Virtue ethics

• the virtues of honesty and truthfulness say you shouldn't lie
• Aristotle believes lies are a distorting of reality for our own benefit
• Lying can be habitual or used to get us out of trouble
• Telling the truth or lying is about the disposition of a person: if they habitually tell the truth, they can be trusted
• Individual virtues work together to form a synergy, telling the truth requires:

  • honesty (to express truth)
  • Courage and temperance (to face the truth)
  • friendliness and high-mindedness (to face our due)
  • just resentment (when others do not give their due)
• Practical wisdom shows we can't isolate honesty from other virtes
• In the event of an axe murderer:

  • balance friendship/ loyalty and honesty
  • In this case, lying would be the mean
  • if your character is truthful, you'll be justified to lie this once