A Lie Never Justifiable: a Study in Ethics

Part 1

A LIE NEVER JUSTIFIABLE

A Study in Ethics

H. CLAY TRUMBULL

1856

PREFACE.

That there was need of a book on the subject of which this treats, will be evidenced to those who examine its contents. Whether this book meets the need, it is for those to decide who are its readers.

The circumstances of its writing are recited in its opening chapter. I was urged to the undertaking by valued friends. At every step in its progress I have been helped by those friends, and others. For much of that which is valuable in it, they deserve credit. For its imperfections and lack, I alone am at fault.

Although I make no claim to exhaustiveness of treatment in this work, I do claim to have attempted a treatment that is exceptionally comprehensive and thorough. My researches have included extensive and varied fields of fact and of thought, even though very much in those fields has been left ungathered. What is here presented is at least suggestive of the abundance and richness of the matter available in this line.

While not presuming to think that I have said the last word on this question of the ages, I do venture to hope that I have furnished fresh material for its more intelligent consideration. It may be that, in view of the data here presented, some will settle the question finally for themselves--by settling it right.

If the work tends to bring any considerable number to this practical issue, I shall be more than repaid for the labor expended on it; for I have a profound conviction that it is the question of questions in ethics, now as always.

H. CLAY TRUMBULL.

PHILADELPHIA,

August 14,1893

CONTENTS.

A QUESTION OF THE AGES.

Is a Lie Ever Justifiable?--Two Proffered Answers.--Inducements and Temptations Influencing a Decision.--Incident in Army Prison Life.--Difference in Opinion.--Killing Enemy, or Lying to Him.--Killing, but not Lying, Possibility with God.--Beginning of this Discussion.--Its Continuance.--Origin of this Book.

II.

ETHNIC CONCEPTIONS.

Standards and Practices of Primitive Peoples.--Sayings and Doings of Hindoos.--Teachings of the Mahabharata.--Harischandra and Viswamitra, the Job and Satan of Hindoo Passion-Play.--Scandinavian Legends.--Fridthjof and Ingeborg.--Persian Ideals.--Zoroastrian Heaven and Hell.--"Home of Song," and "Home of the Lie."--Truth the Main Cardinal Virtue with Egyptians.--No Hope for the Liar.--Ptah, "Lord of Truth."--Truth Fundamental to Deity.--Relatively Low Standard of Greeks.--Incidental Testimony of Herodotus.--Truthfulness of Achilles.--Plato.--Aristotle.--Theognis.--Pindar.--Tragedy of Philoctetes.--Roman Standard.--Cicero.--Marcus Aurelius.--German Ideal.--Veracity a Primitive Conception.--Lie Abhorrent among Hill Tribes of India.--Khonds.--Sonthals.--Todas.--Bheels.--Sowrahs.-- Tipperahs.--Arabs.--American Indians.--Patagonians.--Hottentots.-- East Africans.--Mandingoes.--Dyaks of Borneo,--"Lying Heaps."--Veddahs of Ceylon.--Javanese.--Lying Incident of Civilization.--Influence of Spirit of Barter.--"Punic Faith."--False Philosophy of Morals.

III.

BIBLE TEACHINGS.

Principles, not Rules, the Bible Standard.--Two Pictures of Paradise.--Place of Liars.--God True, though Men Lie.--Hebrew Midwives.--Jacob and Esau.--Rahab the Lying Harlot.--Samuel at Bethlehem.--Micaiah before Jehoshaphat and Ahab.--Character and Conduct.--Abraham.--Isaac.--Jacob.--David.--Ananias and Sapphira.--Bible Injunctions and Warnings.

IV.

DEFINITIONS.

Importance of a Definition.--Lie Positive, and Lie Negative.--Speech and Act.--Element of Intention.--Concealment Justifiable, and Concealment Unjustifiable.--Witness in Court.--Concealment that is Right.--Concealment that is Sinful.--First Duty of Fallen Man.--Brutal Frankness.--Indecent Exposure of Personal Opinion.--Lie Never Tolerable as Means of Concealing.--False Leg or Eye.--Duty of Disclosure Conditioned on Relations to Others.--Deception Purposed, and Resultant Deception.--Limits of Responsibility for Results of Action.--Surgeon Refusing to Leave Patient.--Father with Drowning Child.--Mother and Wife Choosing.--Others Self-Deceived concerning Us.--Facial Expression.--"A Blind Patch."--Broken Vase.--Closed Shutters in Midsummer.--Opened Shutters.--Absent Man's Hat in Front Hall.--When Concealment is Proper.--When Concealment is Wrong.--Contagious Diseases.--Selling a Horse or Cow.--Covering Pit.--Wearing Wig.--God's Method with Man.--Delicate Distinction.-- Truthful Statements Resulting in False Impressions.--Concealing Family Trouble.--Physician and Inquiring Patient.--Illustrations Explain Principle, not Define it.

THE PLEA OF "NECESSITY."

Quaker and Dry-goods Salesman.--Supposed Profitableness of Lying.--Plea for "Lies of Necessity."--Lying not Justifiable between Enemies in War-time.--Rightfulness of Concealing Movements and Plans from Enemy.--Responsibility with Flag of Truce.--Difference between Scout and Spy.--Ethical Distinctions Recognized by Belligerents.--Illustration: Federal Prisoner Questioned by Confederate Captors.--Libby Prison Experiences.--Physicians and Patients.--Concealment not Necessarily Deception.--Loss of Reputation for Truthfulness by Lying Physicians.--Loss of Power Thereby.--Impolicy of Lying to Insane.--Dr. Kirkbride's Testimony.--Life not Worth Saving by Lie.--Concealing One's Condition from Robber in Bedroom.--Questions of Would-be Murderer.--"Do Right though the Heavens Fall."--Duty to God not to be Counted out of Problem.--Deserting God's Service by Lying.--Parting Prayer.

VI.

Part 2

CENTURIES OF DISCUSSION.

Wide Differences of Opinion.--Views of Talmudists.--Hamburger's Testimony.--Strictness in Principle.--Exceptions in Practice.--Isaac Abohab's Testimony.--Christian Fathers not Agreed.--Martyrdom Price of Truthtelling.--Justin Martyr's Testimony.--Temptations of Early Christians.--Words of Shepherd of Hermas.--Tertullian's Estimate.--Origen on False Speaking.--Peter and Paul at Antioch.-- Gregory of Nyssa and Basil the Great.--Deceit in Interests of Harmony.--Chrysostom's Deception of Basil.--Chrysostom's Defense of Deceit.--Augustine's Firmness of Position.--Condemnation of Lying.--Examination of Excuses.--Jerome's Weakness and Error.--Final Agreement with Augustine.--Repetition of Arguments of Augustine and Chrysostom.--Representative Disputants.--Thomas Aquinas.--Masterly Discussion.--Errors of Duns Scotus.--John Calvin.--Martin Luther.-- Ignatius Loyola.--Position of Jesuits.--Protestants Defending Lying. --Jeremy Taylor.--Errors and Inconsistencies.--Wrong Definitions.-- Misapplication of Scripture.--Richard Rothe.--Character, Ability, and Influence. in Definition of Lie.--Failure to Recognize.--Error Love to God as Only Basis of Love to Man.--Exceptions in Favor of Lying.--Nitzsch's Claim of Wiser and Nobler Methods than Lying in Love.--Rothe's Claim of Responsibility of Loving Guardianship--No Countenance of Deception in Example of Jesus.--Prime Error of Rothe. --Opinions of Contemporary Critics.--Isaac Augustus Dorner.-- Character and Principles.--Keen Definitions.--High Standards.-- Clearness and Consistency.--Hans Lassen Martensen.--Logic Swayed by Feeling.--Right Premises and Wavering Reasonings.--Lofty Ideals.-- Story of Jeanie Deans.--Correct Conclusions.--Influence of Personal Peculiarities on Ethical Convictions.--Contrast of Charles Hodge and James H. Thornwell.--Dr. Hodge's Correct Premises and Amiable Inconsistencies.--Truth the Substratum of Deity.--Misconceptions of Bible Teachings.--Suggestion of Deception by Jesus Christ.--Error as to General Opinion of Christians.--Dr. Hodge's Conclusions Crushed by his Premises.--Dr. Thornwell's Thorough Treatment of Subject.-- Right Basis.--Sound Argument.--Correct Definitions.--Firmness for Truth.--Newman Smyth's Manual.--Good Beginning and Bad Ending.-- Confusion of Terms.--Inconsistencies in Argument.--Loose Reasoning. --Dangerous Teachings.--James Martineau.--Fine Moral Sense.--Conflict between Feeling and Conviction.--Safe Instincts.--Thomas Fowler.-- Higher Expediency of Veracity.--Importance to General Good.--Leslie Stephen.--Duty of Veracity Result of Moral Progress.--Kant and Fichte.--Jacobi Misrepresented.--False Assumptions by Advocates of Lie of Necessity.--Enemies in Warfare not Justified in Lying.--Testimony of Cicero.--Macaulay on Lord Clive's Treachery.--Woolsey on International Law.--No Place for Lying in Medical Ethics.--Opinions and Experiences of Physicians.--Pliny's Story of Roman Matron.--Victor Hugo's Sister Simplice.--Words of Abbé Sicard.--Tact and Principle.--Legal Ethics.--Whewell's View.--Opinion of Chief-Justice Sharswood.--Mistakes of Dr. Hodge.--Lord Brougham's Claim.--False Charge against Charles Phillips.--Chancellor Kent on Moral Obligations in Law and in Equity.--Clerical Profession Chiefly Involved.--Clergymen for and against Lying.--Temptation to Lies of Love.--Supreme Importance of Sound Principle.--Duty of Veracity to Lower Animals.--Dr. Dabney's View.--Views of Dr. Newman Smyth.--Duty of Truthfulness an Obligation toward God.--Lower Animals not Exempt from Principle of Universal Application.--Fishing.--Hunting.--Catching Horse.--Professor Bowne's Psychological View.--No Place for Lying in God's Universe.--Small Improvement on Chrysostom's Argument for Lying.--Limits of Consistency in Logical Plea.--God, or Satan.

VII.

THE GIST OF THE MATTER.

One All-Dividing Line.--Primal and Eternal Difference.--Lie Inevitably Hostile to God.--Lying Separates from God.--Sin per se.--Perjury Justifiable if Lying be Justifiable.--Lying--Lying Defiles Liar, apart from Questions of Gain in Lying.--Social Evils Resultant from Lying.--Confidence Essential to Society.--Lying Destructive of Confidence.--Lie Never Harmless.

INDEXES.

TOPICAL INDEX. SCRIPTURAL INDEX.

A QUESTION OF THE AGES.

Whether a lie is ever justifiable, is a question that has been in discussion, not only in all the Christian centuries, but ever since questions concerning human conduct were first a possibility. On the one hand, it has been claimed that a lie is by its very nature irreconcilable with the eternal principles of justice and right; and, on the other hand, it has been asserted that great emergencies may necessitate a departure from all ordinary rules of human conduct, and that therefore there may be, in an emergency, such a thing as the "lie of necessity."

It is not so easy to consider fairly a question like this in the hour when vital personal interests pivot on the decision, as it is in a season of rest and safety; yet, if in a time of extremest peril the unvarying duty of truthfulness shines clearly through an atmosphere of sore temptation, that light may be accepted as diviner because of its very power to penetrate clouds and to dispel darkness. Being forced to consider, in an emergency, the possible justification of the so-called "lie of necessity," I was brought to a settlement of that question in my own mind, and have since been led to an honest endeavor to bring others to a like settlement of it. Hence this monograph.

In the summer of 1863 I was a prisoner of war in Columbia, South Carolina. The Federal prisoners were confined in the common jail, under military guard, and with no parole binding them not to attempt an escape. They were subject to the ordinary laws of war. Their captors were responsible for their detention in imprisonment, and it was their duty to escape from captivity, and to return to the army of the government to which they owed allegiance, if they could do so by any right means. No obligations were on them toward their captors, save those which are binding at all times, even when a state of war suspends such social duties as are merely conventional.

Only he who has been a prisoner of war in a Southern prison in midsummer, or in a Northern prison in the dead of winter, in time of active hostilities outside, can fully realize the heart-longings of a soldier prisoner to find release from his sufferings in confinement, and to be again at his post of duty at the front, or can understand how gladly such a man would find a way, consistent with the right, to escape, at any involved risk. But all can believe that plans of escape were in frequent discussion among the restless Federal prisoners in Columbia, of whom I was one.

Continue reading A Lie Never Justifiable: a Study in Ethics free in the Wunder reader →