Analyze whether telling a lie is unethical in terms of each of the following ethical theories:
a. The deontological approach.
b. Utilitarianism.
c. Intuitionism and the "Television Test."
d. Ethical relativism.
e. Ethical fundamentalism.
Answers will vary but should generally consider the following items in analyzing whether telling a lie is unethical.
a. Immanuel Kant was a deontological theorist. Deontological theories in general hold that certain underlying principles are right or wrong irrespective of any pleasure or pain calculations. Deontologists believe that actions cannot be measured simply by their results but must be judged by the means and motives as well. To Kant, for an action to be moral, it must: (1) be possible for it to be made into a universal law to be applied consistently; and (2) respect the autonomy and rationality of all human beings. It must not treat them as an expedient. Under his theory, it would be immoral to lie to a colleague if one could not support the right of all colleagues to lie to one another.
b. Utilitarianism assesses good and evil in terms of the consequences of the action. Act utilitarianism assesses each separate act according to whether it maximizes pleasure over pain. Under act utilitarianism, if telling a lie in a particular situation will produce more overall pleasure than pain, then it is ethical to lie. Rule utilitarianism holds that general rules must be established and followed even though in some instances, following rules may produce less overall pleasure than not following them. Whether telling a lie in a given instance would produce greater pleasure than telling the truth is less important to the rule utilitarian than deciding if a general practice of lying would maximize society's pleasure. If lying would maximize society's pleasure in general, then it is ethical, but if it would not maximize society's general pleasure, it is not.
c. Intuitionism holds that a rational person possesses inherent powers to assess the correctness of actions. It is possible to refine one's sense of ethics by emulating the behavior of those individuals who always seem to know what the right choice is in any given situation and who always seem to do the right thing. The "Television Test" holds that a decision is appropriate if the person making it would be comfortable with the decision if it were broadcast on national television for all to witness. Thus, a lie would be unethical if the public believed it to be unethical under the circumstances.
d. Ethical relativism asserts that actions must be judged by what individuals feel is right or wrong for themselves. It holds that morality is relative. In most situations, ethical relativism would hold that lying is ethical if an individual feels it is right.
e. Ethical fundamentalism looks to a central authority or set of rules to guide its adherents in ethical decision-making. The central authority may be the Bible, the Koran, or prophets or documents. Whether lying is unethical would depend upon the particular source of authority used. Whatever that source is would absolutely determine whether or under what circumstances lying is ethical. Many ethical fundamentalists believe that lying is always unethical. Others believe it is unethical in most, but not all, circumstances. Whatever rule the central authority states would be absolutely followed by an ethical fundamentalist.
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