There is no denying that the act of deception is part of human nature. Many of us argue that lying is immoral, slowly corrupting our own lives and the ones that surround us. In fact, according to academics, lies are a great predictor in life – in the undesirable sense. Accordingly, falsehood aims at purposefully creating a dishonest impression. The practice of untruth, deliberate or undeliberate, can perchance create personal issues.
People usually lie for selfish reasons. Some carry more cynical motives than others, such as having an affair that results in a relationship built upon lies. Infidelity can cause psychological damage creating feelings of self-loathing, resentment, anxiety, and depression. On the other hand, many job seekers lie on their resumes to make a great impression on a potential employer and stand out amongst other applicants. Applying for jobs is extremely tiresome and monotonous, especially in today's highly competitive market. It is safe to say that lies have self-serving motives (roughly 80%).
As we already know, there are sex differences in personality amongst men and women and lying is no different. As an American study shows, women rank higher on the agreeableness rate and, as a result, lie less often than men. That said, women are more disposed to lie in order to avoid giving harsh criticism to someone - motivated by compassion. On the flip side, men are more inclined to tell self-serving lies than women. Like it or not, we are predisposed beings susceptive to the dichotomy of "sex tribalism", despite opposition in the ongoing and obnoxious culture war. For instance, men and women who talk to the equal sex tend to tell the truth on controversial or personal issues. Someone might argue that same-sex honesty is mainly attributable to children and young teenagers, but the research suggests that it prolongs deep into adulthood.
At first hand, we may generally perceive lying as wrongful, to a greater or lesser degree, yet some lies originate from good intentions. For instance, people commonly avoid criticism or outright lie about some matter in order to avoid hurting feelings. Despite being acts of deception, they are not self-deprecating or selfish acts made by the liar. Alternatively, is it moral or immoral to lie to a patient suffering from dementia? According to a study, 90% of nurses told lies for ethical reasons.
Can telling the truth always improve someone’s life? Sometimes honesty is worth the risk, so be well-equipped to handle the consequences of your word. For instance, Joe Rogan holds the most popular podcast and is known for his brutally honest opinions, despite corporate pressure made by high-ranking Spotify employees. That said, Joe deeply cares about his closest friends and shows love and affection whenever they are on as a guest. His candidness and straightforwardness define him as a standout host and, most importantly, a caring friend because he is willing to call out anything that bothers him. Additionally, saying harsh truths to them, instead of compassionately lying, hence avoid upsetting the other person. The latter is all about being honest with those around you - when something bugs you about the other person, you tell them straight at their face. Difficult conversations are a nuisance, but brutal honesty trumps all else.
"Honest conflict has more social value than dishonest harmony."
Joe Rogan
Alternatively, in the grand scheme of things, how would we visualise a world full of truthfulness in every aspect of society? In my view, we would all be dust by now. Some of the most important events in human history were, most likely, built upon lies - the Cold War, for example. On many occasions, to safeguard us from the dire consequences of the alternative. Therefore, lying may come in handy at times, though it may come at a cost for obvious reasons. Should all government classified information be disclosed to its citizens? Potential or active terrorist organizations would use the intelligence for ill-intended reasons putting lives at risk.
The realms of truth - and lies - are not singlehandedly studied by the social sciences, such as psychologists and sociologists, but have been deeply explored by philosophers across the human timespan, thus enhancing human understanding. Subsequently, we will examine what thinkers have claimed about deception and truthfulness – from ancient Greece to the modern age.
Socrates - Be True to Yourself
Back in 399 BC, one of the founders of Western thought, Socrates, lived a purposeful life of philosophical endeavours. The Greek thinker strolled the Athenian streets while preaching and deliberating thoughts on law, justice and moral philosophy. Lamentably, having the courage to speak your mind did not hold up in ancient Athens.
According to Plato in Apology of Socrates, the ponderer was accused and tried for two impudent crimes towards the Greek state: impiety and corruption of the youth. The combined offences were punishable by death. Ultimately, despite the unjust accusations and sentence, Socrates faced down his death and willingly accepted his fate with a confident air of nonchalance. But why would he sacrifice his life so handily - like handing in one's death sentence, instead of denying such accusations, hence possibly saving his own life?
Jacques-Louis David stunningly represents the moment of the execution in his 1787 oil painting titled The Death of Socrates. As Socrates points his finger upwards, borrowed from Raphael’s The School of Athens, the other hand hovers over the cup of poison. According to Plato, Socrates justified his deathly condemnation to teach one final lesson. “Men of Athens, I am grateful and I am your friends, but I will obey the God rather than you, and as long as I draw breath and am able, I shall not cease to practise philosophy.” One should never renounce one’s beliefs or way of living. In other words, never desert the endeavours that fill your heart with purpose because it is worth fighting.
What is the alternative? Had Socrates been pardoned for his impious crimes, life would have been an empty void. The alternative is a life of emptiness, resentment, contempt, and especially regret. Stay on the path of being truthful, especially to yourself. The Athenian philosopher dared to calmly accept his fate, but most importantly, he firmly stayed true to his anima. Follow your North Star forthrightly, such as Socrates.
“The main point, it seems to me, is to maintain an active life of risk and affection, remembering always that the value of life does not consist in its length but in its depth.”
Sir Roger Scruton
Kierkegaard and the Authentic Life
The existentialist Kierkegaard, like Socrates during his time, became a controversial figure during the 19th century – waging war against the church and the press until his passing. “Even as he was being laid in the grave, Kierkegaard was still causing controversy and forcing people to take a stand. He would have wanted it no other way.” He contemplated and wrote about Christianity and human psychology. The Dane philosopher explains the two common bifurcations that individuals partake in – the actor (authentic person) and the spectator (inauthentic person).
The latter consists of following the masses, without looking inwards, thus sacrificing your true self without consideration of the unintended consequences of the future. The attempt to convince oneself that everything is okay when something deep underneath sends warning signs is chaotical. Ultimately, willful blindness and hubris occur when rationality and pride are intertwined.
Humans are prideful beings because we always want to tosafeguard our tribalistic ideas. Our unconscious subtly lets us know when something is wrong with the anima.
Solzhenitsyn - Fighting Oppression and Lies
In today’s current and absurd state of affairs, the intrusiveness of politics is inevitable in any talking point – from vaccines to kids cartoons. Our over-politicized society has espoused ideology as a new form of religion and will soon reach its breaking point – or already has. Nevertheless, the articulate writer and Gulag survivor Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn discusses this idea in his essay “Live Not by Lies” - equating lies to the ideologized Russian state and society. The novelist lived through the horrors of the Soviet Union, particularly the deathly Gulag system. During Stalin’s regime, every aspect of life underwent extreme scrutinization in order to sniff out any political dissidents, no matter how trivial the act.
The pitiless alternative is a lifetime of condemnation. The Soviet Union was built upon by lies, barking out left-populist ideas from its emergence and continued its misrule until its collapse in 1991. Solzhenitsyn called upon the Russian populace to reject the selfish and destructive lies spouted by the Central Committee as a form of starting point towards freedom, “Even if all is covered in lies, even if all is under their rule, let us resist in the smallest way: Let their rule hold not through me!”
Aleksandr draws an analogy equating lies to parasitic organisms. Ideology and lies go hand-in-hand. These semireligious doctrines need to be attached to someone in order to survive and continue spreading lies. All for power.
A blindless acceptance of lies – innocuous as they can be – is like a tiny snowball inexorably building up until its breaking point. The result is a life of chaos and helplessness. The Russian writer acknowledged the necessary courage to not engage in lies or speak up, but “how much easier it is than self-immolation or even a hunger strike”, as he eloquently expresses. Better to die acting upon truth rather than a lifetime condemnation full of regret and betrayal.
Lies are rampant wherever we look. Despite our good intentions and sanctimonious acts, lies are an intrinsic feature of human nature. Each of us can control the frequency and the intent, but careless use of deceit unquestionably slowly degrades our soul into a dark void of resentment.