Is lying good or staying in bed? This article will discuss the facts about lying and the views of different philosophers on the act of lying. Lying is the act of a person giving a false statement or even referring to the person's falsehood (dictionary.com). The reasoning for lying can vary depending on the situation. It can also depend on the characteristics of the person who lies. Different philosophers have different opinions on lying, and based on their theory and arguments, lying can be good or bad depending on the situation. German philosopher Immanuel Kant's view on lying differs from that of British philosopher John Stuart Mill. This article will compare and contrast the arguments of Immanuel Kant and John Stuart Mill on the act of lying. Kant believes in the development of a pure moral philosophy, a universal law, based on an a priori concept of reasoning. A priori knowledge is the knowledge a person has before any experience. He also talks about a posteriori knowledge, which stands for knowledge after experience. Since a posteriori knowledge depends on experiences, it cannot be taken into account in making a moral decision because it requires a general law. Kant also refuses to take into account any kind of specific interests and circumstances in making a decision. Thus, lying is not an option, according to Kant, in making any kind of moral decision. He also points out that consequences don't matter regardless of outcomes. The moral law is therefore a general formula applicable in all situations. So, instead of commanding certain actions, Kant believes in expressing the principle that all actions to make a decision should be undertaken with pure motives without considering the consequences. In other words, Kant is an ass...... middle of paper ......ld. He also did this to keep his family happy and to prevent the entire family from being separated from society due to his illness. In this situation, Kant would have suggested that he tell the world the truth about his illness. This would lead to breaking the hearts of thousands of his fans. He would lose his NASCAR contract and be out of a job. His family would have to face the consequences and all the outcomes of separation from the rest of the world. But instead, he decided to lie to the world about his illness, observed the consequences of his actions and acted accordingly. This example helps me argue that Kant's moral theory is very rigid and severe. The maxim of not lying in any situation cannot be universalized in today's imperfect world. It may be appropriate for a perfect ethical world but not for today's imperfect world.