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Kant's Axe

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"If a sinister-looking man carrying an axe knocked on your door and asked where your best friend was, would it be morally acceptable to tell a lie?" German philosopher Immanuel Kant's opinion throws a spotlight on the differences between deontology and utilitarianism, explained in this video by BBC Radio 4.

Are there some situations (such as when your life or others' lives would be endangered by truth-telling) in which you believe you should lie, or do you agree with Kant's categorical imperative? Why or why not?

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