AP Lang. Q3: Involuntary Lies
Question 1
Plato, Stephanie Ericsson, Martin Buber are amongst many philosophers/writers who suggest that the prevalence of lies in our society has become an acceptable practice that damages the human’s ability to recognize truth. Consider the following excerpted meditation from philosopher Marcus Aurelius: Write an essay that takes a position on the degree to which an involuntary lie creates harm. In your response you should do the following: Respond to the prompt with a thesis that presents a defensible position. Provide evidence to support your line of reasoning. Explain how the evidence supports your line of reasoning. Use appropriate grammar and punctuation in communicating your argument.
To lie deliberately is to blaspheme -- the liar commits deceit, and thus injustice. And likewise to lie without realizing it. Because the involuntary liar disrupts the harmony of nature -- its order. He is in conflict with the way the world is structured. As anyone is who deviates toward what is opposed to the truth -- even against his will. Nature gave him the resources to distinguish between true and false. And he neglected them, and now can’t tell the difference.
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, c. 170 CE
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