Relative Hypocrisy
Others have written ironic praises of hypocrisy; but most
focus on the defensive type. Apologetics for hypocrisy follow a familiar line;
it’s the lesser of two evils, everybody does it, don’t rock the boat, and so
on. Note the de Rochefoucauld aphorism quoted above.
Even critics of hypocrisy admit its power. Take Disraeli,
who said that a conservative society is an organized hypocrisy. Well, at least
it’s organized!
It would be hypocritical indeed to begrudge to others the
defensive duplicity that comes naturally to all, including oneself. So let the
begrudging begin!
Relative hypocrisy has one plausible defense; maybe the
virtues it undermines aren’t really virtues. Consider Huckleberry Finn, who
refused to betray his escaped slave friend, even though that was against
everything he’d been taught was right. Huck thought he was in the wrong; but
instead it was his whole world that was wrong.
Commitment to a false virtue is another false virtue. When false virtue rules, then relative hypocrisy is a false vice.
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