by Lucius Trae

Created on: May 24, 2010

Honesty has been an interesting philosophical topic for centuries, but it's difficult to justify honesty in all scenarios. Furthermore, when examining the phrase "best policy" one has to consider - what is it the nature of this policy? Is the policy seeking to maximize your own interests even at the expense of others - or is it living an ethical life and treating others with respect. I'd like to think most people value treating people fairly, and I'll assume we are asking if honesty is the "best policy" for being ethical.

In everyday life, honesty is an important characteristic. If someone gets caught being dishonest, they can get a reputation that negatively affects their opportunities in the future. For instance, a cheating boyfriend (or girlfriend) may be gossiped about in the community. If they drive to establish a new relationship, they may have difficulties. In that sense, dishonesty can hurt the individual who engages in it. Similarly, someone who lies to the police can be brought up on charges, depending on the situation.

Of course, many people lie for the benefit of other people. Furthermore, there are situations where a person can be fairly confident they won't get caught in their lie. If they aren't risking their reputation, what are they doing wrong? This is an interesting question, and some have argued that lying makes you feel guilty. This is true in some cases, but young children often have to be scolded for lying. The feeling of guilt we get from lying is influenced by our environment. Many people don't feel guilty for lying to children about Santa Claus, but it's a lie as much as telling your boss you had a flat tire when you "overslept."

If you lie frequently, you are risking that someone will find out. Many people are subconsciously skilled at knowing when someone is hiding the truth, and people often overestimate their skill at lying. There are few situations where a lie can legitimately be considered "safe from discovery." In those scenarios, the question becomes "when can you lie, and for what reasons?" People usually claim a lie is acceptable when the ends justify the means.

This consequence-based view is unpopular with regards to many issues, but it does apply to lying. People forget that there is more at stake than the consequences of telling the lie. There is the guilt you may feel, the reputation that you may lose, and a variety of other considerations. Lying is more complicated than it seems at face value. This is another reason

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