Detect Evil as a Lie Detector??

[Infiniti2000]

While I agree that lying is a chaotic, not evil act...

Wait, so Lawful Evil people don't lie? I don't agree. Nothing about lying requires chaos.

 

[diaglo]

or you could use his logic and say lieing is evil (even though it isn't). tell him speaking is a free action.

and detect evil requires concentration.

by the time he discerns the evil aura... um... the person is done speaking. so it doesn't exist.

 

[2nd Ed Paladin]

Wait, so Lawful Evil people don't lie? I don't agree. Nothing about lying requires chaos.

Lawful evil people would be less likely to lie than good people. Alignment doesn't dictate what a person can or cannot do and one action would not change an alignment. If a person winth a LE alignment continuously lied and it was against their "code" (not necessarily a written code) then their alignment would shift on the Law/Chaos axis.

From the SRD:
LAW VS. CHAOS
Lawful characters tell the truth, keep their word, respect authority, honor tradition, and judge those who fall short of their duties. Chaotic characters follow their consciences, resent being told what to do, favor new ideas over tradition, and do what they promise if they feel like it.

“Law” implies honor, trustworthiness, obedience to authority, and reliability. On the downside, lawfulness can include close-mindedness, reactionary adherence to tradition, judgmentalness, and a lack of adaptability. Those who consciously promote lawfulness say that only lawful behavior creates a society in which people can depend on each other and make the right decisions in full confidence that others will act as they should.

“Chaos” implies freedom, adaptability, and flexibility. On the downside, chaos can include recklessness, resentment toward legitimate authority, arbitrary actions, and irresponsibility. Those who promote chaotic behavior say that only unfettered personal freedom allows people to express themselves fully and lets society benefit from the potential that its individuals have within them.


On topic: no detect "alignment" cannot detect lies or truth, if it did the spell would say it detects actions, not traits.

 

[Vuron]

Wait, so Lawful Evil people don't lie? I don't agree. Nothing about lying requires chaos.

With the possible exceptions of some outsiders (and maybe paladins) alignments don't seem to be absolute. Thus most lawful creatures can and will lie on occasion (if they do this to excess it might warrant a shift towards chaos on the law-chaos axis).

Thus a devil might lie (or at least commit an error of emission) but truly LN creatures like Modrons either can't lie or lies represent a totally foreign mindset from the average.

 

[Infiniti2000]

Thus a devil might lie . . .

I think it's more than "might".

Devils with spell-like abilities use their illusion abilities to delude and confuse foes as much as possible.