The Way of Telling Lies and the Consequences - Research Paper Example

The Way of Telling Lies and the Consequences Introduction Lying is most likely the most common wrongful act that individuals carry out on a daily basis, making it more of an unavoidable part of the human nature in the individual. Most people, if asked, would argue that lying is wrong, unless it is told where there is a good reason to justify the lie. This simply means that, to many people, lying is not wrong – though wrong in many times, thus, not always a wrongful act. However, from the challenges of everyday life, the people who think that lying is always wrong – are also wrong, as the case where making one lie may mean that other 10 lies will not be made, then the first lie may be considered rightfully committed. This is a case comparable to that of sentencing a serial killer to death, so as to avoid their committing more killings or murders. From this example, the sentencing to death is equally causing death, but with the intent of putting an end to the deaths that the serial killer has caused, and those that they may continue to cause. Therefore, in avoiding the further deaths, a single death is justified, showing that in such a case, it is not wrongful to send such a person to death. This paper will discuss the causes and the reasons behind the lies made by different individuals, with the intent of showing that lies are a core part of the daily life of each individual, and a part that cannot be avoided – literally speaking. This will help shed more light on the issues and the challenges or circumstances that force people into making lies, as opposed to following the rightful path of telling the truth. From an analysis of the lies made by individuals, it is clear that the factors and the issues – often leading to the making of lies include solving sticky issues, avoiding trouble, protecting others from the truth that may hurt them and as an effort to make certain cases look better than they are. Other reasons for lying include lying so as to identify with certain groups, so as to act as examples for others, for example the case of a parent who tells children lies – that they were brilliant in school, so that the children can work harder. From this discussion, the writer will clearly show that lying or cheating – as wrongful as it may be – is a principal part of everyday life, and a key into effective living (Bakan 124-127; Brown & Levinson 168-174). Literature Review According to the BBC ethics guide, a website feature, lying is most probably the most common wrongful acts that are committed by individuals on a daily basis. The account explains that some researchers are quoted, as saying that lying is a fully unavoidable part of human nature. According to the account, most people would consent that lying is wrong, except in the case where it is committed for a good reason. Also, among the people that hold that lying is wrong, there is the problem that they shut the possibility of saving a certain course or situation, which may have been saved by making one lie. According to Sisela Bok (78), lying is a type of deception, but not all models of deception can qualify to be referred as lies. The account goes further to account that a lie has three basic characteristics, these including that it is made to communicate some information, that the liar plans to mislead, and that the liar is convinced that the information they offer is not right or truthful. However, the author goes further to account that, opposite to the belief of many, a lie does not have to offer false information, or get presented in a malicious manner – or with a wrongful intent. An example offered, is that of white lies, which are offered for good intentions. The definition of a lie, also includes, the case where an individual presents truthful information taking it to be a lie and in the cases of a known liar, who is not able to lie to others, because they know that they always tell lies. Therefore, from the diversity of the lies told, the source shows that lies form a core aspect of everyday livelihood. From the Same account by the BBC, a lie is an intentionally misleading message, offered in the form of a statement. However, the definition extends to cover the cases of keeping silent, which is aimed at deceiving a questioner. Other models of lying which cannot be avoided include the cases of living a lie, where individuals behave in ways that mislead others, as to their true identity and nature. The account, further, tells of the cases where lies are made for rightful reasons, these including compassion. In such a case, the solution is established from considering what an ideal person would have done in that particular case (Cole 1309-1321; DePaulo 203-243). According to Bok (19), who borrows greatly from the absolutist view of Immanuel Kant, lying is wrong, as it often leads to consequences that are bad. Therefore lying should be avoided, except in extreme cases; lying should be maintained at a minimal level, because; the resultant consequences are most times undesirable. According to the revisionist approach to lying, there is no simple, plain truth – especially, in the model of a major explanatory account, thus the focus is placed on the identification of phases of falsehood and truth. Postmodernists, on the other hand – have nothing much to say about lying, thus, would rather tolerate the allegations that their authored works are intentional deception. From the review of different models of explaining lying and truth – it is often, difficult to know whether one is telling the truth or lying, even to the person presenting the information, as concealing information, may also be considered a lie under certain approaches (Turner, Edgley & Olmstead 69-89; Hample 33-47). Preston, in an article titled, “why a lie a day helps you work, rest, and play…and that is the truth, honest:” the disapproval of lying is not successful in making people not to lie. Bella DePaulo, a psychologist, once questioned 147 individuals on how often they intentionally misled others, within the span of a week. From the average of the responses derived – the contacted people cheated one and half times each day. The results from another study showed that people meeting on their first encounter, tend to lie to one another three times within the first ten minutes of contact. As a result, it seems that every person lies or presents deception, though it is also not tied to humans alone, but also, other creatures like animals. An example offered is that of the Eastern Hognose snake, which – in the case it is threatened – fakes death by releasing a foul smell after spinning on to its back. This shows that lying, as bad as it may be – is an essential ingredient of that, which humans are. According to the author, lying drives the process of evolution, as the smartest tactician is much likely to continue existing and thriving, as compared to the more doltish counterparts. Further, lying makes individuals develop a sharper, appealing and reproductive ability, which fosters the balanced nature of humans and the groups they belong to. The author continues to argue that without lies, people would become depressed, sick, or even mad – from being weighed down by the heavy burden of too much truth. One example of the benefits of lying, according to the author is that, it improves the levels of imagination and creativity, which are core strategies of human survival. The author further cites the ability to lie as a milestone in determining the nature of development among children. For instance, he argues that in the case a child is able to lie in an exuberant and imaginative manner at the age of five, the parent should be proud of having born a competent child (Kashy & DePaulo 1037-1051; DePaulo 203-243). Methods and Results This paper is fully carried out from a secondary research approach, thus all the information used for the study was gathered from previous studies by other scholars, these including the BBC, Bok, DePaulo and Preston. All the literatures used as sources of information are peer reviewed, so they present first-hand, highly synthesized information on the field of study (Turner, Edgley & Olmstead 69-89). From the review of sources like the BBC ethics guide, trends in the way different people tell lies – lies make up a common part of almost everybody, and a fully unavoidable part of daily life. From the source trends of making lies, some of the lies made on a daily basis are used to correct things or to avoid harm that would however befall the people telling the lies or the audience. Further, the source shows that the tricky aspect in the trends of making lies is that most times, what many people think to be lies are only types of lies, therefore may end up telling lies without even noticing that they did. These include the aspect that a lie should not necessarily be made in a malicious manner, so that it can qualify to be one. From the account by Bok (19), the results show that despite the universal view that lying is wrongful, thus should be avoided unless in extreme cases, lying makes up a substantial compulsory part of life. The account clearly expresses that the level of telling lies should be restricted to extreme cases, and kept at a minimum level. The results also indicate that other groups like the postmodernists prefer to keep silent and ignorant to the aspect that lies are made and that the ideas they present may be fundamentally lies. Bok also shows that most times, it is difficult to tell whether one is telling lies or the truth, because; lies may also be made through the incidences when a person conceals the truth. The results drawn from Preston, depict trends, showing that – the disapproval of lying does not compel people into avoiding lies. The results also indicated, that any average person will make a lie at least one and half times each day, and that they go to the extent of telling lies to new encounters. The trends also indicate that lying is not only limited to the human race, as other species like snakes, also will show trends of misleading behavior – in order to ensure their security. The information, further, indicates that lying has evolved into a model of showing the level of adaptability into the nature of life, for example among children (Turner, Edgley & Olmstead 69-89). Discussion From the account by the BBC on ethical guides, lying is the most common type of mistake made on a daily basis, which supports the views of different scholars like Bok, that lying is a fully unavoidable part of an individual’s everyday life. The fact that many people will consent that lying is wrong, further, does not keep them from telling lies, as there is the consideration of when the lie made serves an important course. From these findings, it is clear that a lie is not considered one – on the basis of being falsehood, only, but on the consideration – whether such a lie served some course of importance or not. From the trend explicated in the discussion, lying makes a core part of everyday life, which may not be avoided, and that making lies is way beyond their desire to tell the truth. This shows that humans are socialized into making lies when the lie will serve a certain importance. This aspect alone, serves to justify the rightful nature of telling lies, showing that lies make up a substantial part of everyday livelihood, therefore cannot be avoided – even on a daily basis. Due to the socialization into making important lies, it is clear that a lie of value is not a lie; therefore, these are social constructions that solidify the behavior of making lies on a daily basis (Bakan 124-127). From the results drawn from the different sources, there are many misconceptions surrounding lies, these including the fact that a lie should be made to communicate some information, that the liar intends to lie, and that the liar is convinced that the information they present is false. However, this definition and belief, serves to make the behavior of lying further unavoidable, mainly because; it is not all lies that are made upon the intention of the liar – that they make a lie. The complication also rises from the consideration that the information they are presenting is false in its entirety. Limiting lies to this definition binds many people in lies – not allowing them to understand that they make lies on a daily basis, especially without knowing, especially those who tend to shy away or refute the behavior of lying. These include the cases where an individual presents wrongful information believing that it is true and the cases where lies are told for a god course – not for malicious reasons. Such considerations serve to prove cheating a considerably unavoidable part of everyday life, as many will lie without noticing that they lied, and without intending it. One common type of lie which may restrict people to making lies on a daily basis is the case when a person misleads others on the basis of the way they portray their identity and nature – painting a different picture before them, opposite to who they really are (Preston). The fact that it is a socialized aspect of everyday life; that a lie can be made for a good course and reason; intended to serve a good purpose, further, energizes the ability of individuals to lie on a daily basis – instead of telling the truth and doing harm that could be avoided using a lie. Therefore, this shows that the social fabric and cultural considerations as well as the values held by different people are grounded on the belief that a lie is wrong when it does not serve a good purpose. As a result, this consideration makes many people to offer lies under the commonly accepted course that a lie made for the right purpose is not necessarily a lie, but a course, which is justifiable on the good it serves. As a result, these social and at times cultural constructions serve to enforce the habit of making lies on a daily basis, which makes lying a core aspect of life. Therefore, this shows that lying is a behavior which cannot be avoided within the social environment, as it forms a central aspect of daily livelihood (Bok 126-128). The account also presented a fact that most information bases presented as truth are composed of a blend of truth and lies, where the lies are offered to make the truth plainer. In such a case, the larger truth is compromised by the limited parts of lies, which serve to make it sound better or truer. As a result, this shows that lies make up a substantial part of everyday livelihood, thus not a practice that can be avoided in many cases. An example here is the assumptions held in scientific studies. From the account, the trends further showed that lies are not limited to humans, as they are depicted in other species like the Hognose snake which implies its death for its security. This shows that telling lies is more of an instinctual inclination – towards securing oneself or others from the harm that could be caused by the truth. As a result, considering the natural basis of such a behavior, it is clear that an individual cannot avoid such a behavior – as they may even tell lies without their awareness of making such a lie. The instinctual aspect of telling lies may also be proved using the inclination of believing that a child who can lie in an imaginative manner is a functionally proper individual. This shows that lying is not only a behavior, but also a measure of growth, and most probably an indicator of evolution – which is the move towards the development of survival tactics and abilities (Lewis & Saarni 235-243). Conclusion Lying is a common, wrongful act among many individuals, who sometimes present such lies without the intent to do so, but on the natural inclination to do so, towards maintaining the balance that exists within the social world. Justifications for lying include lying to protect oneself, lying to protect others and the cases where the lie is made to avoid making further harm or lies to others. According to the BBC ethics watch, lying is considered wrong, when it is not done for a good course and when it is made to the detriment of others. There is also, the socialized belief that lying is wrong, though unavoidable – thus should be kept at a minimum – as extreme case will obligate the making of lies. Bok also contends that lying is a socialized course, which is kept at minimum through being restricted to that which serves a good course, or one meant to serve the good of many people. According to Preston, lying is more instinctual than a learnt behavior as humans will show development in abilities to lie imaginatively as they grow. Also, lying is not limited to humans, as other animals like the Hognose snake implies its death to ensure its security. The paper is compiled from a secondary research approach, as the information is drawn from peer reviewed works by other scholars. From the different accounts of the established nature of the institution of lying, it is clear that lies make up a substantial part of everyday life – both based on the nature of humanity, the demands from livelihood, and the socialization of the cases when a lie is allowable. From the account, it is fully explicate that lying is a core aspect of everyday life and a part that cannot be avoided – as it serves towards the general course of living in certain cases. Works Cited Bakan, David. The duality of human existence: An essay on psychology and religion. Chicago: Rand McNally, 1966. Print. BBC. "Lying and Truth-telling." BBC News, 2012. Web. 09 May 2012. Bok, Sissela. Lying: Moral Choices in Public and Private Life. Hassocks: Harvester, 1978. Print. Brown, Penelope, & Levinson Stephen. Politeness: Some universals in Language usage. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1987. Print. Cole, Pamela. “Children’s spontaneous control of facial expression.” Child Development 57 (1986): 1309-1321. DePaulo, Bella. “Nonverbal behavior and self-presentation.” Psychological Bulletin (1992): 203- 243. Hample, Dale. “Purposes and effects of lying.” Southern Speech Communication Journal 46 (1980): 33-47. Kashy, Deborah, & DePaulo Bella. “Who lies?” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 70 (1996):1037-1051. Lewis, Michael, & Saarni Cole. Lying and deception in everyday life. New York: Guilford Press, 1993. Print. Preston, John. "Why a Lie a Day Helps You Work, Rest and Play...and That's the Truth, Honest." Mail Online, 24 May 2011. Web. 09 May 2012. Turner, Ronny, Edgley, Richard, & Olmstead Richard. “Information control in conversations: Honesty is not always the best policy.” Kansas Journal of Sociology 11 (1975): 69 - 89. Read More