Lying

By the time Sam Harris released his book "Lying" in HB format last week, it was clear that New Atheism's once-chesty agenda has slowed like a trilobite out of water. The aggressive scheme of becoming the next widespread intellectual movement has become distressingly frail.Did you see it? Where once there had been packed lecture halls filled with eager atheistic catechumens, today only sparse crowds and canceled events. Remember the unveiling of the Four Horsemen's prediction that there would be a hurried abandonment of religion, yet we see massive growth of religion in formerly irreligious regions. Where once--just before the 20th century--there had been almost no Christians in China, S. Korea, and great swaths of Africa, now these countries are teeming with hundreds of millions of Christians.Perhaps it may be time to place all neo-atheistic grandiosity on hold. Yes, there was a lack of philosophical acumen. Indeed, there was a question of how deep the pop-atheists understood the theology they condemned. Besides, today there are just three of the horsemen still in the saddle. Not much galloping going on since two of the riders are visibly aged and ready to go. However, one young rider with the ears to hold a twenty-gallon hat ruthlessly marches on. Anti-theist Sam Harris.He and his fervent admirers appear to be willing to do whatever it takes to expunge religion from the globe--by any means necessary.Sam Harris has a bit of youth, numerous best-sellers, and a sheath laden with the sword of atheistic pugnacity. Previously, he made a noble attempt at contending for godless moral values in "The Moral Landscape." By any means necessary. And now Harris delivers a new volume "Lying." A book that provides interesting arguments concerning the need for honesty. By any means necessary. Herein the youngest of the new atheist bishops reveals that lying is a bad practice and all people should strive to be more authentic and truthful. By any means necessary.Harris' thesis: Lying is wrong and it leads to "chaos" (p. 1). Agreed! Harris asserts, with a consequentialist[1] twang, that lying in all situations, except a few in the midst of war, is immoral.[2] Since Harris acknowledges the strong influence of Ron A. Howard, he rigidly holds to the notion that lying is foul; it's always wrong since it leads to bad consequences. He presses this to the point of arguing for ingenious truth-telling in place of protective lying when an enemy is seeking to kill a specific person. Under interrogation, the one hiding the innocent person should develop honest answers while still protecting the innocent person in hiding. But where does clever deception detach from lying? I have not read an adequate answer from Harris or Howard.With the penalty of death and torture hanging like Damocles' sword over a person, with intense grilling by savage men with weapons, a trembling person should have a creative script to deploy that will protect everyone. I don't buy it. Underneath the weight of pressure, guns, death threats, and vigorous questioning, it would seem to be much safer to lie and protect everyone. Nonetheless, I do commend the author for striving to uphold honesty--his tenacity to maintain morality is laudable.Harris offers consequentialist[3] justifications for honesty:* "One of the greatest problems for the liar is that he must keep track of his lies"(388). [if one doesn't refrain from lying one has the difficult consequence of having to try to keep track of the lies]* "Suspicion often grows on both sides of a lie"(404). [if one doesn't discontinue lying one has to face the unpleasant consequence of suspicion]* "Lying is the royal road to chaos" (p 1). [if one doesn't abstain from lying one has to deal with the disconcerting consequence of chaos]Harris' "Lying" is challenging and intentionally didactic. Unless one is a wild-eyed spiritualist or a consistent non-theist, both theist and atheist will find strong agreement with the author's teleologically centered proscriptions. This small book may not be an adequate resource to sustain objective moral values[4], but it is potent in its pointing toward a fissure in the structure of modern ethical practice. Harris' practical work on honesty in general, as well as his contention for the immorality of lying, has not misfired. "Lying" is a wonderful effort in demonstrating the reason why lying is a "moral defect" and how it leads to "chaos." This is a volume that will transform the way you think about honesty and lying.This little volume will convince you that lying is immoral in most situations because it leads to bad consequences. Nonetheless, all people have lied in the past and the author offers no means to remove a person's guilt and shame; one must turn to Christ to receive forgiveness and pardon for all one's immoral lying. Additionally, God is the essential foundation for objective moral values and His law is a necessary condition for both ethics and meaning in life. This is the case, yet for a non-theistic book on ethics with a philosophical bent, "Lying" is a real marvel of a book, an uncommon pleasure. Herein the most boyish of the neo-atheist prelates has winsomely shown that lying is immoral and everyone should endeavor to be more trustworthy and honest. By any means necessary.review by Mike Robinson author of numerous apologetics books.-----------------------------------------------------1. Harris wrote, "People lie so that others will form beliefs that are not true. The more consequential the beliefs--that is, the more a person's well-being depends upon a correct understanding of the world--the more consequential the lie"(Kindle loc. 42).2. Immanuel Kant believed that lying was always immoral--lying was wrong even if a lie would stop a murder or other high crime. Contra Kant, Harris rightly observes: There are "those circumstances where we deem it obviously necessary to lie, we have generally determined that the person to be deceived is both dangerous and unreachable by any recourse to the truth"(loc. 337).3. The consequences of a deed do not make it good or bad; moral or immoral. One needs a loftier standard to discern what a good outcome is and what is not. Consequences are important features apropos discerning right from wrong, but they, ontologically, cannot be the standard that one employs to judge the rightness of the result and aftermath.4. Harris assumes the existence of objective moral values without offering a comprehensive argument for such. He does this all the while presupposing a theistic ontology that underwrites them. Harris, the combative naturalist intuitively or perhaps tacitly borrows objective moral values from a theistic worldview.

This is a simple work by Sam Harris and perhaps the least controversial. Although not a exhaustive discourse, Harris provides that lying is both socially and personally damaging and should be avoided.By no means is it easy to remain truthful, amongst a world with double speaking politicians and a competitive job marketing, but that doesn't curtail Harris' conviction. He says "We are talking about a culture poisoned by lies. And that is a culture worth changing. " Although not easy, truth will bring about a redeemed culture.I am familiar with ethics, having read Benthram, Kant , and the like. For those like myself, Harris doesn't say anything new. Although his power of rhetoric stands out as compelling of this impertive.The most insightful point of Harris' which I believe society would do well to remember revolves around alturistic white lies.Harris says "When we presume to lie for the benefit of others, we have decided that we are the best judges of how much they should understand about their own lives—about how they appear, their reputations, or their prospects in the world."This continues with the problem of flattery when Harris says "And yet we are often tempted to encourage others with insincere praise. In this we treat them like children—while failing to help them prepare for encounters with those who will judge them like adults." Important concepts to consider.A committment to truth is a difficult thing, especially if one is late to embrace this value. But truth is essentisal to personal development.  "because a commitment to telling the truth requires that one pay attention to what the truth is in every moment. What sort of person are you? How judgmental, self-interested, or petty have you become?"(loc 118).The only time Harris admits the value of lying, although without recommending it, is in response to a reader question that made it into the audio book. Harrow explains the benefit of untruth is that is the most benign weapon we can use in times of conflict, much less damaging than a gun when it comes to issues of self defense. Yet the integrity of the lying person isn't exempt from scrutiny in these situation, and there's no guarantee of positive outcomes even with deception appearing the smart solution.Although not the focus of the book, harris makes a home run on the value of Justice when he says "One of the worst things about breaking the law is that it puts you at odds with an indeterminate number of other people. This is among the many corrosive effects of unjust laws: They tempt peaceful and (otherwise) honest people to lie so as to avoid being punished for behavior that is ethically blameless."The final reader submitted question in the audiobook version of lying was answered unsatisfactory to me. The reader explains he is a non-believing Jew, but being honest about his lack of Jewish belief would damage many relationships and likely make him lose custody of his kids (I'm telling the cliff notes version). The reader suggests that Harris is coming from a spot of elitism, where others are not in such a spot to act as Harris. An intriguing point, similar to those who claim philosophy is naval gazing for those who escape the plight of the real world. How does Harris answer? He comments on the problem of religion and says yes, this is a difficult  situation. Harris offers no answer, but rather says this is why open discussions are to be valued with free thinking people. To read between the lines, I suggest that Harris would have this gentlemen reveal his lack of religious belief in an effort to (ethically) further society through free thinking. It is no easy feat, and the reward to this man himself may be minimal, but that is why people should see to the goods beyond themselves - ethics consider all.  To reconsider the opening quote "We are talking about a culture poisoned by lies. And that is a culture worth changing." and hopefully the sacrifices made now will driver future generations. I have no criticism of "Lyings" arguements. I agree there is an ethical imperative to honesty and didn't find a problem with Harris' conveyance. This is a conversational book, not one of hardcore dead to rights philosophy; a great conversation starter at least to lead to deeper thoughts.I paid 13 for the kindle ebook and audio book pairing, which took me around an hour to get though. I am content with my purchase as it has allowed me thoughts to consider. I can't say I would recommend this book to others, as it is both entry level and costly, and my lying friends would probably not read it.  However, Sam Harris commitment to truth establishes him as a leader in a time of demagoguery, and for his virtue I will continue to support him.

Sam is my favourite modern writer and philosopher, the essay (rather than a book) as it’s only 50+ p. long, is exceptionally and lights an interesting point of view on something everyone does - lying. I haven’t been the same since reading the book. Very impactful. Thanks!

Even if we all agree that lying is bad, this book helps us lay a very foundation upon which only truth can remain. Harris presents convincing arguments and opinions that allow us to think twice before engaging in “innocent white lies”.Highly recommended, plus you can finish it in one sitting.

No es un análisis mínimamente completo del fenómeno de la mentira, pero es una excelente reflexión sobre el daño que produce cualquier mentira, sobre qué es mentir, sobre las características de la mentira, los tipos diferentes de mentiras y, por encima de todo, sobre el poder sanador de la verdad siempre. Es breve y muy recomendable, también por la fuerte convicción que tiene el autor en todo lo que dice.En última nstancia, para el autor la mentira es una muestra de desconfianza y, por ello, un veneno para cualquier tipo de relación humana.

Highly recommended to anyone to understand and examine “lies”.

Pathetic… maybe if I was teenager it would make me think for a day or two.First book on Amazon which reviews didn’t match the real quality of the book content. Well actually it isn’t a book…..kind of an essay