PHIL 001 Lecture Notes - Lecture 21: Orgasm, Fellatio, Perjury

• School: College of The Sequoias
• Department: Philosophy (PHIL)
• Course: PHIL 001
• Professor: cline

Document Summary

Aim 1: identify the competing perspectives about lying and sexual privacy that lurk behind public opinion about the prosecution of perjury and other related forms of deception. Aim 2: lying, in particular, lying to protect sexual privacy is not a categorical moral wrong not even when liar is high ranking public official. This gives those with discretion about pursuing indictment (etc) of a liar a reason to treat lies regarding sex differently than other kinds. Based on premise: privacy is a human need and moral entitlement, similar to freedom and equality. Privacy is not a mere luxury or an optional good. Lying about sex evolved as a way for well meaning people to cope with conflicting physical, emotional and social constraints. Thus, americans should not be quick to judge lies about sex. Exceptions: if there is departure from general truthfulness. For example in cases of rape, incest, child molestation, sexual harassment or exploitation, there is no excuse for lying.