Is a Lie Still a Lie If There Is No Deceit?
Introduction
David Livingstone Smith’s article, Natural-Born Liars, touches all aspects associated with the origins of deceit. He begins his article by connecting deceit with evolution establishing that deceit is engrained in the building blocks of life and passed on from generation to generation. Smith utilizes the orchid, and it’s abilities to attract wasps, to support his connections. Furthermore, Smith defines a good liar as someone who is a good liar to themselves. Only through practice; one can reach the status of being a successful liar.
In contrast, I do not agree with Smith that it is natural to be a liar. I do believe, however, that it is natural to be deceitful. According to the Webster Dictionary, deceive is defined as “to cause to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid” (Merriam-Webster) and a lie is defined as “an assertion of something known or believed by the speaker to be untrue with intent to deceive.” (Merriam-Webster) Now that we have established a line between a lie and deceit, there remains one underlying question. Is a lie, still a lie, if there is no deceit?
Doctor Gregory House, the unconventional medical genius from Fox Network’s hit drama, House, is always under the impression that everyone lies. This assumption of the human angle is by no means a new thought. Everyone has a secret! People avoid prosecution by making untrue statements with intent to deceive their audience from the hidden truths.
“Deception runs like a red thread throughout all of human history.” (Smith 734) The lie has been used as a key component in the advancement of society. Publius Vergilius Maros, also known as Virgil, wrote the epic poem, The Aeneid. The poem tells the story of the use of deceit as a weapon used during the Trojan War. During the 2nd century AD, the Greeks hid soldiers inside a huge figure of a horse. The Trojan Horse, as it has been named, was presented to the Trojans at...
