True/False: Utilitarianism claims that being truthful, in itself, is not the issue.

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In utilitarianism, the moral weight of an action comes from its consequences, not from the act itself. Truth-telling isn’t judged as inherently good or bad; what matters is whether telling the truth increases overall happiness and well-being. There are situations where telling the truth might cause more harm than good, and a utilitarian would favor options that lead to greater net welfare, even if that means withholding information or telling a lie in some cases. Conversely, honesty can promote trust and welfare in other scenarios, so it’s the outcomes that matter, not the intrinsic status of being truthful. That’s why the statement is true: truth-telling is not the issue in itself in utilitarian ethics. The alternative viewpoints reflect other ethical theories that treat honesty as an intrinsic rule, regardless of consequences.