Deontology: The Ethical Obligation Of Lying
I think there are many circumstances were people justify a lie. The fictitious Santa Clause and Easter Bunny are those little white lies where it seems better as a parent to lie than having a small child become sad. I personally do not think it is the right thing to do. When my children asked me if Santa was real I gave them the correct answer. I personally think lying is wrong and that we should always tell the truth. On the flip side I think there may be times when it is ethically right to lie. I hold a Top Secret Clearance and I am often asked questions in which I seem to have to morally lie in order not to divulged sensitive information that is vital to the National Security of our country. Is it right or wrong? I believe it is Ok for
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The basic argument supporting Deontology focuses on the will of the person acting, the person’s intention in carrying out the act, and particularly, the rule according to which the act is carried out. Deontology focuses on the duties and obligations one has in car¬rying out actions rather than on the consequences of those actions (Mosser, 2013). Therefore it is the ethical obligation to act only in those ways that all rational beings would find acceptable.
Kant judges morality by looking at our ability to make rational choices. Kant’s rationale principle was grounded on the categorical imperative which states true morality should not depend on our likes and dislikes or on abilities and opportunities (Kay, 2016). The categorical says that I shouldn’t lie even if lying wouldn’t bring the slightest harm to me. Kant was basically saying that lying is morally wrong.
I do not agree with Kant view of lying. I think under some circumstance lying is morally acceptable when the benefits of the results or consequences outweigh the harm which in essence would mean it would be immoral not to lie.
In my next post I will discuss the positive and negative aspects of deontological theory as it relates to other theories I have encountered in this
The basic argument supporting Deontology focuses on the will of the person acting, the person’s intention in carrying out the act, and particularly, the rule according to which the act is carried out. Deontology focuses on the duties and obligations one has in car¬rying out actions rather than on the consequences of those actions (Mosser, 2013). Therefore it is the ethical obligation to act only in those ways that all rational beings would find acceptable.
Kant judges morality by looking at our ability to make rational choices. Kant’s rationale principle was grounded on the categorical imperative which states true morality should not depend on our likes and dislikes or on abilities and opportunities (Kay, 2016). The categorical says that I shouldn’t lie even if lying wouldn’t bring the slightest harm to me. Kant was basically saying that lying is morally wrong.
I do not agree with Kant view of lying. I think under some circumstance lying is morally acceptable when the benefits of the results or consequences outweigh the harm which in essence would mean it would be immoral not to lie.
In my next post I will discuss the positive and negative aspects of deontological theory as it relates to other theories I have encountered in this