I guess the sinfulness of any lie depends on the circumstances, much like many other sins. Well, our natural model of functioning would make it so, because there would be no escape from it but straight into insanity---since we cannot function like biological robots being fed an input of … White and prosocial lies are lies with socially harmless or benevolent motives or consequences. It is morally acceptable to lie when a falsehood protects someone from physical or emotional harm. Absolute moral rules such as "never lie" might be the ethical approach you endorse. Advocate Two makes a humorous attempt to poison-the-well against justified deceptions by labelling me "Advocate of the White Lie." "A little white lie like mentioning the tooth fairy or Santa Claus is acceptable when it protects a child’s innocence or creative imagination," said Ludwig. By Joyce Lee “Is it OK to tell an Alzheimer’s patient a white lie?” This is a question posed by one reader of the Washington Post, whose father has dementia, but an issue faced by many families across the country who are caring for their loved ones.They have to ask themselves which is worse, telling white lies or telling harsh truths? No lie: There are times ... well-intentioned lies are considered moral, while selfish or meaningless lies are considered immoral. According to researcher, Bella DePaulo, PHD there is a difference between big lies (the pathological liar) and little white lies (the liar who fibs in a kind way). For instance, telling a child that their drawing is nice or that their story is clever, or telling new parents that their baby is the cutest ever are both examples of this. Or, that fibbing and withholding information is not really lying. Such a lie arises from a conflict between justice and veracity when the exercise of both virtues is demanded by the selfsame moral situation. Whether lying can ever be justified (and the matter of “white lies”) has engaged Christian moralists in discussion and lively debate since the time of St. Augustine more than 1,500 years ago. Is a white lie a MORTAL sin (which is the only kind that needs sacramental confession)? But, such a label is obviously inaccurate since the common connotation of a "white lie" suggests little, comfortable lies, but such deceptions are clearly prohibited by … In other words, we are obliged to tell the truth, and we are also obliged to keep secrets, but there are times when the only way to keep a secret is to lie. Many of us think we never lie. So, is all that about white lies and pep-talk morally justifiable? Moreover, little white lies are socially accepted when they do no harm. 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