Flaming Trousers

We all know the childhood taunt, “Liar, liar, pants on fire.” We definitely don’t like people who lie. Just look at the public outcry to a recently elected US Congressional Representative caught lying about his past. 

Is it ever okay to lie? Or is honesty always, with no exceptions, the best policy? Mountains of books have been written about this over the centuries. I cannot sufficiently cover all of the arguments in a blog post. But I’m going to write about it anyway.

Let me get one consideration out the way up front. The Cosmos, Universe, God, or whatever, doesn’t give a damn about us and what we do. We’re on our own for this.

I like thought experiments rather than just theories regarding ethical dilemmas. When discussing ethical absolutes, the setting should be one of the most evil institutions in history. Slavery certainly fits the bill. In this case, slavery in the United States.

Scenario: It’s 1857, and you’re a white abolitionist. In the back of your covered wagon, you’re hiding a family of runaway slaves that you’re helping get to freedom. As you approach the border to cross from the Slave State of Virginia to the Free State of Pennsylvania, you see a roadblock with armed men in your path. One armed man approaches and tells you they’re looking for some runaway slaves. They ask you if you’ve seen any and if you might know where they are? 

Question: Do you lie and tell them that you haven’t seen any? Or do you admit that you have and that they’re in the back of your wagon? 

My Response: I would lie in this thought experiment with no regrets whatsoever about doing so. In fact, I believe lying is the ethical choice in this scenario, while telling the truth is unethical. This is because the welfare of people is the highest ethics. Life overrides other considerations, especially abstract musings by philosophers sitting around their metaphorical ivory towers. 

Does this mean I think it’s always okay to lie? Of course not. Absolutes to the other extreme are such as wrong. In relationships, generally, honesty is the best policy. However, not always. Especially when it causes more harm than good. 

So, dear surfers of the interwebs, what do you think? Do you think honesty is absolute, or is it situational? Let me know your thoughts. You can leave a comment below. I’m on Facebook and Twitter. You can also email me at fratert@ftenebris.com.