A Philosophy of Lying
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- $17.99
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- $17.99
Publisher Description
From lying to friends to lies in politics, a wide-ranging examination of the forms and ethics of falsehood.
From popular philosopher Lars Svendsen, this book is a comprehensive investigation of lying in everyday life. What exactly is a lie, Svendsen asks, and how does lying differ from related phenomena, such as “b******t” or being truthful? Svendsen also investigates the ethics of lying—why is lying almost always morally wrong, and why is lying to one’s friends especially bad? The book concludes by looking at lying in politics, from Plato’s theory of the “noble lie” to the Big Lie of Donald Trump.
As phrases like “fake news” and “alternative facts” permeate our feeds, Svendsen’s conclusion is perhaps a surprising one: that, even though we all occasionally lie, we are for the most part trustworthy. Trusting others makes one vulnerable, and we will all be duped from time to time. But all things considered, Svendsen contends, truthfulness and vulnerability are preferable to living in a constant state of distrust.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
"It is better to be fooled occasionally than to go through life with...chronic distrust," writes philosopher Svendsen in this clever take on lying and telling the truth. He begins by exploring definitions of dishonesty and truth, writing that the "opposite of lying is not the truth, but truthfulness," the latter made up of two components, sincerity and accuracy. Svendsen regards lying as generally ill-advised, but explores if and when it can be justified, as in the cases of politicians and diplomats. Kant's school of thought, for example, would argue that lying has no place anywhere, including in politics, while Max Weber's would grant that fibs are wrong but still necessary when "consideration of the consequences should override the moral rules that otherwise apply." Svendsen looks at the philosophy of trust, as well; according to philosopher and theologian K.E. Løgstrup, humans "don't initially decide to trust someone—we just do. Trust... is a given, and you need a reason to replace it with mistrust." And though people can be dishonest, Svendsen remains hopeful that serial lying is an anomaly. His reflections are nuanced, his conclusions smart, and he keeps things free of academic jargon. Philosophy-minded readers will find this an enjoyable and enlightening study.
