<p>Essay prompt: Is deception ever justified?</p>
<pre><code> Deception, or more commonly called “lying”, is generally viewed as immoral and selfish; however, it can sometimes be reasonable and acceptable. Deception is justified when it is based on good intentions, when it is used to protect oneself or one’s family, and when it is used to overturn tyrannical powers.
When deception comes from good intentions, it is justified. For example, I have a close family friend who is currently a sophomore college. His father was recently diagnosed with a fatal disease. As a result, his family used deception to hide the truth from him because they didn’t want him to get worried and mess up his own life. The deception used here is acceptable because it is completely altruistic and is for the well-being of others. Therefore, deception is justified when it arises from good intentions.
Deception is also justified when it is used to protect oneself or one’s family. For instance, in the well known Greek epic poem The Odyssey, Odysseus used the cunning ruse of deception to kill his enemies, the suitors. He disguised himself as a beggar and sneaked back into his home to get revenge on the suitors. Without the disguise, he could not have killed the suitors and probably would have gotten himself killed. The deception used in this case is reasonable because Odysseus used it to save his family from the suitors. Hence, deception is justified when it is used to protect oneself or one’s family.
Furthermore, deception is justified when it is necessary to overthrow tyrannical powers. For example, during the American Revolution, general George Washington frequently gave his enemies false information to deceive his opponents, and he was able to win a lot of battles using deception. Without deception, America probably would not have won in the Revolutionary War and would not have been independent from the tyrannical Britain. Thus, deception is justified when it is used to overturn tyrannical powers.
Although the mere concept of lying or deception is considered immoral, it can be justified under certain situations. First, deception is just when it is completely selfless and arises from good intentions. Second, deception is reasonable when it is necessary to protect oneself and one’s family. Finally, deception is justified when it is required to overturn tyrannical powers. Clearly, deception is sometimes justified only under acceptable circumstances.
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<p>btw i'm a sophomore.</p>