Web Logs
9/27/2003 - Fitz's Golden Rule of Lying
A lie is ethical if it protects someone from a harm they do not deserve.
Of course the trick is being able to accurately judge whether or not the person is deserving of the aforementioned harm. Not always an easy task. Telling the Gestapo that your Jewish friend left town months ago when you know he is hiding in the cellar is perfectly acceptable. Telling the police the same story about your rapist friend wouldn't be.
Now telling you mother she looks great for her business meeting when her dress looks awful is more difficult. Maybe she does deserve some tough love to prevent her from looking silly at the meeting. Maybe not. Its hard to say.
Oh, and this post has nothing to do with anything I've specific said to anyone recently.
Really...
