Violating Kant’s Rule against Lying
Kant held that definite types of deeds including lying are forbidden. Even in circumstances where the action would convey more joy than the other or even where the lie seem to be the only option that would salvage the riskiest situation at hand. He, therefore, advocates for absolute truth no matter the situation and that lying is wrong. Therefore, this work is going to highlight cases that lying can be of significance
While trying to do the correct thing in a tough state, perfect morality may seem next best to morals like, respect, compassion and justice. Religious traditions and many philosophical rarely claim whether a lie is or not permissible (Rachels & Rachels, 2003). Philosopher Emmanuel Kant alleged that lying was at all times morally wrong. He claimed that entirely all individuals are natural with an intrinsic value called human dignity. He also claimed that lying is ethically incorrect for two motives; one is that it degrades the essential value of people. This might not be true, for example, a dying mother asks her child to sell her land and put the money in the casket. If the child tells the truth about not doing that, then the mother would possibly transfer the duty to someone else due to mistrust (Sherman, 1997). The child perhaps goes and gives the estate to the poor because he thinks burying the money will prevent the poor from benefiting from it. The child here is not being corrupt but compassionate.
Kant and feature ethicists overlook the only test essential for ruling on the ethics of a lie harmonizing the paybacks and tribulations of its costs. Utilitarian argue that engagements including lying are ethically tolerable when the effects make the most of profit or reduce damage. A lie is thus not continually immoral, in fact, if a lie can maximize profit then it is immoral not to lie, (Rachels & Rachels, 2003). For example, in the above example if the child in the above example does what the mother asked for then it is immoral because that is a waste of money due to the fact that there are people who are in critical need of it.
In conclusion, not always is a lie wrong or inhuman. It should be considered significant in situations that it will bring benefit or prevent harm. For instance, people sometimes lie to protect their loved ones.
References
Rachels, J., & Rachels, S. (2003). The elements of moral philosophy (p. 20). New York: McGraw-Hill.
Sherman, N. (1997). Making a Necessity of Virtue: Aristotle and Kant on Virtue. Cambridge University Press.