Is it okay to lie to solve a problematic situation?

Mark McGuire: Due to Unavoidable Health Affects, Lying in a Problematic Situation is Unacceptable

Anne Radcliffe: Lying to Solve a Problematic Situation is Necessary for Parents

Aaliyah Rodgers: In Romantic Relationships, it is Not Okay to Lie to Solve Problems

Brooke Wilkens:  Lying is Acceptable When it Solves the Problem of Not Fitting In

Additional Resources about the Morality of Lying

Throughout the 2016 presidential election, much of the news surrounding the candidates was discussion about lying on the campaign trail. Candidates talked a lot about “fact checking” and often accused each other of lying during debates to avoid an unflattering truth. We can all admit that this occurs frequently in almost everyone’s lives, whether we’re talking about small white lies or more dramatic or elaborate lies that get us out of sticky situations, but may leave us with unintended consequences. However, because we saw so much of this behavior broadcasted in the media in recent months, we wanted to explore what kind of effect this has had on our views of lying, or if it has had an effect at all.  

We can all admit that this occurs frequently in almost everyone’s lives, whether we’re talking about small white lies or more dramatic or elaborate lies that get us out of sticky situations, but may leave us with unintended consequences.

This prompted us to ask the question: Is it okay to lie to solve a problematic situation? The morality of lying has really been brought into question because of recent events, and it’s important to discuss how this may be altering whether or not it is an acceptable behavior, in this case in problematic situations specifically. Lying has become more of a common occurrence in most people’s everyday lives. A study at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst found that “60 percent of people lied at least once during a 10-minute conversation and told an average of two to three lies.” Initially, this statistic may seem unrealistic, but it is important to establish what a lie truly is, and whether or not a false statement or assertion is considered a lie if it either leads to something beneficial happening, or doesn’t lead to a significantly bad occurrence happening. Lies are a part of everyday life, but in what problematic situations is it okay to lie, if any? An article from the University of Santa Clara helps explain this phenomenon: “Sometimes a lie, a false statement made with deliberate intent to deceive, seems the perfect response: a brother lies about his sister’s whereabouts to the drunken husband threatening to harm her, … a son gives his late mother’s estate to the poor after promising to honor her demand that the money be placed in her coffin. When trying to do the right thing in a difficult situation, perfect honesty may seem second best next to values like compassion, respect, and justice.” We have applied this question to certain problematic situations: lying to fit in, relationship issues, life or death situations, or lying in parenting. In order to explore this question, each essay takes these situations and discusses how it may become an exception to the universal thought we are taught from childhood: honesty is the best policy, and it is never okay to lie.