thoughts on hypocrisy

[Kuciwalker]

I've been thinking about hypocrisy. What is it, exactly? It may seems simple, but it isn't. If you define hypocrisy as saying something is wrong, but then saying it is okay for you to do it, then you end up calling a lot of things that aren't hypocrisy hypocrisy. For example, the average American is not allowed to pass laws. Congress is. Does that make Congress full of hypocrites (it is, but that's not the point )?

It seems to me the best definition of hypocrisy is saying that something is wrong to do when you do it yourself. This is subtly different from the previous definition, in that you don't say that you are an exception to the rule. This definition seems to work pretty well.

However, it brings up an interesting question: is hypocrisy really a bad thing? If I am a serial murderer, is it a bad thing for me to prevent other people from murdering people, or to say that murder is bad? Yes, being a serial murderer is a very bad thing, but does the act of saying "murder is wrong" suddenly become a morally wrong act if I murder someone?

I do agree that it is bad to be a hypocrite, but people always seem to attack hypocrites from the wrong angle -that they are preaching what they don't practice. You can only validly attack a hypocrite from the other direction - not practicing what they preach.

[Bereta_Eder]

Main Entry: hy·poc·ri·sy
Etymology: Middle English ypocrisie, from Old French, from Late Latin hypocrisis, from Greek hypokrisis act of playing a part on the stage, hypocrisy, from hypokrinesthai to answer, act on the stage, from hypo- + krinein to decide -- more at CERTAIN
Date: 13th century
1 : a feigning to be what one is not or to believe what one does not; especially : the false assumption of an appearance of virtue or religion
2 : an act or instance of hypocrisy

[Ned]

As Ann Coulter noted, you can avoid being a hypocrite by having no morals. Does this imply also that a person who is not a hypocrite has no morals?

[Kuciwalker]

As Ann Coulter noted, you can avoid being a hypocrite by having no morals. Does this imply also that a person who is not a hypcrite has no morals?

a) Ann Coulter is a moron
b) she's wrong

If a Democrat supports a law that that Democrat breaks, then that person is a hypocrite. Morality is not a necessary part. Moreover, it is the PREACHING of morals that would be necessary, not the HAVING.

[Urban Ranger]

Re: thoughts on hypocrisy

Originally posted by skywalker
However, it brings up an interesting question: is hypocrisy really a bad thing? If I am a serial murderer, is it a bad thing for me to prevent other people from murdering people, or to say that murder is bad?

Hypocrisy seems to only apply when you pretend you are something good or virtuous but in fact you are not. Say you proclaim adultery is bad, then turn around and have an extramartial affair with an intern. Or perhaps Jerry Falwell caught selling porn.

[Ned]

Skywalker, I don't think preaching is required. An ostentatious display such as going to church or carrying the Bible may be sufficient to make one a hypocrite if his personal conduct is inconsistent.

Also, one can be hypocrite if one selectively condemns others. For example, one could condemn Clinton for molesting or harassing women and be a hypocrite for failing to condemn similar actions by Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Also one would be hypocrite for defending Clinton and condemning Schwarzenegger when the conduct is essentially the same.

If it is true that only Saints and the openly sinful are not hypocrites, if a person is not hypocrite then he is one or the other. Since Saints are extremely rare, is it not then generally true that a person who is not a hypocrite has no morals?

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

If you keep repeating it, it'll be true.

[Bereta_Eder]

Interestingly enough in Greek another word for actor is "Hypocritis". The main word for actor is "Ethopoios" (=poet (or maker) of ethos (also interpreted as moods, sentiments). But an actor is normally called an Ethopoios not a Hypocritis. Although we can say he has a great "hypocritical talent" which in said case means "acting talent".

[Boris Godunov]

So, can you tell us the Greek root for "kimono"?

[GePap]

Hypocrasy can be very damaging, since someone who is a hypocrite does more to undermine the values they state they defend when they are found out than someone who commits the same act without any hypocrasy involved.

One of the reasons the US does not have a very good image in Latin America, for example, was the utter hypocracy of stating the fight vs. Communism was all about democracy while giving aid and support to anti-communist right-wing dictators. No one has forgotten, and it takes a lot to undo such damage to credability.

[Nubclear]

Originally posted by Ned
As Ann Coulter noted, you can avoid being a hypocrite by having no morals. Does this imply also that a person who is not a hypocrite has no morals?

I love using this image

[Bereta_Eder]

Never heard of her but she definitely looks dangerous and crazed.

[Kuciwalker]

/me agrees with paiktis

All of your comments are good, but I'm still not seeing quite how hypocrisy itself is morally wrong. I understand that one of its components, doing something bad, is wrong, but I don't exactly see how you criticize someone by calling them a hypocrite. Wouldn't you criticize them by saying that they did bad stuff?

[GePap]

Hypocrasy is a form of lying... yes, some lies have little effect, andf some lies may actually do good, in a limited sense..but overall, lies are what they are, and ditto for the subheading of hypocrasy.

Does that answer the question?

[Kuciwalker]

Yes. Thank you.