The article deals with the concept of “DECEPTION” as an invariable component of human existence. Deception is considered as a moral category in the research of the linguistic embodiment of the concept in the work of art. The immorality of deception, the reasons to justify it or not, deception as the unique property of a person and deception as art are under detailed consideration in the article.

This article deals with the concept “deception” as implemented in the work by J. Fowles“The Magus”. The concept is considered in three aspects: from the position of the subject of deception, the object of the deception and the moral component of deception. The author makes the conclusion about the contradictory nature of deception, and the inevitability of lies not only in all spheres of activities of a certain linguistic culture, but throughout the world.