On a Supposed Right to Tell Lies from Benevolent Motives
January 07, 2023
"On a Supposed Right to Tell Lies from Benevolent Motives" (sometimes translated On a Supposed Right to Lie because of Philanthropic Concerns) (German: Über ein vermeintes Recht aus Menschenliebe zu lügen) is a 1797 essay by the philosopherImmanuel Kant in which the author discusses radical honesty.[1]
Content
In this essay, arguing against the position of Benjamin Constant, Des réactions politiques, Kant states that:[2]
Hence a lie defined merely as an intentionally untruthful declaration to another man does not require the additional condition that it must do harm to another, as jurists require in their definition (mendacium est falsiloquium in praeiudicium alterius). For a lie always harms another; if not some human being, then it nevertheless does harm to humanity in general, inasmuch as it vitiates the very source of right [rechtsquelle].… All practical principles of right must contain rigorous truth.… This is because such exceptions would destroy the universality on account of which alone they bear the name of principles.
Reception
Helga Varden has written, "Kant's example of lying to the murderer at the door has been a cherished source of scorn for thinkers with little sympathy for Kant's philosophy and a source of deep puzzlement for those more favorably inclined... After World War II our spontaneous, negative reaction to this apparently absurd line of argument is made even starker by replacing the murderer at the door with a Nazi officer looking for Jews hidden in people's homes. Does Kant really mean to say that people hiding Jews in their homes should have told the truth to the Nazis, and that if they did lie, they became co-responsible for the heinous acts committed against those Jews who, like Anne Frank, were caught anyway?" Varden argues that Kant's views have been misrepresented by subsequent thinkers and that Kant's justification for lying being wrong is not that the person who is lied to is wronged, as is commonly argued.[3]
^Kant, I.: 1898, ‘On a Supposed Right to Tell Lies from Benevolent Motives’, In: T.K. Abbott (trans.), Kant's Critique of Practical Reason and Other Works on the Theory of Ethics. London: Longmans, Green and Co.
^"Über ein vermeintes Recht aus Menschenliebe zu lügen", Berlinische Blätter 1 (1797), 301–314; edited in: Werke in zwölf Bänden, vol. 8, Frankfurt am Main (1977), zeno.org/nid/20009192123.
^Varden, Helga (2010). "Kant and Lying to the Murderer at the Door . . . One More Time: Kant's Legal Philosophy and Lies to Murderers and Nazis". Journal of Social Philosophy. 41 (4): 403–421. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9833.2010.01507.x.
External links
An English translation of Kant's essay
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supposed, right, tell, lies, from, benevolent, motives, sometimes, translated, supposed, right, because, philanthropic, concerns, german, über, vermeintes, recht, menschenliebe, lügen, 1797, essay, philosopher, immanuel, kant, which, author, discusses, radical. On a Supposed Right to Tell Lies from Benevolent Motives sometimes translated On a Supposed Right to Lie because of Philanthropic Concerns German Uber ein vermeintes Recht aus Menschenliebe zu lugen is a 1797 essay by the philosopher Immanuel Kant in which the author discusses radical honesty 1 Content EditIn this essay arguing against the position of Benjamin Constant Des reactions politiques Kant states that 2 Hence a lie defined merely as an intentionally untruthful declaration to another man does not require the additional condition that it must do harm to another as jurists require in their definition mendacium est falsiloquium in praeiudicium alterius For a lie always harms another if not some human being then it nevertheless does harm to humanity in general inasmuch as it vitiates the very source of right rechtsquelle All practical principles of right must contain rigorous truth This is because such exceptions would destroy the universality on account of which alone they bear the name of principles Reception EditHelga Varden has written Kant s example of lying to the murderer at the door has been a cherished source of scorn for thinkers with little sympathy for Kant s philosophy and a source of deep puzzlement for those more favorably inclined After World War II our spontaneous negative reaction to this apparently absurd line of argument is made even starker by replacing the murderer at the door with a Nazi officer looking for Jews hidden in people s homes Does Kant really mean to say that people hiding Jews in their homes should have told the truth to the Nazis and that if they did lie they became co responsible for the heinous acts committed against those Jews who like Anne Frank were caught anyway Varden argues that Kant s views have been misrepresented by subsequent thinkers and that Kant s justification for lying being wrong is not that the person who is lied to is wronged as is commonly argued 3 See also EditCategorical imperative Groundwork of the Metaphysic of MoralsReferences Edit Kant I 1898 On a Supposed Right to Tell Lies from Benevolent Motives In T K Abbott trans Kant s Critique of Practical Reason and Other Works on the Theory of Ethics London Longmans Green and Co Uber ein vermeintes Recht aus Menschenliebe zu lugen Berlinische Blatter 1 1797 301 314 edited in Werke in zwolf Banden vol 8 Frankfurt am Main 1977 zeno org nid 20009192123 Varden Helga 2010 Kant and Lying to the Murderer at the Door One More Time Kant s Legal Philosophy and Lies to Murderers and Nazis Journal of Social Philosophy 41 4 403 421 doi 10 1111 j 1467 9833 2010 01507 x External links EditAn English translation of Kant s essay This article about an ethics essay or essay collection is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title On a Supposed Right to Tell Lies from Benevolent Motives amp oldid 1064597748, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
