Is it ever okay to lie to protect someone's feelings?

Question

My friend asked if I liked their new haircut and I hated it. I said I loved it. I feel like that was the kind thing to do. But my partner says lies are always wrong even small ones. Is there a moral difference between lies that protect feelings and lies that deceive?

oliver_thinks · Accepted Answer

Context matters enormously. A small social lie about a haircut is fundamentally different from a deception that affects someone's decisions. Most people intuitively understand this distinction even if they cannot always articulate it cleanly.

scarlett_king · Answer

The question is not just about the lie but about what the other person would want. Most people, if asked, would prefer a kind truth to a protective lie about things that actually matter to them.

Is it ever okay to lie to protect someone's feelings?

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Is it ever okay to lie to protect someone's feelings?

2 answers Most votes Newest Oldest

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2 answers
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