According to a strict definition of the term

Sep 25, 2009 08:41 GMT  ·  By

Washington and Lee University Philosophy Professor and Chair of the philosophy department James E. Mahon is the person who wrote the definition of lying for the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. He says that, even though a popular TV show concluded that people lied, on average, about 42 times per week, much less lying goes on, in fact, in today's society. But there's a catch. He looks at lying according to his own definition, which only includes actual lies, and not other forms of not telling the truth.

“Certain conditions have to be in place for a statement to rise to the level of a lie. First, a person must make a statement and must believe that the statement is false. Second, the person making the statement must intend for the audience to believe that the statement is true. Anything else falls outside the definition of lying that I have defended,” the expert says of his definition. Essentially, his point is that people who are not aware that they are telling a lie are not liars per se. Also, if the speaker does not intend for their audience to believe them, then they are not telling a lie, LiveScience quotes Mahon as saying.

Speaking about the latest scandals on Capitol Hill, and in the media, the philosopher shares that, “In his speech to Congress, President Obama was not telling a lie as I define it. He said: ‘The reforms I’m proposing would not apply to those who are here illegally.’ He was talking about his proposals and not any current bills, so he would have to be making untruthful statements about his proposals to be lying in this case. He believed the statement he made to be true.”

By the expert's definition, people who say something that is verifiably true can lie. “If you believe that the statement you’re making is false, even when it isn’t actually false, but you try to get others to believe it’s true, then you have told a lie by my definition. Some people would probably argue that if they accidentally get it right, if what they say is true when they think it’s not, that they’re not lying. I don’t excuse them on that basis. They have set out to deceive, and I set a slightly stricter standard than some others might.”

Mahon also argues that only few lies, in rare instances, are told in order to hurt others. The majority of lies are used by people trying to, for example, save face, or maybe for self-protection and preservation. “And when someone does lie, they usually end up telling two lies – the original lie and the cover-up of the lie,” he points out. The philosopher draws attention to the fact that people are very permissive of hearing lies, if they are for the greater good. He gives the example of national security, when people are willing to accept lies, if they believe their security is ensured.