Truth is often taken to be the cornerstone of trust and honesty in human relationships. There are times, however, that lying is necessary for survival. Whether to escape harm, save lives, or engage in social games, truth is not always a sure ticket to safety. Therefore, I agree with the argument that lying is necessary at times for survival.
To begin with, in life-and-death situations, telling a white lie can mean the difference between life and death. There are numerous examples in history of individuals who lied in order to stay alive. During World War II, Jewish individuals were hidden by many families from Nazi brutality. To keep the refugees and themselves safe, families tended to tell lies to authorities about their location. In such a situation, telling the truth would have had catastrophic effects. Therefore, bending the truth was not only acceptable but morally necessary in a bid to save lives.
Furthermore, truth bending can protect against emotional well-being. In close relationships, absolute honesty can potentially do harm unnecessarily. For example, if someone lacks confidence and asks for criticism, a harsh honesty might worsen his or her lack of confidence. Instead, offering constructive criticism but softening the truth can encourage improvement without inflicting emotional pain. In this instance, being kind instead of brutally honest is personal survival on a psychological level.
Moreover, at work, strategic bending of the truth can be a matter of survival. Take a worker who must navigate a hostile work environment where being truthful about management could mean losing their job. In such cases, choosing words carefully and not being completely open is what enables individuals to survive workplace politics without being fired. Survival in such cases may necessitate diplomacy rather than raw honesty.
However, one needs to distinguish between bending the truth for survival and lying for selfish reasons. Whereas the former aims at protecting oneself or others from harm, the latter has the tendency to bring about broken trust and ethical dilemmas. The motive behind bending the truth, therefore, determines its ethical appropriateness.
In summary, although truth is certainly precious, there are situations where it has to be bent in order to survive. In life-or-death situations, emotional relationships, or workplaces, minimal compromise of honesty can safeguard well-being without compromising integrity. Survival, at times, demands weighing truth against compassion and pragmatism.
