies?