“Mendacity spoils the well of communication.”

— Professor Pablo Muchnik

Is honesty the best policy?

Studies have shown that almost everyone lies on a weekly (or even daily) basis. We lie about small things, like whether we like a friend’s new haircut or a partner’s choice of shoes. We also lie about larger things — cheating on exams or partners, or hiding other misdeeds.

The term “white lies” stems back to the 14th century — we consider these to be “good” lies, or at least inconsequential ones. 

But is there such a thing as benign deceit?

The guest for this episode is Professor Pablo Muchnik, a professor of ethics and philosophy at Emerson College and an expert in Kantian thought.

Dr. Elliot Malamet and Professor Muchnik dig deeply into the ethics of lying and cheating, and address questions such as:

• How do we deal with the cognitive dissonance of identifying and punishing specific acts in a corrupt culture while ignoring others?
• What sort of morality do we endorse when we privilege financial success over virtue?
• How do we resolve the conflict between honesty and sensitivity?

Tune into this fascinating discussion to learn more about ethical honesty and Kantian philosophy.

“I think the initial response... should be neither grudging nor sympathetic endorsement, but curiosity. We should ask questions such as ‘how does this kind of justification come about?’”

— Professor Pablo Muchnik

This‌ ‌episode discusses:‌ ‌

• The common, two-step thought process behind the justification of lies and cheating
• Why our moral imagination is shaped in our early childhood — and how to reshape it from the ground up
• How the Western models for heroism have evolved — and why aggression and imperialism are increasingly valued ‌

Highlights:‌ ‌

• 00:51  Everybody lies 
• 01:32  White lies & worse lies
• 02:45  Professor Pablo Muchnik & the Cheating Culture
• 08:08  Dealing with cognitive dissonance in a corrupt society
• 10:53  Diagnosing the problem
• 12:16  The remoralizing process
• 14:19  The messaging of success over virtue
• 16:38  Our models for heroism
• 18:23  Consequentialism, Kant & radical evil
• 23:36  Kantian v. Jewish ethics
• 30:42  Evasion as a compromise
• 33:30  Humility & limitations of human freedom
• 35:16  Conflict between sensitivity & honesty
• 37:34  Culture of incivility
• 39:37  Learn to listen
• 40:58  Personal lesson

Links:‌ ‌

Professor Pablo Muchnik’s books

https://www.amazon.ca/Kants-Theory-Evil-Self-Love-Aprioricity/dp/0739140167

https://www.amazon.ca/Rethinking-Kant-I-Pablo-Muchnik/dp/1847188214 

https://www.amazon.ca/Kants-Anatomy-Evil-Sharon-Anderson-Gold/dp/1107414733 

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