Episode #248 ... What philosophers say about lying.
Summary
Stephen West explores the philosophy of lying, challenging the assumption that truth is always superior. He examines Nietzsche’s view of useful fictions, Augustine’s warning against internal division, and Kant’s argument that lying destroys agency. The episode also covers Plato’s noble lie, Stirner’s egoism, and Mandeville’s idea that strategic insincerity can benefit society, concluding with the nuance of white lies.
Topics discussed
Introduction: The philosophy of lying and the value of truth
Nietzsche on truth as a useful fiction
Defining lying and its various forms
St. Augustine: Lying as internal corruption
Montaigne: Lying and the erosion of social trust
Kant: Lying, consent, and universalizability
Hannah Arendt: Political lying and shared reality
Sponsor segment: NordVPN
Plato's Noble Lie and constructive falsehoods
Machiavelli and the axe murderer dilemma
Max Stirner: Truth as a tool for the ego
Bernard Mandeville: Private vices, public benefits
White lies, paternalism, and power dynamics
Conclusion and call to action
Listen ad-free on Castria