Is this a good thing?

[daveleau]

If you were able to guess things and make up lies to make people feel better in their lives in the short-term with unknown effects on their long-term well-being, would you feel happy about making a living on it?

http://www.scifi.com/johnedward/

http://www.csicop.org/misscleo/

why not, some people need comfort one way or another. most of the pyshic hotlines in small print say for entertainment only

[osprey4]

Drug companies and pharmacies sell placebos, don't they?

Rahab lied about the spies and things seemed to work out pretty well for her.

(To cite two examples with which I'm familiar.)

I'm not into "situational ethics" but it's an interesting debate.

[Theophylact]

I suggest you read Isaac Asimov's Liar, a classic short story about a mind-reading robot that lies in order to spare the feelings of people.

[M_Six]

That's the one that brings up the paradox of robot behavior, right? Robots are supposed to cause no harm to humans, so it's necessary to lie to avoid causing harm, even though lying may cause harm?

[Epidemic]

Edwards is real (why did you include him?)