Essay : "Three things cannot be hidden : the sun, the moon and the truth", Buddha

KENZA FETTAHI

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT

ESSAY

10/10/19

“THREE THINGS CANNOT BE HIDDEN: THE SUN, THE MOON AND THE TRUTH” - BUDDHA

Telling the truth has always been a sign of virtue. Truth is considered as a theoretical moral principle that contradicts the reality of the facts. Indeed, if no one openly teaches the art of lying, everyone does it more or less, while holding it morally wrong. Truth exists when in a conversation or a proposal, facts are reported as they happened. The truth of an event is its adequacy with the story that reports it. However, despite the moral requirement that we must always tell the truth, can we, in all circumstances, afford not to resort to lies? If in some cases the truth must be told, isn’t the opposite on other occasions preferable or even necessary? We will first ask ourselves why it may be necessary to always tell the truth, and then examine the possible legitimacy of the lie. Finally, between lies and truth, we will determine what attitude we can adapt to better consider our relationships with others.

1. The necessity of telling the truth: it is a duty

The moral principle of demanding truth from everyone is the basis of our relationships with others, whether social or emotional. To violate this rule is to take the risk of breaking the social bond that requires trusting relationships to exist. Lying once is making trust impossible all the time. Relationships of mistrust and fear can then develop, making common existence, collaboration or project implementation fragile.

This rule does not support any exceptions. No matter what consequences the truth may have, it must be told, always and everywhere. When you lie, for example, for the good of the other, don't you give yourself abusive rights? How to determine what is good for the other and what is not? It is, therefore, necessary to tell the truth to the other, it is he who will judge what use he should make of it.

On the other hand, sometimes allowing one to lie is taking the risk of justifying in advance all abuses in the sense that any situation can be declared exceptional to justify a lie. Lying then risks becoming widespread, becoming the easy solution, an escape from our responsibilities.

It, therefore, seems necessary to tell the truth and lying is indeed a reprehensible and sometimes dangerous practice for oneself and others.

But in practice, can the truth always be told? Does it have to? Is lying not in some cases preferable

1. The right to lie: the truth is too expensive

Condemning lies absolutely can lead to questionable practices. By always telling the truth, we are also being mean, inconsiderate and insensitive, lacking tact and diplomacy.

When the announcement of truth has negative consequences for the person who becomes aware of it, it may not be necessary to tell him/her. We can be silent, find formulations that are not brutal or postpone the announcement of this or that news (example: the doctor who must tell his patient that he has only a few weeks to live). Likewise when the truth can hurt, to preserve one's privacy and that of others.