Lying is defined as "a false statement made with deliberate intent to deceive; an intentional untruth; a falsehood" (Lying 1). Truth, in contrast, is defined as "honesty; integrity; truthfulness or the actual facts" (Truth 1). With respect to the moral rightness or wrongness of an act such as lying, moral principles like the concepts of autonomy, beneficence, and justice are often used as measures of an act being right or wrong. Autonomy is a fundamental and universal right and value that encompasses treating people with respect and dignity and allowing them to make decisions for themselves with respect to their own lives. Wall (59) maintains autonomy equates to acting in a way that allows rational individuals to control their own lives, "so long as their actions harm no one else." Lying violates autonomy because it does not treat people with respect and does not permit them to make informed decisions regarding their own lives. Justice is the principle that "all human beings ought to have the same moral and legal rights," while beneficence relates to acting so as to promote the welfare of others (Wall 58). Since lying violates all three of these moral principles or measures of an act's moral rightness, under no circumstances should individuals engage in lying. Because of the long term consequences of lying in our personal lives and careers, honesty should always be promoted.
In order to judge the moral worth of any act, some form of ethical measure or assessment must occur. Wall (60) maintains the moral principles of "beneficence, justice, and autonomy" are often employed to judge the right or wrong of an act. Beneficence means treating others in ways that promote their welfare. Those who argue that lying is okay in some situations, like to protect the feelings of someone, would argue that is promoting their welfare. However, being untruthful is hurtful and harmful. People most always detect a lie sooner...