Truth vs Duty

[Nercohype]

Truth vs Duty

We often see truth as something worth pursuing, something we should seek regardless of where it leads us. But what happens when the pursuit of truth conflicts with our duties to others?

What if uncovering the truth means hurting someone, breaking a promise, or failing those who depend on us? Is the pursuit of truth still the right thing to do, or can our responsibilities sometimes outweigh our need to know?

And if we choose duty over truth, are we making a moral sacrifice, or simply turning away from something we don't want to face?

I'm curious to hear other people's thoughts on this. Where do you draw the line between the truth you seek and the duties you have? 🤔

[Leo Gura]

Truth is the highest duty.

[Nercohype]

4 minutes ago, Leo Gura said:

Truth is the highest duty.

@Leo Gura Yeah, I feel the same way. But what if seeking the truth leads to a catastrophe? What if fulfilling your duty means putting the pursuit of truth aside?

But at the same time what if greater catastrophe comes if one dosen't seek the truth? 🤔

[Natasha Tori Maru]

@Nercohype do you have some concrete examples where you have been face to face with this conundrum? 

Your replies above moved further into abstraction. The details of an example and the context may affect the path forward 🤸🏻

[Leo Gura]

14 minutes ago, Nercohype said:

@Leo Gura Yeah, I feel the same way. But what if seeking the truth leads to a catastrophe? What if fulfilling your duty means putting the pursuit of truth aside?

But at the same time what if greater catastrophe comes if one dosen't seek the truth? 🤔

That's a matter of character.

There are no easy answers. It's all about trade-offs and finding your character.

[Nercohype]

@Natasha Tori MaruYeah, that's fair! Truth vs Duty is a big question that I'm actually trying to explore and answer through my own story. I don't have a concrete real-life example in mind, but the story itself deals with this exact dilemma and what happens when the pursuit of truth conflicts with one's duties. 🤔 I don't want to put lore here but the main problem is that... What if seeking truth will being catastrophe on your own people. I don't know what the best awnser would be. 

 

[Nercohype]

Yeah, my MC embodies that dilemma. I feel like he wants to discover the truth no matter what, but doing so could bring great calamity upon his people. I'm just not sure if I want to portray truth as something that always comes at a great cost. I don't know how universally true that is, but that's how I've envisioned it in my story so far.@Leo Gura

[Natasha Tori Maru]

@Nercohype Integrity is a concept that makes the truth-versus-duty dilemma more interesting (or perhaps, complicated!), because it asks whether you can remain faithful to your principles when those principles conflict with one another. 

The Iraq WMD case is a good real world example of truth, duty and integrity.

It turns out the WMDs were lies to feed a narrative invasion of Iraq was necessary. Imagine being a reporter than knew the truth... The damage revealing it would cause the government. Do you whistleblow? 

An interesting test of integrity. The reporter's dilemma is not simply whether to tell the truth. It is whether to expose serious wrongdoing when doing so could damage the government, undermine public trust and potentially destabilise the country.

[Joseph Maynor]

Duty seems to be more of a goal or a wish or hope or an ideal.  Truth is what is.  

[Nercohype]

@Natasha Tori Maru This is exactly the kind of dilemma I'm trying to explore in my story! I especially like the point about integrity and remaining faithful to your principles when they conflict with one another. It's not just about whether you should seek the truth, but also about what responsibilities you have towards others and what the consequences of revealing that truth might be. Thank you for bringing up this example! It gives me a lot to think about. Thank you Natasha! 😁

[Nercohype]

@Joseph Maynor I understand what you mean. But the problem is if you want to seek the truth you have to go out there and find it. But what if you are bound to your duty? Will you break it for Truth? 

Edited 9 hours ago by Nercohype

[Natasha Tori Maru]

@Nercohype no problem (⁠◠⁠‿⁠・⁠)⁠—⁠☆

I tried to think of an example that would have a few layers to consider that would concretely flesh out how all these principles come into play. It was interesting for me to think on as some conflicts are quite easy and can be a simple values assessment + cost/benefit. Others can have much broader ethical problems that aren't so easy to find a moral, just and truthfully satisfying answer.

Good luck & happy writing 🤸🏻

Edited 8 hours ago by Natasha Tori Maru

[Nemra]

What if one's duty is based on falsehood?

I don't think anyone believes that their duty is based on falsehood.

If you don't seek the truth, how would you know that you're not lying to yourself about duty?

Edited 8 hours ago by Nemra

[Nercohype]

@Nemra Sorry for the late response. I'm working my bread job at the moment 😅

But you make a fantastic point! In fact, in my story, the character's sense of duty is based on a half-truth. However, there is a good reason why he has been lied to.

[Nercohype]

@Natasha Tori Maru I really like how you put this into perspective. I think that's what makes these kinds of dilemmas so interesting to explore. Sometimes there isn't a clear answer, and even if you make what you believe is the right choice, you still have to face the consequences. That's something I'm trying to explore through my character and his story. I don't want the answer to be as simple as truth always being worth the cost, but rather to explore what happens when the values you believe in start to conflict with each other. 😁

And thank you! I'll do my best. But I also need to draw them, too 😵‍💫

[Nemra]

2 hours ago, Nercohype said:

Sorry for the late response. I'm working my bread job at the moment 😅

Don't worry. 🙂

No one really owes me their time.

2 hours ago, Nercohype said:

But you make a fantastic point! In fact, in my story, the character's sense of duty is based on a half-truth. However, there is a good reason why he has been lied to.

I think that it can be reasonable to lie others if they can't handle the truth.

But too much lying will probably rot me from the inside.

If my survival depends on people who don't want to be told the truth, I will lie them through my teeth until I get out of that environment.

So, I think it's also about being intelligent because survival is intelligent.

I can't really trust people not to have bad intentions, or intentions that seem good from their perspective but have negative effects on me.

Honestly, no one is going to seek truth for me, nor can I seek truth for others.

Edited 4 hours ago by Nemra

[Nercohype]

@Nemra I think that's an interesting perspective!  In my story, my MC actually leaves his home without knowing the full truth. He's been lied to for a good reason, as the truth could put his people in danger. But by pursuing his own freedom, he might unknowingly put them at risk. I find that conflict interesting because he isn't deliberately choosing the truth over his people's safety. He simply doesn't know what is really at stake.

[gettoefl]

Your duty is to keep yourself and your neighbourhood alive another day. That is your highest calling. Only then have you a sniff at truth. The dead aren't awakening any time soon.