Noble Lie, The
The Noble Lie was a concept introduced by Plato in his Republic in which he justifies rulers telling lies in order to maintain social stability. Politicians have been generating lies ever since, generally without the faintest hint of nobility.
Critics of the Atlantis story often cite the tale as an example of a morality tale or a “noble lie”. This of course makes no sense as the Atlantis narrative ends with the army of the Atlanteans as well as the previously victorious Athenians being destroyed, which is not much of a triumph of good over evil. To call it a “noble lie” is also unconvincing, as the final outcome provides no political motive to explain it as a lie.
*Furthermore, while Plato seemingly condoned political lies, he was not a politician but a philosopher and as such was totally committed to truth.*