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when not to lie

Page history last edited by Andrew Alder 3 years, 6 months ago

See also The Wikipedia Creed  first paragraph.

 

A page on human behaviour

 

When to lie

There are times when a lie is a good idea.

 

My favourite example is from a Modesty_Blaise comic strip adventure.  She and Willie have been kidnapped by an ageing British aristocrat and marooned at a desert oasis, on the theory that there they will survive the nuclear holocaust he believes is imminent. They get away, of course, and go to his country place to confront him. The butler (I think his name was Jarvis, we'll use that name, the rest of the quotes are word-perfect I think) greets them at the door with shock.

 

It turns out that the old man has had a seizure and according to the doctors has only days or perhaps hours to live, and is deliriously muttering how happy he is that he has assured mankind's future by his plot to maroon them in the desert.

 

Modesty: "My God..." (pause) "Let's go, Willie, we've no business here."

 

Willie: "There'll be no message, Jarvis."

 

Jarvis: "Yes, sir, and thank you."

 

That is grace. That is morality. Is there any argument?

 

When not to lie

Most of the time.

 

More to follow

 

 

 

 

 

 

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