What is a lie: a journey through time

Every person strives to make his life better. However, how to achieve prosperity, everyone has his own idea. Wherever the interaction of people begins, there is a lie and deception.

Philosophical concepts

The question "what is a lie" in philosophy and psychology is given a lot of attention. The answer to this question begins with an analysis of key concepts that explain this phenomenon. According to many scientists, the truth is a reflection of reality around us.

However, due to individual characteristics of a person, this reality can be perceived in a distorted way. Then we say that a person is mistaken about his reality. But if he intentionally expresses something that does not correspond to the truth, in order to create a conviction in another person - this is a lie.

For a better understanding, the concept of "truth" should also be considered. It is wider in its content than truth, and it means not only the adequacy of knowledge, but also their meaningfulness for the subject. It is better to understand what is true and false, you can turn to the Academic Dictionary of the Russian language. It says there is "untruth, deliberate distortion of truth, deception."

Lies: from antiquity to modern times

Perhaps for the first time the question "what is a lie" was asked by the ancient philosophers Plato and Aristotle, and they agreed that it was something negative, provoking the disapproval of other people. However, over time, the views were divided, and there were two completely opposite approaches to the permissibility of lies.

Some explained what a lie is, based on Christian morality. They argued that lying is evil, this is what undermines trust between people and destroys values. The fact that a person intentionally distorts reality, trying to profit from this, is called a sin in Christianity.

Representatives of another approach held the view that some of the false statements are not only acceptable but desirable. In their view, statesmen need to resort to lies to ensure security and maintain order. The right to intentionally distort the truth they still leave to the doctors for reasons of humanity. Thus, a new interpretation of the concept appeared - a lie for good or for salvation.

Current position

Modern researchers also do not give an unambiguous answer to the question "what is a lie". Rather, the concept itself has not changed, but the attitude towards it still remains different. Therefore, today it is customary to seek and justify the reasons why people resort to lies.

Firstly, it can be viewed from the point of view of morality. For example, when a person tries to hide or embellish negative actions. This form is often used by children. But do we always condemn them for this? Rather, we blame, explain why it is not necessary to do this and that all the bad things can be realized and corrected.

Secondly, a lie can be used as a tool for trying to get a certain result. And this is a completely different format of lies. If a person intentionally distorts information in order to disorient the situation of another and thus gain profit for himself, this already characterizes the lie as a willful deed.

And thirdly, it can appear in the form of a simple distortion of facts. Simply put, a person can simply not tell the whole truth, hiding only part of it. This is also done by the individual intentionally, to achieve his goals.

Thus, we have come close to explaining what lies and deception are. At first glance, these concepts are synonymous. But still it is not so. Lying, as mentioned above, is a conscious distortion of the truth. A deception is a deliberate misleading of the other. Deception can be interpreted as one of the forms of social contradictions. He can help not only to achieve mercenary goals, but also, for example, to keep secrets.

Lies and its signs

Western psychologists today are increasingly converging in the opinion that lying in most cases causes moral condemnation. But if it is replaced by "deception" or "untruth," then the attitude to the distorted truth becomes neutral. Although, if one understands, a lie implies only a distortion of the truth or its concealment. While deception is an intentional act.

Trying to understand what a lie is, you can identify several of its features:

• First, a lie is always used to gain a certain benefit;
• Secondly, a person realizes the falsity of the utterance;
• Thirdly, distortion of information becomes important when it is expressed.

But from the standpoint of positive psychology, a lie is a sign of weakness. Only those who are not sure of their abilities resort to it. And, using lies on the way to their goal, one should understand that it does not strengthen, but weakens its position.