Lying

Patrick Darling

ENGW 1101

1-31-16

Lying is an action that comes easy to humans. It is something that most everyone does every day of their life. Whether it be a small lie, like saying you’ll go to bed early, or a bigger lie like coming up with an fake excuse to your professor about you not being in class. Making up small little fibs every once and awhile doesn’t hurt but big lies can hurt yourself or others. Because of this lying carries a negative connotation and a question persists, should lying be permissible?

Argumentally, an individual can state that lying is fine as long as the two parties are not hurt, it makes lying ok. However there is a problem is that if the opposing party was to ask, for example, a question pertaining back to the original lie and the only way out is another lie you are just digging a deeper and deeper hole. The deeper the hole gets the harder it is to get out of it, overall it is safer to tell the truth. Being honest is usually always safer than telling a lie since you aren’t at the risk of digging a hole. That’s why it shouldn't be permissible to lie, however whenever there is a chance to easily deceive another person, naturally by instincts we will take that offer if it results in a better outcome.

Ultimately, deception is a negative thing, and that's exactly what lying is. No matter how big or small the lie is, it shouldn’t be permissible. However, it is not how the world works since everyone lies, so realistically only the smallest of lies are ok here and there, but not if it can affect yourself or someone else.