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Single Idea 1562

[filed under theme 22. Metaethics / C. The Good / 1. Goodness / g. Consequentialism ]

Full Idea

It is right to lie to your parents, in order to get them to take a good medicine they are reluctant to take.

Gist of Idea

It is right to lie to someone, to get them to take medicine they are reluctant to take

Source

Anon (Diss) (Dissoi Logoi - on Double Arguments [c.401 BCE], §3)

Book Ref

'The First Philosophers', ed/tr. Waterfield,Robin [OUP 2000], p.292


A Reaction

I dread to think what the medicines were which convinced the writer of this. A rule such as this strikes me as dangerous. Justifiable in extreme cases. House on fire etc.


The 9 ideas from 'Dissoi Logoi - on Double Arguments'

Thracians think tattooing adds to a girl's beauty, but elsewhere it is a punishment [Anon (Diss)]
Anything can be acceptable in some circumstances and unacceptable in others [Anon (Diss)]
Lydians prostitute their daughters to raise a dowery, but no Greek would marry such a girl [Anon (Diss)]
Every apparent crime can be right in certain circumstances [Anon (Diss), by PG]
It is right to lie to someone, to get them to take medicine they are reluctant to take [Anon (Diss)]
True and false statements can use exactly the same words [Anon (Diss)]
We learn language, and we don't know who teaches us it [Anon (Diss)]
The first priority in elections is to vote for people who support democracy [Anon (Diss)]
How could someone who knows everything fail to act correctly? [Anon (Diss)]