In a time when fake news is an issue, this is the antidote ー in a manner of thought.
Someone asked why lying is wrong, and this was my answer:
Honesty is the kernel of spirituality, all higher perception and related reason, self-knowledge, mental health, cognition, and relationships ーincluding with the self.
If you lie to yourself about anything, especially about your observations, feelings or beliefs, you will lie to others, which in the case of those who trust you amounts to a human rights abuse—of sorts; people who trust you, in private life or in business, depend on your honesty to understand the world that you reveal to them. If you lie, you paint a false image where they depend on you for an accurate one—and this his is deception, which denies them a true picture of the world which is important to them. It makes a fool of them in the worst way, because it makes a fool of them in such a way as it facilitates their making a fool of themselves–because they had decided to trust you. That is the heavy answer to your question and the one that matters most.
The light answer is: Honesty that is self-serving is a vice or a tool for self-aggrandizement; honesty for the benefit of others is a virtue.
In conclusion, dishonesty is the root of all problems as a factor in one’s not loving oneself and thus others. The only time lying is virtuous is when it saves lives and promotes righteous justice (which never, ever includes harm to anyone, for any reason (not even to facilitate punishment, which is primitive and which will one day be done away with).
© Copyright 2018 & 2021 Carl Atteniese All rights reserved
