By: Anna Mueller
In a time so focused on social justice and advocating for issues of personal importance, it is worth considering whether hypocrisy plays a role. Sometimes we are hypocrites without even realizing it. The examination of the prevalence and effects of hypocrisy through a philosophical lens begs the question: Why is hypocrisy bad?
The concept of hypocrisy dates back to the 1st century B.C.E. Surprisingly, the word “hypocrites” comes from a term relating to theatre, the Greek word “hypokrites,” which means “an actor.” In the 13th century, many religious texts utilized the word in its earlier spelling, “ypocrites,” in reference to “someone who pretends to be morally good or pious in order to deceive others.” Eventually the term came to assume its current day meaning: an individual who acts in contradiction to their personal beliefs, feelings, and claims. A widely known phrase relating to hypocrisy is as follows:
“People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.”
This phrase is very clearly critical of hypocritical tendencies. Imagine an individual living in a glass house who decides to throw a stone at somebody else. Naturally, the other responds with a stone of their own. This response creates a problem with the structural integrity of the house: the glass shatters, it becomes unstable and unreliable, it is imperfect. One who throws stones compromises their trustworthiness and reveals weakness. Figuratively speaking, if you are going to throw ideological “stones” at people, be prepared for others to throw the same “stones” back at you. The “stones” are symbols of individual beliefs or ideals which one chooses to “throw” at another. This phrase implies that hypocrisy is a negative trait, but in order to acquire a deeper understanding of this point of view, certain questions must be asked. Such as: is it morally right to impose your ideals upon others when you, yourself, do not live up to those ideals? Why is it bad to be a hypocrite?
The most apparent answer is that it reveals a certain weakness in character, that one feels compelled to lie or create false depictions of their ideals, and that these are “clear moral failings.” However, the New York Times article “The Real Problem With Hypocrisy” introduces another possible explanation: the reason hypocrites are disliked is that their “outspoken moralizing falsely signals their own virtue.” In other words, people are not appreciative of the untrue claims that these people make, which falsely signify their high moral character.
It is unrealistic, and debatably not even possible, to live a life free of hypocrisy. In order to do so, one who believes in certain things must perfectly follow every ideal and every belief. Humans make mistakes; we are imperfect. Though it is not realistic to try to achieve zero hypocrisy, it is possible to minimize the amount of hypocrisy in our lives. It is important to draw attention to the concept of and the problems created by hypocrisy. By paying attention to our claims and criticisms, we can avoid being hypocrites. If you must throw stones, it is necessary to ensure that your own house has a solid foundation first.
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“The Origin of ‘Hypocrite’” Merriam Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/hypocrite-meaning-origin
New York Times, “The Real Problem with Hypocrisy,” https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/13/opinion/sunday/the-real-problem-with-hypocrisy.html
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