Lying with Integrity?

Well to begin with I wasn't sure whether the two words, LYING and INTEGRITY, could be linked together in the same sentence. Surely they contradict each other? Lying with integrity, the possession of firm principles: the quality of possessing and steadfastly adhering to high moral principles or professional standards? But we talked in the lecture about lying for the "right reasons", or "white lies" as we call them, lies that we tell for the good of others, or do we?

It is true that when a lie is told it is often difficult to determine who's best interest it is in. White lies are apparently lies which we tell to prevent our loved ones from getting hurt - or is it to save our own morals from being undermined? I believe that there are some rare examples of selfless lies, but I also believe that a lot of the time lies are being told for our own satisfaction. For example, if a four year old child's mother died of an overdose, it would be up to the family to explain to the child how his mother died, but they would have to use a euphemism and not go into detail on what caused the parents death. This to me would be a selfless lie, as it is in the interest of the child, because he is too young and innocent to possibly understand the circumstances of his mothers death.

Some lies can be completely selfish or even have the cover of being selfless when really they are not. Some lies can appear to be in the interests of others when really the teller of the lie is also receiving something from it. There are also malicious lies, lies which are told with the sole purpose of hurting someone. These type of lies I find unnecessary and evil, and I think they hold no real purpose except self gratification. For example, the protagonist of the play, Billy Liar is a complete pathological liar, who tells lies for his own good and lies that are completely nonsensical.

I have to admit that I have lied - but who doesn't? - and I still do in certain circumstances though I know I am no pathological liar, if anything i can be too honest at times, but i think throughout life lying is needed. There is no denying that lies, even of the "little white" variety still cause pain somewhere along the line - though there are the few that "slip the net", so to speak and are never discovered. Like my earlier example of the child who's parent had overdosed. The child will eventually discover how his mother died and will quite possibly resent the people who failed to tell him when he was younger. Some lies are an essential part of your survival kit through life. If your girlfriend asks you if you think she looks fat in her new dress, you reply "NO!" as if it is a reflex because you know what will happen if you don't! Honesty isn't always the best policy, but lying can sometimes be no alternative either! I think we just have to know where to draw the line.

To learn more about lying and reasons for doing so, visit http://webhome.idirect.com/~readon/lies.html.