An Ordinary Language Critique of Kant on Lying

Kant tells us we should not lie because the world will fall apart if we do--presumably because we rely on others to provide us with information that is, so far as they know, accurate. But language has many functions other than describing the world accurately. There are other things we might do by speaking, and other goals we might try to accomplish through speaking. And we can't assume that accurately describing the world is a superior goal in all cases.

On the economy, on the other hand, Kant was right. If everyone takes on debt they have no intention of paying back, the practice of lending money becomes impossible.