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Lying: An Augustinian Theology of Duplicity

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St. Augustine: It is always wrong to lie no matter what the circumstances. If the truth will hurt, remain silent. It is, however, perfectly okay to mislead with artfully stated truth.

Student: How's that again? I can mislead people without sinning if I'm a good enough wordsmith?

St. Augustine: Abraham told King Abimilech that Sarah was his sister and thereby deceived the king into believing that Sarah was not his wife. Abraham was too saintly to lie, so that can't be a lie.

Student: But Abraham WAS married to Sarah. Abraham lied.

St. Augustine: But Sarah was Abraham's sister, too, so he told the truth. He just didn't tell Abimilech the whole truth.

Student: My mother used to tell me that a half truth was a whole lie.

St. Augustine: No, no. A half truth may be deceptive, but it certainly isn't a lie. In order to lie, you must make false statements with intent to deceive.

Student: I've got some oceanfront property in Arizona that I'd like to talk to you about.

St. Augustine: You're lying. Arizona is land locked.

Student: No, I'm not, I didn't say when the property was on the oceanfront. Arizona used to border on the Gulf of Mexico. You know, you've got a funny way of looking at lying.

St. Augustine: If you think my outlook on lying is funny, you ought to read what Plato, Aristotle, St. Thomas Aquinas, Nietschke, and a half-dozen other philosophers and theologians thought about lying.

Student: Where can I find that?

St. Augustine: Right here in Paul J. Griffiths' book, "Lying--an Augustinian Theology of Duplicity".

Student: Did any of THEM say that a half truth was a whole lie?

St. Augustine: You'll just have to read the book to find out, won't you?