He just started a series of three posts on lying that will dispute -- in Xan's characteristically logical way -- the belief that it is never justified to tell a lie. Here's part 1, and here's the outline of the series:
1. There is a difference between speaking the truth and communicating the truth.
2. Lying is often necessary to keep one's private information private (which I feel is generally my right).
3. People don't necessarily want the truth (or the truth might not be in their interest, whether or not they are aware of it).
Here's a money quote:
A rule like "Never tell a lie" seems attractive because it's unambiguous and easy to follow. But in my experience, unambiguous and easy-to-follow rules tend to fall apart as soon as you ask, "Wait, what should I really care about?" Reality is generally far too multidimensional and messy to admit such a cut-and-dry rule. Once we recognize that communication is what matters, we are forced to acknowledge that the corresponding rule, "Never communicate a falsity," is not followable! There are tradeoffs.
