Honesty and the SS

In Philosophy Now magazine I came across an article about ethics. It claimed that honesty cannot be absolute because of a thought experiment that goes like this: The SS comes to the door and inquiries about the Jews you are hiding in the attic. Should you be honest and turn over your fugitives? The author says no because, according to the author, one has a larger moral duty to humanity than to a moral code.
The thought experiment is invalid for at least two reasons. One - the SS is dead and there are no Jews hiding in attics anymore and two - the SS was not in the habit of respecting property rights or being polite. If they wanted to know what was going on in a person's home they would kick in the door and search the house.
The relevant thought experiment is gang territory. In a gang area (maybe Mafia) the gang has made it clear that anyone who cooperates with the authorities will be severely punished and maybe even killed. A crime has been committed in the territory and witnessed by one of the residents. The authorities, as they are canvassing the neighborhood, knock on the door of the witness and ask if they have seen anything. Should the witness be honest? Absolutely. - You're welcome

Location: Pasadena, Pasadena

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