Medicinal and White Lies
By Moeru H.

A/N: This is an essay I wrote last year for my Social Science class (on Plato). It answers the questions: What are the differences or similarities between a white lie and a medicinal lie? & are there instances that white lies/ medicinal lies are justified?

White lies and medicinal lies are bound to different interpretations. Their differences and similarities will depend on how a person would define them and how the people who are associated with those lies are given importance.

For the simplest definition of a medicinal lie and a white lie is that the former is a lie made by a doctor, who is considered a preserver of life, and the latter is a lie given by an ordinary person, which many would consider less important if compared to a doctor.

According to Plato, doctors are compared to rulers as patients are to the ruled. What a doctor would give/ tell, even if it’s untrue, but for the benefit of the patient is called a ‘medicinal lie’. For Plato, doctors, or rulers for that matter, telling lies will be justifiable for it promotes welfare for those under it.

As we can see, medicinal lies are always given much worth than white lies. One of their differences that were described is measured on who said the lie. For my interpretation, I see their similarities by looking at the content of the lie. Not on the status/ class of who said it but on the relevance of the lie according to a particular person. For me, there are only two ways that lies are justifiable. First is, if it is for the preservation of life. In here, medicinal lies are included but not confined to medicinal lies only. Second, if it is for the sake of peace. Peace being defined as harmonious relationship with people either in speech or in action. In here, mostly white lies are applicable.

Let’s give each of the two an example in their simplest form. First on the preservation of life outside the ‘doctor experience’. A mother tells her child that an injection is just like an insect/ ant bite. For the child’s point of view, it’s the most horrifying thing in the world giving it a high value. (In reality, injections really hurt slightly, especially for children.) But for the mother, she has to tell a little white lie so that her child may be less prone to diseases. Next is the lie for peace. In speech for example. Mostly, people don’t like hearing bad things said to them. It looks to them as hypocritical. Some people resort to violence. There are things better unsaid. But if it’s inevitable to say nothing then white lies come. (White lies are fine if no one’s hurt.)

Many things are given less importance because of how society dictates them. In my definition, the 2 kinds of lies may seem trivial but when seen in a larger scale, its relevance in life becomes more obvious and of great consequence.