Everyone strives to make their life better. However, how to achieve well-being, everyone has his own idea. Wherever human interaction begins, there is a lie and deception.
Philosophical concepts
The question "what is a lie" in philosophy and psychology is given a lot of attention. The answer to this question begins with an analysis of key concepts that explain this phenomenon. According to many scholars, truth is a reflection of the reality surrounding us.
However, due to the individual characteristics of a person, this reality can be perceived distorted. Then we say that a person is mistaken about his reality. But if he intentionally expresses something that does not correspond to the truth, with the aim of creating a belief in another person - this is a lie.
For a better understanding, the concept of “truth” should also be considered. It is broader in its content than the truth and means not only the adequacy of knowledge, but also its meaningfulness to the subject. It is better to understand what is true and false, you can refer to the Academic Dictionary of the Russian language. It says that it is "a lie, a deliberate distortion of the truth; deception."
Lies: From Antiquity to Modernity
Perhaps the first time the question "what is a lie" was asked by the ancient philosophers Plato and Aristotle, and they agreed that it was something negative, causing disapproval of other people. However, over time, the views were divided, and two completely opposite approaches to the admissibility of lies arose.
Some explained what lies were based on Christian morality. They argued that lying is evil, it is what undermines trust between people and destroys values. The fact that a person intentionally distorts reality in an attempt to profit from it is called sin in Christianity.
Representatives of a different approach were of the opinion that some false statements are not only acceptable, but also desirable. In their opinion, statesmen need to resort to lies to ensure security and maintain order. They still leave the right to intentionally distort the truth to doctors for reasons of humanity. Thus, a new interpretation of the concept appeared - a lie for good or for salvation.
Modern position
Modern researchers also do not give a clear answer to the question "what is a lie." Rather, the concept itself has not changed, but the attitude towards it is still different. Therefore, today it is customary to seek and justify the reasons why people resort to lies.
Firstly, it can be viewed from the point of view of morality. For example, when a person tries to hide or embellish negative actions. This form is often used by children. But do we always blame them for this? Rather, we condemn, explain why this is not necessary and that everything bad can be recognized and corrected.
Secondly, a lie can be used as a tool in an effort to obtain a certain result. And this is a completely different format of lies. If a person intentionally distorts information in order to disorient in the situation of another and thus gain profit for himself, this already characterizes the lie as a volitional act.
And thirdly, this may present in the form of a simple distortion of facts. Simply put, a person may simply not tell the whole truth, withholding only part of it. This is also done by the individual intentionally, in order to achieve his goals.
Thus, we come closer to explaining what lies and deception are. At first glance, these concepts are synonymous. But still this is not so. Lying, as mentioned above, is a conscious distortion of the truth. And deception is the deliberate misrepresentation of another. Deception can be interpreted as one of the forms of social contradictions. It can help not only in achieving selfish goals, but also, for example, in maintaining secrecy.
Lies and its symptoms
Western psychologists today increasingly agree that a lie in most cases causes moral condemnation. But if it is replaced by "deception" or "untruth," then the attitude toward distorted truth becomes neutral. Although, if you look, a lie implies only a distortion of the truth or its concealment. While cheating is a deliberate act.
Trying to figure out what a lie is, you can highlight several of its signs:
- firstly, a lie is always used with the aim of gaining a certain benefit;
- secondly, a person is aware of a false statement;
- thirdly, the distortion of information becomes important when expressed.
But from the point of view of positive psychology, a lie is a sign of weakness. Only those who are not confident in their abilities resort to it. And, using a lie on the way to his goal, a person should understand that it does not strengthen, but weakens his position.