Thoughts on Lying and Consequentialism
“Nation of liars,” is what I wanted to call this post. Inspired by today’s MPR program discussing some book about perjury.
I could sit on my high horse and damn them all. Weiner, Bonds, Clinton, Martha Stewart, etc. None seem to possess the virtue of truthfulness.
It’s because we’re a nation of consequentialists, with an ethic that, at best, owes the truth only to our family and friends.
When questioned, we ask, “what would honesty, in this instance, inflict upon me or my people?” Once the consequences have been calculated, we answer accordingly.
Reasons:
- A nation that doesn’t forgive one’s transgressions is not conducive to truth-telling.
- An individual with no sense of community (or a hyperlocalized sense of community) feels no obligation to be honest to a global audience.
- The virtue of total honesty is seen as naive. We are taught to mind the consequences.
A nation of practical realists, always attempting to manipulate the consequences of their actions, will lose sight of spiritual truth. I’d rather put my faith in the impractical virtue of honesty, trusting where it leads, than end up in a vile pit of disgrace like your Bernie Madoff or your John Edwards.
