Origen quotes Plato and approves of his doctrine on this point (Stromata, VI).
There is some difference of opinion among the Fathers of the Christian Church.
But even on the ground of pragmatism it is well for us to bear in mind that white lies are apt to prepare the way for others of a darker hue. Indeed the pragmatic tendency of the day, which denies that there is such a thing as absolute truth, and measures the morality of actions by their effect on society and on the individual, would seem to open wide the gates to all but injurious lies. Paulsen and most modern non-Catholic writers admit the lawfulness of the lie of necessity. Kant allowed a lie under no circumstance. Modern philosophers are divided in the same way. Aristotle, in his Ethics, seems to hold that it is never allowable to tell a lie, while Plato, in his Republic, is more accommodating he allows doctors and statesmen to lie occasionally for the good of their patients and for the common weal. From the dawn of ethical speculation there have been two different opinions on the question as to whether lying is ever permissible. It has always been admitted that the question of lying creates great difficulties for the moralist. An officious, or white, lie is such that it does nobody any injury: it is a lie of excuse, or a lie told to benefit somebody. Of course what is said merely and obviously in joke cannot be a lie: in order to have any malice in it, what is said must be naturally capable of deceiving others and must be said with the intention of saying what is false. Jocose lies are told for the purpose of affording amusement. Thomas, Catholic divines and ethical writers commonly make a distinction between (1) injurious, or hurtful, (2) officious, and (3) jocose lies. For if a man makes a statement which he thinks is false, but which in reality is true he certainly lies inasmuch as he intends to say what is false, and although a well-known liar may have no intention of deceiving others for he knows that no one believes a word he says yet if he speaks at variance with his mind he does not cease to lie.įollowing St. But it is possible to lie without making a false statement and without any intention of deceiving. Thus a recent authority defines a lie as a false statement made with the intention of deceiving. This definition is more accurate than most others which are current. Thomas Aquinas, is a statement at variance with the mind. Includes the Catholic Encyclopedia, Church Fathers, Summa, Bible and more all for only $19.99.
Thou shalt not lie meaning full#
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