Benevolent lies as civic glue

Small, intentionally benevolent falsehoods (e.g., comforting a dying relative, social niceties) serve adaptive social functions by preserving relationships and easing coordination; they may therefore be morally distinct from lies that manipulate or instrumentalize others. The essay argues against absolutist positions (Kantian and some contemporary thinkers) and asks us to weigh interpersonal compassion and institutional trust when judging deception. — If accepted, this framing shifts debates about honesty from categorical prohibition to context‑sensitive rules that affect journalism, politics, medical disclosure, and platform moderation.