Lies are morally permissible if bringing greatest happiness to greatest amount of people
CRITICISMS
Potential to bring long-term pain due to short-term pleasure
Permits objectionable actions i.e. arresting an innocent person
RESPONSE
Rules could be made to preserve certain rights that would produce greatest happiness i.e. right to liberty/freedom from false imprisonment
CRITICISMS OF RULE UTILITARIANISM
Rules could be inflexible when lying is best course of action
RESPONSE
Exceptions could be made in grave situations
RESPONSE
What count as a grave situation?
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Kantian Ethics and Deception/Lies (12)
We have absolute duty to only tell the truth/not tell lies
Universability formulation: any maxim permitting lying can't be universalised and isn't morally good
Humanity formulation: Deceiving/lying to someone treats them as means; people should be respected enough to be told truth so that they can make rational decisions
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Virtue Ethics and Deception/Lies (12)
Lying could be considered virtue (white lie) or vice (adultery/theft) depending on the situtation
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