Objection #7

In class we went over the argument that Utilitarianism allows rules to be broken to easily.  For an example, the objector would say that a white lie, lying to increase overall happiness, would be a good thing for the utilitarianism but in actuality lying in any form is wrong, and therefore the Utilitarian is wrong on this matter.

Mills response is this:

1. People have a tendency to tell the truth because of a sensitive feeling on the subject of voracity, which is the most important thing for overall happiness.  Basically, because humans have a consience we tend to tell the truth. and this is required in soceity in order to maintain trustworthiness.

2. lying renders this concept.

3. Do Not Lie!!  BECAUSE if you lie then you can not be trusted, and society is based on trust, if nobody could trust what other people said we wouldnt be able to depend on anybody for anything!.

Also Mills says that we have a Moral Fabric, much liek a spool of yarn, and if u lie you unwind this fabric and if you keep lying eventually it will all be gone and when there is no more moral fabric then life owuld be much different and for the worse.

~ by Jon Rothman on October 20, 2007.