trishcuit
Hypocrisy
Posted on: 06/22/2010 18:48
My brother in law and I are having an interesting discussion via email on the topic of "hypocrisy". No we aren't calling each other hypocrites, haha. But he sent me this quote that is really rather brilliant.
"Hypocrisy is the art of affecting qualities for the purpose of pretending to an undeserved virtue. Because individuals and institutions and societies most often live down to the suspicions about them, hypocrisy and its accompanying equivocations underpin the conduct of life. Imagine how frightful truth unvarnished would be." [Benjamin F. Martin, "France in 1938," 2005]
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trishcuit
Being a drug addict and
Posted on: 06/23/2010 18:50
Being a drug addict and telling people not to do drugs isn't bad, but it's still hypocrisy.
* * *
In that case it would be more hypocrisy of the addict lied and said he was clean. Otherwise would be more like a cautionary tale. "Look at me. You don't want to end up like me".
I think hypocrisy is more like a 'my shit don't stink' approach, like the Pharisees.
Azdgari
Beshpin, there is no
Posted on: 07/05/2010 19:47
Beshpin, there is no contradiction between hypocrisy being bad, and a hypocritical act nonetheless being good.
Scenario #1: The drug user who preaches against drug use hypocritically.
Scenario #2: The former drug-user who preaches against drug use, non-hypocritically.
The message is of the same logical quality either way. The scenario is not of the same quality, though, according to our values. The hypocrisy makes scenario #1 inferior to scenario #2.
Azdgari
...which is why I said that
Posted on: 07/05/2010 20:15
...which is why I said that the message is of the same logical quality either way. Did you miss that part?
The negativity from the hypocrisy does not affect the message, but it's still negative.
Azdgari
The reason I find hypocrisy
Posted on: 07/05/2010 21:28
The reason I find hypocrisy to be negative is that I find dishonesty to be negative, and hypocrisy is dishonest.
Actions may not always speak louder than words, but they do send a message. If someone is not inclined to take their own advice, then that person is sending two contradictory messages: One with their words, and one with their actions. He or she cannot believe both, as they contradict each other. So one of them is a lie. Is the action the lie, or is the word the lie? Either way, the person is a liar.
This does not impact the logic of the message itself. It is a separate valuation, a character valuation.
Azdgari
A person with a hard nicotine
Posted on: 07/05/2010 23:43
A person with a hard nicotine dependancy who preaches against smoking is not necessarily lying, but then by the same token is not necessarily a hypocrite. If the person would stop smoking if (s)he could, then there is no contradiction. The actions do, as you say, have to be interpreted.
revjohn
Hi trishcuit, Benjamin F.
Posted on: 07/06/2010 08:32
Hi trishcuit,
"Hypocrisy is the art of affecting qualities for the purpose of pretending to an undeserved virtue.
Well, that certainly applies to theatre from which the term 'hypocrite' arises as a tool of trade.
Because individuals and institutions and societies most often live down to the suspicions about them, hypocrisy and its accompanying equivocations underpin the conduct of life. Imagine how frightful truth unvarnished would be." [Benjamin F. Martin, "France in 1938," 2005]
I'm not sure I buy into the causation argument that Martin advances. I certainly agree that there is correlation. I don't know that hypocrisy is necessary anywhere other than the theatre.
Unvarnished truth can be refreshing in ways unvarnished opinion often isn't. Of course, unvarnished truth would be a huge obstacle to our desire to fool ourselves.
Grace and peace to you.
John
trishcuit
ooohhh this is getting
Posted on: 07/15/2010 01:47
ooohhh this is getting downright TITILLATING!
Judd
I tell my kids and anybody
Posted on: 07/15/2010 02:49
I tell my kids and anybody else that there is a big difference between me and my old pack of drug buddies.
I'm the one still alive.