Humans are social creatures, and human civilization relies heavily on the interactions between people. The progress of our civilization is heavily dependent on the ability of people to work together towards accomplishing certain goals. For society to function properly, people have to coexist peacefully and enjoy amicable relations with each other. Without favorable social interactions, society is likely to fall into chaos.
For this reason, human societies have over millenniums endeavored to promote constructive relations among people living together. One means through which social life has been safeguarded is by adopting moral values that the members of the community attempt to live by. These values are a number of principles that result in a well functioning community if they are followed. The values indicate what is considered right or wrong behavior in society, and everyone is encouraged to follow them. It is presumed that living by the values will not only foster community growth, but it will also help social interactions.
One value that is held in high esteem by people from different cultures is truthfulness. This means telling the truth at all times, regardless of the consequences. A person who upholds this value will always state the facts without resorting to lies or inaccuracies. Adherence to this value is undermined by the lies that some members of the society tell. While outright lies are considered wrong by all people, there is a category of lies that falls in the gray moral area. This category is the “white lie,” which is regarded as an unimportant and harmless lie. White lies are considered not only harmless but also important for maintaining good interpersonal relationships.
However, there is disagreement in society over the moral nature of white lies. The supposed benefit of white lies is not accepted by all people. Opponents of white lies assert that these lies are just as harmful as other form of lies. The people who adopt this position declare that the truth should have a higher value than outcomes such as protecting the feelings of a person. Opponents of white lies argue that while they might seem innocuous, they can have unfavorable consequences for the individual telling them and the rest of the society. Lies can lead to mistrust, suspicion, and a breakdown of social interactions.
In addition to this, white lies might easily degenerate into the destructive form of lies. For these reasons, opponents of white lies declare that people should endeavor to tell the truth at all times in spite of the repercussions. However, proponents of white lies argue that this category of lies play a positive role in society and are necessary to ensure that social interactions proceed smoothly. These advocates argue that white lies are not a form of dishonesty since they are said with the best interest of the other person in mind. The lies therefore promote good relations since they foster amicableness during social interactions.
Considering the differing opinions concerning the white lie, this paper will set out to determine if it is beneficial to the society. This paper will argue that while white lies might be regarded as bad behavior by some people, they play a positive role in society by helping to promote peace in some situations and giving people comfort by avoiding the hurt that might be caused by the truth.