The Is A Common Game

In “The Death of Honesty,” William Damon raises the concern that current apathy towards increasing dishonesty threatens democracy. In this essay taken from the online volume “Endangered Virtues ” published by the Hoover Institute in 2012, Damon initially concedes that there are situations where lying could be considered acceptable. However, with that being acknowledged, he transitions to his main premise that honesty is losing its importance in society and will lead to its downfall, and he cites examples in politics, law, journalism, and business in contemporary society where dishonesty is expected, and even, condoned. Damon finally directs his remarks pointedly at teachers and current students who accept cheating in schools. To persuade

Honesty is a good principle, however it does not have to be absolute. Although we should always strive to stay honorable and genuine, deception, under certain conditions and during certain times are justifiable. This point is acknowledged and bolstered in the novel Grapes of Wrath, repeatedly throughout history and proven through scientific research.

Someone once stated,” Tell me the cold truth, but don’t paint me a pretty lie.” As we walk our journey of life, we come to understand that the truth is harsh and yields to no one;moreover, the lie’s hurt increases as it grows. Honesty is important in all situations because eventually the truth shows and people base how they connect you in their life by your honesty or lies.

Best-selling author and podcaster James Altucher once said “Honesty is the fastest way to prevent a mistake turning into a failure” (Altucher). What Altucher was saying is, honesty is a great help in pulling you out of bad situations before they can turn even worse in your life. There are many ways for honesty to work out positively in our lives, it can show a sense of trust within yourself or others you come in contact with. Honesty is also a big part of our lives in our wider culture by being able to express opinions towards various subjects.

Have you ever wondered why it can be so hard to tell the truth, or why it seems better to tell a lie? In both F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby and Rob Marshall’s Chicago, characters lie because they feel that it is easier. However, lying leads to a downward- spiral. The society we live in can either lead us to a complicated relationship with the truth or easy going. The problem with constantly telling lies is that it starts off with one then leads to another until everything you say is a lie. People know it is easier to tell lies than face the truth because they are either doing it for money, or protection for themselves, people they love, or relationships. Yes, telling lies can help but imagine the damage you’re building up on the way. Nobody likes liars and liars can be found anywhere, even families lie to each other. Relationships are just like thin pieces of paper that make small tears to it every time a lie is told. The paper can be put back together but it will never be the same or be seen the same.

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,

Cole Kilboy English 9 Volpi 29 Mar. 2017 The Price of Honesty Honesty is truly the best policy. Merriam-Webster defines honesty as being, “free of deceit and untruthfulness; sincere.” Some people view honesty as the foremost virtue in a trustworthy person. However, this world is tainted with many who deceive others to be revered, although when you turn around they will be divergent from your views typically lying to benefit themselves at the expense of your state. A common term for these people is a “fake” person or a “snake”. It is remarkably difficult to find a truly honest man, and when found, many are taken advantage of. This is often because some view them as a doormat who they use simply to get rumors, gossip, or information they need.

William Damon’s “The Death of Honesty” presents a solemn analysis of the decline of modern virtue due to a “dysfunctional tipping point” where honesty is no longer viewed as a moral characteristic worthy of pursuing. Dishonesty is presented as both a virtue and a vice that is shaping our contemporary society. The Hoover Institution of Stanford University published Mr. Damon’s article in 2012 under the Task Force on the Virtues of a Free Society, which would provide a target audience of students, educators, parents or anyone with an interest in sociology, specifically in the United States. A rhetorical analysis recognizes the appeals of ethos and pathos as successful tools in creating a connection with the readers, yet it exposes flaws in the author’s appeal of logic. The lack of developed logic does not support his thesis that “sustained civilization” is in lethal danger as a result of dishonesty alone.

How would you define a healthy relationship? One filled with lies or one with an abundance of truth. In American society, each relationship has its own opinion of what defines a loving relationship. In the essay, “Good Lovers Lie” author Clancy Martin believes that “ When it comes to love, both honesty and deception should be practiced in moderation…love is a greater good than the truth.” Meaning that a relationship shouldn’t be defined on impractical expectations about the truth. Specific good lies can benefit a relationship and can help it get from one day to the next. While some believe that lying all the time can hurt a relationship, lying for well being of love can help the relationship thrive from day to day.

Being honest is something that everyone strives to be. However, it is a quality that is hard to maintain. Should we tell the whole story? Should there be complete honesty between people? Is the whole truth even possible to know? These are some question that our society has struggled with throughout history.

Honesty is the “state of being free from deceit or untruthfulness”, without honesty society will, essentially, fall apart. This nation was built on honesty, and the assumption that the American people will be just. The necessity for honesty in our country is at its highest, due to the upcoming presidential election, but unfortunately honesty is at its lowest. This virtue is an essential part in leading a nation or society.

My parents once told me that trust is hard to gain and easy to lose, and that honesty is an important building block to trust. I am always honest and respect those who are too. Dishonesty makes the situation even harder because one may have to keep up with that lie fearing being caught up in that lie. Honesty also goes above from just being honest to others, but in addition it is important to be honest with oneself. One who is honest with themselves will probably be more likely to recognize and fix the problem. Those who are dishonest with themselves deny any flaws that they have therefore never improving on those flaws. I believe in being honest so I can have strong relationships with those I want to be with. Honesty is an important moral to my life but also having an open mind is very

The research tested three possible explanations for why deception is present in relationships, which are reciprocity, punishment avoidance, and intimacy needs. By using 128 couples in a study, the researchers concluded that most partners use deception in situations where telling the truth could yield a negative impact on a relationship. When it comes to reciprocation, partners tend to lie if they feel that telling the truth will deter them from achieving their goals. Also, they tend to lie if they are afraid that their partner will accept the truth negatively (Cole 124). People also used deception in cases where they felt they would lose their partner if they were honest. The researchers also found that deception is more common in relationships with lower levels of commitment. It concludes that even though deception may be effective, it can significantly affect a relationship when a partner becomes aware that they are being

Honesty is a very abstract word. It is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as “adherence to the facts; refusal to lie, steal or deceive in any way.” But, what ‘honesty’ exactly means? Some would say that honesty means not telling lies, not committing crimes or living a life according to what law says. To be honest, it is a manifestation of the truth, and the facts behind are just a consequence of being honest. In a simple way, honesty is not only to tell the truth, but also to live the truth.

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