PHILOSOPHY

Should you lie to save Tom? 🤥

Imagine you’ve got two people in front of you: your best friend, Tom, who’s a Bluecastle United fan, and Brian. Brian is a massive hater of Bluecastle United, but doesn’t know that Tom is actually a diehard fan. When Tom leaves to pop to the loo, Brian tells you that he dislikes Bluecastle United so much, that he beats up anyone he sees who supports the team (gasp!). He then tells you that he has suspicions that Tom might be ‘one of those’, and asks you: ‘Is Tom a Bluecastle United fan?’

At this point, you’ve got a decision to make. Do you stick to the values of honesty that Ms Smith taught you back in Year 3 and tell the truth? Or, do you tell a lie in order to protect your friend from Brian’s fist? What you decide to do might give you an indication of whether you are what philosophers call a consequentialist or a deontologist.

💡 Things to consider

• Consequentialism: Consequentialism is an ethical theory that judges whether or not something is right by what its consequences are. For instance, most people would agree that lying is wrong. However, if telling a lie would lead to better consequences than telling the truth (e.g., lying to Brian about Tom’s football affiliations), consequentialism says it’s the right thing to do. Do you think a consequentialist approach is best when dealing with Brian? Why/why not? Can you think of some problems we might face if we’re always a consequentialist?

• Deontology: The word ‘deontology’ comes from the Greek deon meaning ‘duty’. Unlike a consequentialist, which would judge the rightness of actions by their result, a deontologist doesn’t have to weigh the costs and benefits of a situation. Instead, a deontologist believes that the morality of an action should be based on whether that action itself is right or wrong under a series of rules and principles. For instance, a deontologist might argue that an action, such as lying, is wrong because we should follow the universal moral law ‘Do not lie’. We can reach this moral law because we know that lying is bad. What are the benefits of deontology over consequentialism?

• Repugnant Actions: Both ethical theories have their advantages and disadvantages. One of the key ways of sussing out criticisms of an ethical theory is to produce an example which leads to a repugnant, or undesirable, conclusion. For example, let’s suppose economists could prove that the world economy would be stronger, and that the large majority of people would be happier and more productive, if we just enslaved 5% of the population. Although the majority of people would benefit from this idea, most would never agree to it. However, if we take the consequentialist approach and judge the idea solely on its results, it seems that we have no choice but to accept it, as the consequences (improved world economy) are more important than the initial action (enslaving people). Can you think of a similar example to pose against a deontologist?

🔎 Find out more

• Deontological Ethics

• Consequentialism

• YouTube video on Kant (Deontology)

• YouTube video on Utilitarianism (Consequentialism)

🍒 The cherry on top

• 💊 ‘Magic’ Cancer Pill: Researchers have developed a pill-sized capsule that, when swallowed by a patient, can diagnose, monitor, and treat gastrointestinal diseases including Barrett’s esophagus, a condition known to be a precursor to esophageal cancer. This is a quick news read which is great if you’re interested in Biomedicine.

• 🔥 Dante’s Divine Comedy: In the epic poem The Divine Comedy, Florentine poet Dante Alighieri journeys through hell, purgatory, and heaven. First published in 1320, the poem is best known today for its detailed depiction of the Christian afterlife. However, is it also a political statement? Check out this article if you’re interested in Religious Studies or Modern Languages.

• 🏰 Courtly Love Songs: Song lyrics acted as a sexual script for aristocrats, revealing some edgy practices that ignited their imaginations. Can they give us an insight into medieval sex lives? This is a great article if you’re interested in Music.

👀 Keep your eyes peeled for…

• 22nd July:

  • St John’s College Cambridge Linguistics Taster Session

  • St John’s College Cambridge Maths Taster Session

• 23rd July:

  • St John’s College Cambridge Law Taster Session

  • St John’s College Cambridge Psychological and Behavioural Sciences Taster Session

  • St John’s College Cambridge Veterinary Medicine Taster Session

• 24th July:

  • St John’s College Cambridge Engineering Taster Session

  • St John’s College Cambridge History of Art Taster Session

  • Christ’s College Cambridge Webinar: Cambridge for Beginners

  • University of Buckingham Law Taster Session

• 25th July:

  • St John’s College Cambridge Personal Statements Webinar

  • UEA Navigating Clearing Webinar

• 26th July:

  • St John’s College Cambridge Geography Taster Session

  • St John’s College Cambridge Physical Natural Sciences Taster Session

🗳️ Poll