Lying Is Morally Wrong - 939 Words

Lying is morally wrong. Lying is wrong because it could lead to reputations being ruined,intense guilt,hurting innocent people, and so much more. In excerpts from The Bible and from the play â€Å"Hippolytus† by Euripides, the consequences of lying are center stage. Lying leaves the person with guilt that will never leave them. In Genesis 4:13 Cain tells God,†My punishment is heavier than I can bear; now you are driving me off the land, and I must hide myself from your presence†(Keystone Giant Print Presentation Edition, Gen. 4:13). Cain knows God will punish him because he knows he’s guilty of killing his brother. God is angry at Cain not only because he killed Abel but the fact that he hid from God and could not bare to show himself. He doesn’t wish to show himself to God because he knows his crime and he knows when he committed the crime he knew it was wrong but continued anyway. Emotional distress sparked up by lying is dangerous. In Genesis 37 it states â€Å"Joseph’s brothers took the long robe with sleeves, and dipped it in the blood of a goat†¦ they brought it to their father and said â€Å"Do you recognize it? Is this your son’s robe or not?† â€Å" (Genesis 37). After hearing about his son’s â€Å"death†, Joseph’s father broke down. He couldn’t take his son’s death because his own son died, so sudden. His other sons knowingly lied knowing that it would hurt their father. If they told the truth about selling Joseph then their father wouldn’t have been so broken inside and could’ve beenShow MoreRelatedThe Moral Value Of Actions Essay1354 Words   |  6 Pages Though there are various normative ethical theories that work well in deciphering the moral value of actions in most tough situations, all prevailing theories seem to give the wrong answer to some of them. This is why I agree with the ethical pluralist in that moral duties are irreducible (Ross). Hence, I do not have answers adherent to a grounding theory for the two moral dilemmas posed in the prompt. To the moral quandary regarding whether or not it is right to break a promise to a dead friendRead MoreIs it wrong to lie995 Words   |  4 Pages Is it always morally wrong to lie? Yes, I strongly agree, others might disagree; moreover, this can depend on one’s own morals. A young mother or a young father might tell a story to their children about Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, or the Tooth Fairy. Mothers and Fathers tell and read these stories to their children all of the time just like their mothers and fathers and their mothers and fathers. These are stories, told each year giving a child hopes and dreams. Is it a lie? I do not thinkRead MoreApplying Normative Theories Of A Moral Situation993 Words   |  4 Pageswould produce the most overall happiness is the morally right act therefore must be the one carried out† (Rowan and Zin pg 14 pp2). I must now decipher whether the act of lying to the child, the mother, the other two siblings and all other persons of interest in this case would maximize happiness. Ultimately, according to act-utilitarianism this would determine if me lying would be morally proper. Nonetheless, if lying is determined as morally wrong; not only would this act create unhappiness withRead MoreApplying Normative Theories Of A Moral Situation996 Words   |  4 Pageswould produce the most overall happiness is the morally right act therefore must be the one carried out† (Rowan and Zin pg 14 pp2). I must now decipher whether the act of lying to the child, the mother, the other two siblings and all other persons of interest in this case would maximize happiness. Ultimately, according to act-utilitarianism this would determine if me lying would be morally proper. Nonetheless if lying is determined to be morally wrong; not only would this act create unhappiness withRead MoreKant And Kant s Universal Law Essay1458 Words   |  6 Pagesfails to successfully establish lying as morally impermissible because the claim that lying is morally impermissible goes against common sense. Kant defines his Universal Law to demonstrate the necessary action one must take in order to act in a way that is morally permissible and uses it in support of his belief that one’s motive is the sole determinant of the moral worth of his actions. He uses the Universal Law Theorem to determine whether it should be morally permissible to lie in any occasionRead MoreVolkswagen Utilitarian Ethics1055 Words   |  5 Pagesactions must not only obey the Categorical Imperative, but also be governed by purity of will. Purity of will means that one acts morally because it is the right thing to do rather than a selfish motivation. If either one of these conditions is not met, an action is morally wrong, regardless of the outcome. As long as both conditions are met, an act is considered to be morally right, regardless of the outcome. The Categorical Imperative is derived from maxims. A maxim is a subject statement that governsRead MoreEssay on Is it Right or Wrong to Lie?589 Words   |  3 Pages Is it right or wrong to lie? This specific issue had been discussed throughout the whole world for years, and years, and it depends on the opinions of each and every one of us, to decide whether it is right or wrong to lie to others. Human has an instinct to lie. The definition of a lie is â€Å"an intentionally false statement†. In different situations, lies are used in different ways. There are lies called â€Å"white lies†, and ones called â€Å"dark lies†. â€Å"White lies† are tiny lies, and a rather helpfulRead MoreKant And John Stuart Mill s Utility Based, Utilitarian Moral Theory1551 Words   |  7 Pagesvastly different rationales. Immanuel Kant s duty-based, deontological moral theory and John Stuart Mill s utility-based, utilitarian moral theory are prime examples of antithetical viewpoints that share similar outlooks to ethical subjects such as lying and helping those in need through vastly different lines of reasoning. The fundamental basis of Kant s moral theory is that the only universal good is the good will and, more specifically, it is our duty to perform the good will at all times forRead MoreKant s Ethical Theory Of Ethics961 Words   |  4 Pagesimperative that a person must do what is morally right without exception. One can use the Categorical Imperative as a formula to test if an action is morally right or wrong, and if done correctly the result will be the same for everyone. So, no one has to tell you what is right or wrong because when you use the formula correctly you can see for yourself what the correct ethical action is no matter the situation. Kant’s example to explain the idea is lying to get out of a problematic situation. IfRead MoreTruth Telling in Todays Society Essay588 Words   |  3 Pagesoverrated. It is amazing the words we put with the word lying. We call them so many various things such as; exaggeration, little white lies, half truths, deceptions, and fibbin g. Lying has become a very complicated topic today. Lying can be used in many different ways such as; to protect the innocent, for tradition, and the esteem of individuals. On the other hand, lying can be used as a tool of deception and manipulation. When used in this manner lying becomes detrimental to an individual and to a society