Lying, Introduction: 
A Sense of the Issue
Sissela Bok
Introduction to Ethics, PHIL 118
Professor Douglas Olena
Regard for the Truth
xxvii „When regard for the truth has been broken down or even slightly weakened, all things will remain doubtful. ãSt. Augustine
Regard for the Truth xxvii
Should physicians lie to dying patients?
Should professors exaggerate the excellence of their students?
Should parents conceal things from children?
Should social scientists deceive people to acquire research results?
Should government lawyers lie to members of congress?
Should journalists lie to informants to expose corruption?
Regard for the Truth xxviii
„Duplicity can take so many forms, be present to such different degrees, and have such different purposes and results.¾
„Lines seem most difficult to draw, and a consistent policy out of reach.¾
It is clear that the perspective of the deceiver and the deceived are radically different.
Regard for the Truth xxviii
„The requirement to be honest with patients has been left out altogether from medical oaths and codes of ethics, and is often ignored, if not actually disparaged, in the teaching of medicine.¾
(This may no longer be true after 25 years.)
Regard for the Truth xxix
„Lawyers manipulate the truth in court on behalf of their clients.¾
„Those in selling, advertising, or any form of advocacy may mislead the public and their competitors in order to achieve their goals.¾
„Psychiatrists may distort information about theiräpatients.¾
„Police investigators, and so-called intelligence operators often have little compunction in using falsehoods to gain the knowledge they seek.¾
Consequences xxix
„The casual approach of professionals is wholly out of joint with the view taken by those who have to cope with the consequences of deception.¾
Regard for the Truth xxix
There is little help to be found in the codes and writings of professional ethics.
Consequences xxx
In 1975, 69% of the respondents to a national poll agreed that „over the last ten years, this country¼s leaders have consistently lied to the people.¾
Consequences xxx
From 1966-1976 confidence in those running major corporations dropped. Confidence dropped in:
	Medicine: from 73% to 42%
	Major companies: from 55% to 16%
	Law firms: from 24% to 12%
	Advertising agencies: 21% to 7%
„Suspicions of widespread professional duplicity cannot alone account for the loss of trust. But surely they aggravate it.¾
What¼s at Stake? xxx
„We have a great deal at stake, I believe, in becoming more clear about matters of truth-tellingä¾
	Personally
	Socially
	Corporately
	Politically
How to Proceedä xxxi, xxxii
Look to philosophical texts that deal with lying. 
Look to the religious distinctions about lying.
Attempt to comprehend modern practices with respect to current moral theories.
Examine lies, excuses and every other clear-cut instance of deception.
Examine examples of lies and deception. Understand the strategies of the liar and consequences to the liar and those deceived.
How to Proceedä xxxiii
„I want to stress the more vexing dilemmas of ordinary life; dilemmas which beset those who think that their lies are too insignificant to matter much, and those who believe that lying can protect someone or benefit society.¾
„We need to look most searchingly, not at what we would all reject as unconscionable, but at those cases where many see good reasons to lie.¾
How to Proceedä xxxiv
„If I can show that we have all been poorly served by the dominant practices, then the most important remaining questions are: What are the alternatives, for society and for each of us individually, to merely going along with such practices?¾
What do we need to do to change them personally, corporately, societally and institutionally?
How to Proceedä xxxiv
This book is not an effort to dictate conclusions. 
It is a practical guide meant to start a conversation about these issues.