Hypocrisy
From Wikinfo
Hypocrisy is the act of pretending to have beliefs, virtues and feelings that one does not truly possess. The word derives from the late Latin hypocrisis and Greek hupokrisis both meaning play-acting or pretence.
A classic example of a hypocritical act is to denounce another for carrying out some action whilst carrying out the same action oneself.
Cognitive scientist Keith Stanovich has made a career out of studying hypocrisy. He sees it as arising out of an incompatibility with desires such self interest and desires and higher order beliefs in morality and virtue. The only people who are not hypocrites are the tiny and perhaps non-existent minority who are so saintly they never give into baser instincts and the larger group who never try to live by principles of morality or virtue. He thus argues that hypocrites are in fact the nobler class of people. [[Fran�ois duc de la Rochefoucauld]] had centuries earlier phrased a similar opinion when he stated that "hypocrisy is the homage vice pays to virtue."
Often hypocrisy arises out of a deceitful, selfish desire to make other think a person or group is better than it really is.
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What may not be hypocrisy
Some people sincerely regret that they cannot overcome temptation over some harmful behavior. An example is someone who says something like, �Please never start smoking. I wish I could stop." Also, some people genuinely fail to recognize that they have character faults which they condemn in others. This is called Psychological projection. This is Self-deception rather than deliberate deception of other people. People understand vices which they are struggling to overcome or have overcome in the past. Efforts to get other people to overcome such vices may be sincere. There may be an element of hypocrisy as well if the actors do not readily admit how far they are or have been subject to these vices.
Advice to Hypocrites
Hypocrites are advised to stop pretending to be what they are not. If they value the morals or virtues that they pretend to practice they should work at improving Will power so they can practice moral behaviour. People are happier and have more Self-esteem and Self respect if they are known for what they are and valued for what they are. It is not good to seek a reputation for what you are not.
References
External links
- The Different Types of Hypocrites
- Hypocrisy - The Catholic Encyclopedia
- Naves Topical Bible Index for Hypocrisy
See also: lying, election promise
See also Hypocrisy (band) for the death metal band by that name.
References
- Adapted from the Wikipedia article, "Hypocrisy" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypocrisy, used under the GNU Free Documentation License
