Skip to main content
SWStudyWalks Search

Philosophy / Unit 7   Philosophy 0291 short lesson, about 20 seconds

The Inquiring Murderer

Captions available

The idea

The inquiring murderer objection: Kant's absolute duty not to lie seems to require truthfulness even to a murderer asking where your friend hides.

In practice

Kant, pressed with exactly this case, bit the bullet in print: no lie, even then. Most readers get off here.

Your place on the trail

Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.

Unlocks

  • Nothing yet depends on this.

Something wrong in this lesson? Flag it  ·  Sources for Philosophy