Lying Sheanigans Research Paper

In today’s American society, lying has become something that we are accustomed to using almost every day without even realizing it. In “The Ways We Lie”, Stephanie Ericsson, screenwriter, advertising copywriter, and writer, elaborates on the act of lying and how it is used by everyone on a daily basis. She comes up with a list of the common, different kinds of lies that we all have told. Furthermore, the text goes in depth about the significance of lying and how it is an essential part of every human’s life. Ericsson’s essay effectively conveys this idea through the use of pathos, logos, ethos, personal examples, rhetorical questions, and analogies which helps the reader better understand the reasoning behind lies and how it affects our

“The Ways We Lie” is an essay written by Stephanie Ericsson, first published in the Utne Reader in 1993. The Utne Reader is an American magazine that publishes pieces from alternative media sources. However, the essay was mostly directed toward people who have told a lie at least once in their life and have may have felt guilty about it. The purpose for the piece was developed using original syntax, logical appeals, and descriptive tropes, the purpose being that one should think twice before telling a lie.

In the essay The Ways We Lie, author Stephanie Ericsson writes in depth about the different types of lies used by most people everyday. While listing examples of them, Ericsson questions her own experiences with lying and whether or not it was appropriate. By using hypothetical situations, true accounts, and personal occurrences, she highlights the moral conflicts and consequences that are a result of harmless fibs or impactful deceptions. In an essay detailing the lies told to ourselves and others, Ericsson points out one bold truth; everyone lies. Through her writing, Ericsson causes the reader to look into how they’ve lied in the past and how to effects others and the general greater good of society.

We are told from a very young that we should tell the truth, and that lying is wrong; an immoral action which we should not engage in. Yet lying is a large part of daily life, whether it be our lying to others or others lying to us, around us, or lying in ways that affect our lives. Oftentimes, the lies we tell are for social gain; for the purposes of esteem, affection, or respect. We lie as a way to manage others impressions of us. Studies have found that women are generally more intimate in their interactions, which would suggest that they lie less. However, might women lie more to benefit others, as opposed to self-centered lies? A study by DePaul et al. (1996) set out to answers questions about the frequency of lying, types of lies told,

While explaining that lying helps in less than ideal situations, Damon details how untruths can “reassure” provide “compassion, [and] diplomacy”. Giving examples of where dishonesty has been not only the ethical choice but an “honorable

Such as, what is the author’s concept of lying, to the view he looks at lying with, and if something isn’t definitively a lie, then what is it? Let’s start by focusing on what the author considers to be a lie. A lie according to Mearsheimer is, “when a person makes a statement that he knows or suspects to be false in the hopes that others will think it is true.” (Mearsheimer 16) This is a pretty good definition, but looking at from a rhetorical standpoint, what then is truth? Because in order for something to be considered a lie, there has to be an opposite of truth to it. This idea of truth according to Nietzsche is an attempt to “make the unreal appear as real” (Nietzsche), which is essentially lying to someone. This bases of truth must come from a more moral position. Are politicians really moral enough to be concerned with truth? Now, that the author has established what he considers to be a lie, let’s shift to what view he thinks of lying with. Mearsheimer observes lying with, “a strictly utilitarian view”. (Mearsheimer 10) So, the author is viewing the topic from a completely practical view, in other words a fully sophist interpretation. This shows why he is open to international lying, as sometimes a necessary act. This act in a governmental setting according to the Roochnik article, states that, “political life is contingent happenstance.” (Roochnik 236) Meaning that political

Although lying is highly unacceptable among most philosophical theories, as well as in the modern age, sometimes it has to be done for the best interest of the

If lying was a crime we would all be in jail. We would all be in jail for many many years. In life we come across many situations which puts us in tight corners. When we are faced with such situations, lying is sometimes the only way out. Every single person in the world has told a lie. Lying is just something that’s part of everyone's life. Some people think that it is permissible to tell a lie because they want to protect people or others feelings. As I see it, lying is not always causing harm, it’s sometimes justified.

“Many people, perhaps a majority, approve of telling lies to employers, co-workers, customers, or clients. Is it ethical to tell lies of this sort? Begin by considering the following situations: (a) a doctor tells a patient he has consulted with a colleague about her condition, though no such consultation occurred;(b) Abusiness executive tells a client that she was tied up in traffic when she really lingered over lunch with friends;(c) a composition teacher tells a student he is making progress in his writing when, in fact, the student is showing no progress”

Immanuel Kant has a different point of view.He believes lying is not Ok.He believes there are consequences for lying and remove any effort to distinguish among lies.Also he thinks lying will hurt mankind individually.He also believes when you lie the lie harms the liar himself or herself.

In “The Necklace,” Guy De Maupassant depicts the consequence of hiding the truth between the Loisel’s and Madame Forestier. In this short story, the married couple asked if their wealthy friend, Madame Forestier, would be able to lend a diamond necklace for a party that the couple later lost during the night. In panic, they spend more money than they actually have to replace the necklace, finding out in the future it was just a piece of costume jewelry. In relation, Ericsson’s The Ways We Lie, expresses the different types of lies every day people tell in different forms. This includes white lies, deflecting, out-and-out lies, and omission. Given the relationship between the Loisel’s and Madame Forestier, hiding the truth caused a long lasting pain from going in debt in a trade off of their friend would not be upset with them. Therefore, I believe that lying is morally wrong when factored into healthy relationships, on many occasions, lying in the long run causes a heavy heart and depression. Lying is a common fight or flight response that many individuals take not thinking ahead of how it will affect their lives.

In Anton Chekhov's “The Lady with the Dog” cheating and lying are revealed through the perspective of two characters in love both cheating on their spouses. Judith Viorst’s “The Truth About Lying” analyzes the small white lies people use in their daily lives. Although most people people frown upon telling lies of any size, I believe small white lies aid in maintaining relationships and shielding from awkward encounters such as if a dress makes someone look fat, thereby enhancing the quality of our day-to-day experiences by smoothing out areas of conversation people do not wish to find themselves in. Without these small white lies, even the simplest conversations such as cashier transactions could turn into rough patches we have to trek through.

Furthermore, every individual has had their moments where they had been deceptive or ambiguous. Lying is a miserable action that we as human beings tend to make. The truth is the one that leads us in the right road; however, we have to admit that nowadays we tell “white lies” to each other almost every day. No matter if we want to leave the impression of being more sensitive about someone’s feelings, or to show more ‘respect’ to one another.

Who lies? From mothers to fathers, children to brothers and sisters, everybody lies. In a few interviews of the college students in the University of Dayton, the results of inquiries about why lying is bad, proved inconclusive. Many people believe that there is a distinction between being dishonest and telling lies. Yet, at the root of the problem is the lack of understanding that there is

Lying is necessary to maintain positive relationships. Society condones lying when our intentions are to preserve the feelings of others.