Fairfax Freethinkers

To quote Doctor House (from the TV series House) "everybody lies". Psychologists have found that most people lie far more frequently than they are prepared to admit, even to themselves. This month we will discuss lying. Our working definition of lying will be "a lie is a statement made by one who does not believe it with the intention that someone else shall be led to believe it.”

As usual, feel free to bring food/drink to share. We will socialize for about an hour before the discussion beings.

Discussion Ideas/Thoughts

• Why people lie, and how often?

• What are the benefits to lying to others– does that outweigh any negative consequences?

• When can lying to oneself be useful or moral?

• Is lying immoral if the other person isn't actually harmed?

• Lying is everywhere in nature: plants lie to bees by mimicking attractants; beetles fake ant scents to gain entry to the colony (and eat the baby ants), animals camouflage to not be seen…

• We’ve evolved to have this ability, so it must be useful and in fact advantageous for humans, right?

• What is the effect of being lied to? How is the impact changed based on the relationship to the liar?

• Is there a difference between lying by omission and lying by commission, and how does this distinction influence our judgment of the liar?

• Does someone have to be truthful with you all the time or they are not trustworthy?

• Should we always have our guard up to detect lying? What if you suspect someone is lying, how do you approach that?

• Do we miss opportunity to grow if we lie?

• Do lies become bigger when in a relationship due to the risk of losing the relationship?

• Is lying to a child more acceptable (e.g. Santa Clause)?

• Is it possible to live a life completely free of lies, and would such a life be desirable?

• What are your thoughts on "noble lies" (a falsehood propagated to maintain social harmony)?

• Does lying differ from other forms of insincerity?