Question

Your co-worker, Bill comes into the office and tells you that he is going to play "hooky" and go golfing believing that the boss will think he is out calling on clients. When your boss comes in, he asks you where Bill is and you reply "I saw him in the office earlier this morning, but I haven't seen him lately." What would Kant call this misleading statement?
a. an ethical omission
b. a categorical imperative
c. a veil of ignorance
d. a palter

Answer 1

Answer:

d. a palter

Explanation:

Based on the scenario being described within the question it can be said that Kant would call this misleading statement a palter. This term refers to a statement that has been made ambiguous in order to hide the truth from someone or in order to avoid committing yourself to something. Which in this scenario "You" are trying to hide the fact that Bill is playing "hooky" from your boss.

Answer 2

Answer:

D) a palter

Explanation:

Immanuel Kant was a German philosopher that proposed the doctrine of transcendental idealism. This doctrine states that as individuals we view objects and events not as they really are, but as they appear to us relative to our ideas or preconceptions. He proposed his categorical imperative which was that the truth should be told every time, no matter what.

A palter is an old word defined as a deliberate wrong response or act, given or made to confuse someone else.

In this case, you know Bill is not working and you also know that what he is doing is not right, but you choose to lie to your boss in an attempt to cover Bill's bad actions. Obviously the relationship with Bill is more important to you than what happens to your work (what affects a company, affects its employees and customers).