Morning sessions at the market: Should lies never be told?

The morning sessions held during PhiloMonaco Week are organised by The Monaco Philosophical Encounters, in collaboration with Monaco Info and Monaco City Hall.

Presented each morning by Marc Crépon, philosopher and Théo Schumer, journalist, these morning sessions provide an opportunity for reflection, debate and discussion, based on questions posed by members of the public to the guest speakers of PhiloMonaco Week.

Lying always constitutes abuse because there is no lie if there is no imbalance between the person being lied to, who is necessarily unaware of the truth, and the person lying, who can only do so by knowing the truth (which they hide). In this sense, the relationship is unequal and morally unacceptable since the liar "manipulates" the recipient of the lie, thus objectifying them. If a universal law forbids treating anyone as a means to an end, then lying can never be justified; as we know, this is Immanuel Kant's position. But could it not be that the liar treats the other for a time as a means, thus depriving them of their dignity, to avoid further harm and future damage, ensure their health and safety and provide them with greater strength? In other words, could the act of lying, despite appearances, amount to "looking after" someone, providing a form of protection, kindness, or even love? What does it mean to "lie for the good of others"?