Telling lies & breaking promises

• five main understandings of the conscience:

  1. society-linked approaches
  2. reason-based approaches
  3. 'voice of god' approaches
  4. psychological approaches
  5. situationist approaches
• society-linked approach to telling lies & breaking promises

  • threatens the stability and flourishing of society
  • fear of punishment in an authoritarian environment might be the motive behind keeping promises and not telling lies
• reason-based approach to telling lies & breaking promises

  • for aquinas, it conflicts with the synderesis rule and contravenes the primary precept of living in an ordered society. however, an evasive truth is acceptable in exceptional circumstances
  • other theories might adopt a more proportionalist approach
  • butler's reflective principle might encourage a balancing act, leading to lying being the right thing in some circumstances
• 'voice of god' approach to telling lies & breaking promises

  • would normally be in line with the Ten Commandments
  • but for modern thinkers, in very exceptional situations its guidance might go against all accepted ethical rules
• psychological approach to telling lies & breaking promises

  • lying and promise-breaking would not be seen as moral issues
  • it would be a concern only if they raised emotional issues of guilt, etc
• situationist approach to telling lies & breaking promises

  • there is no absolute right or wrong
  • it all depends on the agapeic calculus's assessment of the situation