...whether it is to protect the ones we love or to cover up something we don’t want others to find out. Lying is the new moral of our modern day society. It's much easier to lie to someone than to tell the truth. In Ericsson’s essay The Ways We Lie, she describes nine descriptions and examples of lies we all say in a day. No matter how honest you try to be, most people ends up saying a lie. Sometimes lies are necessary, but does that really mean someone should build their life upon lies on top of lies. We tend to not pick them out as “water is to fish”. Throughout the essay it tells about how humans can lie in many different ways. As the quote states “our acceptance of lies becomes a cultural cancer that eventually shrouds and reorders reality until moral garbage becomes as invisible to us as water is to a fish." Both cancer and garbage are used to describe the lying. Cancer is used to describe a...
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...October 12, 2013 “ The Ways We Lie “ and “ Too Much Pressure” In Stephanie Ericsson’s essay “ The Ways We Lie “, her thesis states “ lying , she finds , may be unavoidable and even sometimes beneficial” (348 ). In Colleen Wenke’s essay “ Too Much Pressure “ her thesis ask the question “ Why do students cheat n school? ( 482 )”. Both of these essays give their strong reasons on why these two things take place. For Ericsson it is situations that we are put in, and for Wenke the excuse is the stresses of life. Both of these essays are thought provoking in the aspect of the general views of the reasons why we do things. These essays discuss in great detail each author’s point of view and tone. The tone in “ The Way We Lie “ is that of it is just the way of the world and for that we really should not be surprised. In this essay when Ericsson states “ We lie, We all do. We exaggerate, we minimize, we avoid confrontation, we spare people’s feelings, we conveniently forget, we keep secrets, we justify lying to the big-guy institutions ( 348 )”. This tone has a what is the big deal feeling. In contrast the essay “ Too Much Pressure “ has a different tone. When the Wenke says “ A main difference between school today and school when my parents were enrolled is that we are now very goal-oriented and will compromise our values to achieve those goals” ( 484 ). Wenke also states “ Students who would not usually cheat get sucked into believing it is the only way to get ahead in school”...
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...“The Ways We Tell Lies.” Ericsson explains the different ways we lie and why we lie. The importance of this essay is to show that Ericsson has a strong article. By comparing tone, purpose, and evidence in the two essays, the reader can determine that Ericsson’s essay is stronger. Gunderman’s tone is formal. Formal tone can be difficult to understand his point of view. In his writing he uses case studies and quotes from scholars, which can be difficult for the reader to understand and relate. Gunderman writes: “Perhaps the most powerful more argument for honesty has to do with what the French...
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...101: Critical Response Essay 20 February 2015 Results of a lie What is the reason for lying? When is a lie acceptable? Who does a lie hurt most? These questions are answered in Stephanie Ericsson’s essay “The Ways We Lie.” Ericsson begins by dishonestly calling the bank of her deposit check; stating it was in the mail, when it was not written yet. Lies arose, one after another. It started by explaining to a client her tartness due to traffic, hiding the fact that her day was terrible from her husband and denying a lunch invitation from a friend since she was busy (290). Lying provides individuals a way to escape confrontation; only during certain situations are lies tolerable; on the other hand lies can hurt the liar and the victim. It is human nature to lie, but that is not a reason to do such actions. Rather than expressing their true feelings some people believe that lying is easier, and most of the time it is the first choice. Ericsson emphasizes, “We lie. We all do. We exaggerate, we minimize, we avoid confrontation, we spare peoples feelings” (290). A lie becomes second nature to many; it is the go to option when wanting to dodge certain individuals. Trying to save the feelings of victims of a lie, people run to a dishonest face only fantasizing that the lie will protect the victim’s feelings. Even the small lies counts, when asked how their day was people tend to respond with “good” hiding the fact it was the worst day ever. It is simpler to lie than to explain why...
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...How Sir Francis Bacon’s essays philosophical? Francis Bacon, (1561-1626) the most influential and resourceful English writer, is a practically wise man. His essays are store-house of wordy wisdom and practicality. We find a touch of reality and practicality in his views towards truth studies, love, friendship etc. Now we are going to discuss his views. Bacon is very much frank in expressing his view towards truth in the essay “Of Truth”. Truth, according to Bacon, lacks the charm of variety which, falsehood has. Truth gives more pleasure only when a lie is added to it. He believes that, falsehood is a source of temporary enjoyment as it gives the people a strange kind of pleasure. So the essayist says: “…a mixture of a lie doth ever add pleasure” To Bacon, a liar is brave towards god but cowards towards men. A liar does not have courage to tell the truth to the people but he shows courage to tell a lie disobeying god. As the essayist comments: “For a lie faces God, and shrinks from man.” This is indeed a paradox. It means that a man does not fear god when he tells a lie. Bacon’s attitude towards study is completely practical. He emphasizes the function of studies. To him, reading improves the natural abilities of man. Through reading a person becomes a full man and by discussion he becomes a ready man. Then he needs writing to which makes a learner’s idea clear and accurate. As Bacon says: “Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man...
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...When someone tells the truth, are they telling a lie? According to Stephanie Ericsson’s essay, “The Ways We Lie,” Ericsson states, “We lie. We all do. We exaggerate, we minimize, we avoid confrontation, we spare people’s feelings, we conveniently forget, we keep secrets, we justify lying to the big-guy institutes” (Ericsson Paragraph 3). In today’s world, people lie. I believe that what Ericsson has said about lying and the ways we do it is absolutely true. In the play, “The Crucible,” people lied about witchcraft. In real life, different people lie about different things. In society, like the 2016 Presidential Nominees, they lie about many things so they can get your vote in November. Arthur Miller, author of “The Crucible,” based many of...
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...Since the early age, we have taught that lying is wrong and hurts people including ourselves. Moreover, we also have educated that it is better to accept the consequences of any actions than to lie. However, the more they grow up, the more they know about using of lying because telling the truth cannot always solve the problem. From the point of view, some lying is acceptable, some is not. It depends upon what purposes that make people tell lies. The first point to note is that although telling lie is easy to get things in the short period of time, it will create a bad impression on the next generation as well as it does not give any benefit on long way. For example, if you tell some lies to the children such as smoking doesn't effect on everyone around, what will they learn in their future? It is dangerous for everyone too aware of wrong way because of adult. Another point they would like to mention is that if they always cheat others many times, one day lie will befall upon anyone and will lose prestige in relationships. The story telling about a shepherd rearing the sheep is typical example. It cheats villagers many times that there was wolf on the hill. When they run to save it but found no wolf, they became angry with it. And then when the wolf really came, no one bothered it. Finally, the wolf attacked it sheep and also killed the boy. It was due to the own sin that the boy got the kill. On the other hand, in some situations, telling the truth leads to more bad than...
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...Growing up my parents taught me the lessons of life, dinner before desert, be yourself, and treat others the way you would like to be treated are just a few. In Mark Twain’s Essay, “Advise to Youth” the dos and don’ts of life are broken down with comedic whit and enlightened charm. Twain contradicts typical wisdom in an interesting way, telling you the realities of life in a more “bread and butter” manner, skipping over deep advice and giving you the authentic truth to how the world works. In this work the reader is left with simplistic, real advice to how the world works but because the morality of it is wrong, you’re left to wonder if Twain has taught you right from wrong simply by telling you the truth. Twain starts his essay by talking about dealing with parents and your superiors. Rather than telling you to listen because they are wise and know best the way one is typically taught, Twain suggests his readers humor their elders with the idea that they know best. In doing this Twain speaks directly to his teenage audience whom already believes that they know what is best for themselves. Going further into the sarcasm and contradiction throughout the essay, one could suggest Twain was humoring his target reader. By pointing out that humoring adults who believe they know better will get you further to teens who believe they know better, Twain is using his own advice to get through to his reader. When Mark Twain writes about dealing with people who have offended you he suggests...
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...and so on are affecting the society. We replace the bad things in life with technology, and we do not realize it before there's nothing else left. The kids who grow up in this world are so easily affected. The media raise them. They're raised by the idea that likes and comments are the definition of their popularity and how likeable they are. This is also some of the topics Jonathan Franzen talks about in his essay: "Liking Is for Cowards. Go for What Hurts". In the essay by Jonathan Franzen, he passes through a lot of topics. He's very critical towards the technology, which has developed aggressively throughout the last couple of years. He uses a lot of experiences from his own life such as when he talks about his new Blackberry (s. 1, line 1-4). He also talks about how we all want to be likeable. We all want to be accepted and liked by everyone. But it is just not possible. We use the technology to hide behind. The world of liking becomes dominant and that takes out the meaning of loving someone. Because when you love someone, then you expose yourself, which makes you vulnerable. So we hide on the social medias. We do not expose ourselves, but we can portray ourselves just as we like on the media. No one needs to know all the bad stuff. It's obvious that Jonathan Franzen really tries to engage a younger audience. His use of sarcasm and his choice of words makes it really catchy and interesting to read. In the beginning of the essay he talks about his Blackberry, as was...
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...In the reading On Bullshit, by Harry Frankfurt, the distinguishing factors between what is a lie and what is considered bullshit are expressed. Frankfurt explores the meaning and tries to come up with a definition of “bullshit” by using other outside sources and adding or critiquing what they have to say. He references the Oxford English Dictionary, Max Black (more specifically a quote in his essay, The Prevalence of Humbug), and St. Augustine, as well as some others. Frankfurt says that we do not have a clear understanding of the word, but that we use it commonly in our culture and way of life today. We use the word, but we do not contemplate its meaning. Wittgenstein’s “beef” with his friend Pascal’s comment was that it was done without...
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...for What Hurts”, Jonathan Franzen is an acclaimed American novelist and essayist, he was born in 1959. The essay gives the reader a lot to think about when Jonathan Franzen expresses his feelings about the two types of relationships in which he was involved, the liking and the loving. He starts his article out by being overly obsessive about his BlackBerry Bold cell phone. I would say that he was being sarcastic. Jonathan Franzen talks about how humans use technology to replace the “bad things” in life. He appeals to his readers through pathos. He tries to speak to our feelings by saying “We can handle being disliked now and then, because there’s such an infinitely big pool of potential likers. But to expose your whole self, not just the likable surface, and to have it rejected, can be catastrophically painful.” He claims people are having a relationship to their cell phone or other technological devices. Through this essay Jonathan Franzen builds up an instance by using arguments saying we do not appreciate the physical world enough. Jonathan Franzen is using examples from his own life, how he did not appreciate it before he got his interest in birds. He means many people use technology as a replacement for something more and they do not realize it until it is all they have left to hold on to. Technology has evolved so much. Our devices will do what we want, when we want them to. They will never talk back or say mean things to us. Jonathan Franzen implies that “liking” something...
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...Liking Is for Cowards. Go for What Hurts Essay The world we are living in has been through so many changes, and now we are living in a world filled with technology. It is not just some inconsiderable change in our everyday life, and it would not be an exaggeration if you said that technology has changed the world. It has dispensed so many new opportunities to the human kind and it is just the beginning of what technology may bring the future. One could argue whether technology has had negative or positive influence on the human kind, and you can ask yourselves whether people are using technology in a meaningful way? Maybe the human race is not clever enough to avoid being seduced by technology. The essay Liking Is for Cowards. Go for What Hurts written by Jonathan Franzen bring some essential subjects into focus. In the beginning of the essay he describes his obsession with his new BlackBerry Bold and why he got rid of the old one. He humanizes his phones and describes his relationship with them as if the phones were actual people. He says: “(…) our technology has become extremely adept at creating products that correspond to our fantasy ideal of an erotic relationship (…)” (p. 8, l. 46) He explains that the ultimate goal of technology is to replace the natural world with a world that is responsive to our wishes. Technology does not ask for anything, we can do what ever we want with it without getting into a big argument as in ‘real’ relationships, and all things considered...
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...Stephanie Ericsson analyzes various types of lying in “The Ways We Lie” and believes we would be less tolerant of these lies if we stop telling them ourselves. Ericsson includes several ways that we lie in our everyday lives such as Facades, Deflecting, Groupthink, Delusion, and many others. These forms of deception are found heavily scattered throughout pop culture, specifically literature. In the short essay “Shooting an Elephant,” George Orwell depicts a man burdened with the lies he gives because of his job in Burma as a British soldier. According to Stephanie Ericsson, one way that we lie to ourselves and others is through a technique called Facades. George Orwell lies to himself using Facades because he feels he must kill the elephant to refrain from looking like an imbecile to the Burmese as he is an officer of the empire. He feels obligated to shoot the elephant “solely to avoid looking a fool” (309). He continues to call for “a rifle and five cartridges” although he knows it is wrong (305). He even admits “[he] did not in the least want to...
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...morals not rules and consequences. Virtue ethics and deontology are different in the way that moral dilemmas are approached and solved (Virtue Ethics, n.d.). Telling lies is wrong even if the results are good according to deontologists. A virtue ethicist is someone who focuses on the decision to lie more than on the lie told in the first place. While virtue ethics are considered self-centered and they should not be used to guide our actions. These ethics will encourage people to get rid of bad habits and help develop new character traits. A virtue ethicist will in any instance worry less about the lie and think about the decision to lie or not, tells about someone’s character and morals. Lying could be based on a case by case situation, based on personal benefit, intentions and a group benefits from it (Virtue Ethic, n.d.). Following rules would be considered the use of deontology or duty ethics. Deontology approaches the ethics that judges morality based on how you adhere to a rule or rules (Davidson College, 2002). These rules are considered to be a point of contention and criticism in deontological ethics. All actions are judged on how they adhere to or lack, to an objective moral code of ethics. A deontologist will argue that lying is wrong, no matter the outcome that might happen from it (A Basic Introductory Essay, n.d.) Following universal norms that tell us what to do, how we need to behave, and lets us know the difference between right and wrong is what deontological...
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...Cover sheet for essay Student name: _________________________________________________ Student number: _________________________________________________ Course name: _________________________________________________ Course number: __________________________________________________ Due date: _________________________________________________ Lecturer: _________________________________________________ Number of words required: _________________________________________________ Number of words written: _________________________________________________ DECLARATION: I declare that: ● No part of this assignment has been copied from any other person’s work except where due acknowledgement has been made in the text. ● No part of this assignment has been written for me by any other person except where such collaboration has been authorised by the lecturer concerned. ● I hold a copy of this assignment which I can produce if the original is lost or damaged. Signature: _________________________________ Date: ___________________ ● NB: A lecturer or tutor has, and may exercise, the right not to mark this assignment if the above declaration has not been signed. ● If the above declaration is found to be false, appropriate action will be taken. . Little White Lies – Honesty or Dishonesty? Or just an easy way to avoid the painful truth? Lukas Cavalcante Baier Zhejiang University of Science and Technology Abstract Everyone lies. But...
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