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UF Philosophy Corner by MatthewDBA 2008-08-26 07:36:00
Is a work of fiction a lie? Consider, for example, a "true crime" story with "names changed to protect the innocent" - in which the author tells you that the story is true, but doesn't tell you that the names are changed? That is (per the Random House Dictionary definition) "a false statement made with deliberate intent to deceive".

Suppose this is to be considered a lie. Is it unethical for the author to publish it? Would its status as a lie change if the author did not disclose that the story was true?

On the other hand, if it's not a lie, then does the definition need to be modified? How?
[ Reply ]
  Yes - but... by veran2008-08-26 07:59:33
    Yes what? by MatthewDBA2008-08-26 08:10:23
      It's fiction and a lie, but... by veran2008-08-26 09:37:30
        Tell me more? by MatthewDBA2008-08-26 09:46:34
          A lie, and a known one from the start by veran2008-08-26 12:07:48
  I think your initial statement is incorrect. by EnzoMatrix2008-08-26 08:03:38
    That leads down two paths: by MatthewDBA2008-08-26 08:09:20
  Going with the definition of a lie as by Peace_man2008-08-26 08:45:03
  No, it's not. by JimK2008-08-26 08:58:05
    That makes sense in general by MatthewDBA2008-08-26 09:27:41
      Ahh, missed that bit. by JimK2008-08-26 12:59:05
        Not at all cheating by MatthewDBA2008-08-26 13:09:03
          I think the cutoff is whether characters are still by JimK2008-08-26 13:51:40
  Fiction is not a lie. by tallastro2008-08-26 11:03:32
    The last two questions: by MatthewDBA2008-08-26 11:19:59
      Still guessing about your question. by tallastro2008-08-26 11:40:31
        Okay by MatthewDBA2008-08-26 11:44:29
          Sounds like a lie. by tallastro2008-08-26 12:09:50
            If it were to protect by MatthewDBA2008-08-26 12:36:31
              Could be the crime was so minor that it by tallastro2008-08-26 13:21:52
  Just to avoid the trap of sophism by moddermonster2008-08-26 11:05:59
    You're less concerned with the words by MatthewDBA2008-08-26 11:21:56
      Yup. If he doesn't try to deceive by moddermonster2008-08-27 01:58:08
  No because in some alternate reality by joecrouse2008-08-26 12:19:58
    No fair by MatthewDBA2008-08-26 12:25:10
  A fiction is not a lie. by hej2008-08-26 12:49:54
    In my example case by MatthewDBA2008-08-26 12:56:33
      That's a different question. by hej2008-08-26 14:41:42

 

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