Final answer:
The virtue of truth telling lies in its promotion of honesty and trust, essential for societal function, while its vice may occur when truth causes harm, posing ethical dilemmas. The resolution can be complex, requiring a balance of moral principles and consideration of the situation's specific consequences.
Step-by-step explanation:
Virtues and Vices Associated with Truth Telling
When considering the virtue and vices associated with truth telling, we delve into a philosophical discussion through which we can understand the moral implications of truth in human conduct. The virtue of truth telling is its alignment with moral integrity, honesty, and trustworthiness. It fosters clear communication and forms the basis of societal cohesion. Conversely, the vices of truth telling can emerge when the truth may cause harm or damage, leading to moral dilemmas. For instance, telling a harmful truth may conflict with the duty to protect someone from hurt. This problem reflects a clash between different ethical principles.
Aristotle's view of truth as saying something that "it is what it is" can be seen as an antecedent to the correspondence theory of truth, which posits that a statement is true if it matches the reality it describes. In contraposition, the harm that can arise from telling such truth might be favored in Socrates' perspective where harm to one’s character, by lying, is considered more severe than other harms.
The moral dilemma of whether to lie to protect a family member or to tell the truth is significant. The virtuous act would traditionally involve telling the truth and upholding the law; however, when the truth causes harm, the resolution of such conflict might require deep moral reasoning, taking into account the specific circumstances and the potential for various outcomes.