There are so many definitions of this concept floating around that everyone believes they know the true definition. Yet I seem to always find an example of something that defeats it getting me the response that there are always exceptions.
WRONG
Something that has a definition can not have something that contradicts it. That would make it understanding instead or theory, as in most people except it while understanding it can't be proven beyond a shadow of a doubt. The problem is words don't have exceptions. They are created for a purpose and we can't go around changing it for our own ends, otherwise we lose the whole communication foundation.
Even in the dictionary do we find two conflicting definitions:
lie
1. a false statement made with deliberate intent to deceive; an intentional untruth; a falsehood.
2. something intended or serving to convey a false impression; imposture: His flashy car was a lie that deceived no one.
The first statement agrees with Harry G. Frankfurt while the second is so ambiguous as to demand comment. The ambiguousness is found in the belief that deception is lying, when someone can use the truth to deceive as well. For example if a friend asks how much money you make per year one can respond with $50k. While that person could actually be making $70k they do make $50k as well. The deceiver did not lie but he did deceive, if only to not offend.
This concept, that 99% of the people I know have, of a person is lying if they deceive you or simply do not give all the information is very unsettling. It makes me believe that no one has any principals of honor and integrity. For someone to believe that a true statement told in deceit is a lie means that person believe everyone lies and therefore has redefined it to find it more acceptable. Wait, that sounds like a large leap when I transition like that. Let me expound...
A person who believes all deception is lies must either believe there is good and bad deception or all deception is evil. The second is easy to remove from the conversation by bringing up Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the fact that there is more then one religion in the world. Someone is lying for the good of mankind so therefore not all deception is evil. Ok, if there is good and bad deception we must approach each with rigid uncaring logic. Eh, who are we kidding? Why do I need to even define good deception? If someone is trying to make someone feel better why would they need to deceive? In order for them to have good intentions they must either believe what they are saying, know what they are saying is false, or simply not care.
1. If they believe something that is not true then does not make them a liar.
2. If the statement is knowingly told as false then they are intentionally making someone believe an untruth.
3. If the they don't care then they are simply telling a story for entertainment.
4. If the statement was not the whole truth then the aim was to let the individual come to their own conclusion
The first is not deception and the third is entertainment, which in itself out of the scope of this post. The second which means someone is deliberately giving false information for the sole purpose of arriving at the wrong conclusion. That leaves the fourth. Here lies the crux of my point. For someone to believe that person is intentionally withholding information for the purpose of the conclusion reached being wrong implies that person believes all others are inferior. That this would be common among all people who do not tell the whole truth infers that all people believe themselves superior to all other people. That is where I simply can't jump on the band wagon.
There are times when telling the whole truth will lead to catastrophe, but I will never intentionally deceive. Instead I must offer a vague truth or very specific truth in the hopes a person will stop asking more questions. At no point did I attempt to deceive, but instead I purposedly moved the conversation away. It's exactly like changing the subject. Most importantly I did not give false information. According to the second definition above it is possible for me to have lied if the person reaches the wrong conclusion. That is simply unacceptable to a person who refuses to give false information but still wants to be successful and honest person.
In the end I believe that we as a people should return the concept where telling the truth is a matter of honor. Making a promise is believed and people are respected for who they are and not who they pretend to be. So far it has worked for me, how about you?
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