Publications and Research
Document Type
Book Chapter or Section
Publication Date
2018
Abstract
This chapter examines the views of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle on lying. It it outlines the differences between different kinds of falsehoods in Plato (real falsehoods and falsehoods in words), the difference between myths and lies, the 'noble' (i.e., pedigree) lie in The Republic, and how Plato defended rulers lying to non-rulers about, for example, eugenics. It considers whether Socrates's opposition to lying is consistent with Socratic irony, and especially with his praise of his interlocutors as wise. Finally, it looks at Aristotle's condemnation of lies, and asks whether lies to enemies, and self-deprecating lies by the magnanimous person, are not base.
Included in
Ethics and Political Philosophy Commons, History of Philosophy Commons, Other Philosophy Commons, Philosophy of Language Commons
Comments
Chapter originally appeared in The Oxford Handbook of Lying, Jörg Meibauer (ed.) Oxford Handbooks.