Douglas_Knight comments on Deontology for Consequentialists - Less Wrong

46 Post author: Alicorn 30 January 2010 05:58PM

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Comment author: Douglas_Knight 01 February 2010 04:28:11AM *  1 point [-]

I don't see how lying to the murderer fails the test you quote, yet Kant does forbid it elsewhere

Truthfulness in statements that cannot be avoided is the formal duty of man to everyone, however great the disadvantage that may arise therefrom for him or for any other.

ETA: perhaps it's OK to lie out of love of money, but not out of love of man?

Added, years later: by "love of money," I mean that Kant says that it is OK to lie to the thief, but not to the murderer.