Lying Moral Choice in Public and Private Life

In this book, Sissela Bok delves into the moral and ethical dimensions of lying, discussing its impact on trust, relationships, and society.

She analyzes various types of lies, including white lies, lies to the sick and dying, and lies in professional settings.

Bok draws on the insights of philosophers such as Aristotle, Plato, Augustine, Aquinas, Kant, and others to establish a strong moral presumption against lying.

She also proposes a 'Scheme of Applied Publicity' to evaluate the justifiability of lies, emphasizing the importance of context, consequences, and public scrutiny.

The book is a comprehensive treatment of the ethics of lying, highlighting its pervasive nature and the need for a principled approach to truth-telling.