what is a hypocrite?

Question

Is it possible for a hypocrite to be totally unaware of the fact that his/her actions are hypocritical (in other people's eyes)?

hey guys this is philosophy, not about condemning other ppl's religious beliefs. Argue wisely and rationally please!

Answer 1

In answer to your question, yes it is possible for a hypocrite to be unaware he or she is hypocritical. People are unaware about a lot of things they do or believe.

Many would define hypocrisy as when your actions are in violation of your stated beliefs. The term is especially invoked during political debates when opponents accuse each other of being inconsistent in their views/actions.

It is also prevalent in the televangelist field: Jim Bakker, Jimmy Swaggart, Ted Haggard and others were vocal in condemning Bill Clinton in the Monica Lewinsky affair, and preaching a holier-than-thou attitude of morality. Yet each was guilty of similar transgressions.

What is most interesting about the term is how it relates to the concept of time. Is someone a hypocrite because 20 years ago they were against abortion and now they are pro-choice? Many politicians look for ANY inconsistency in their opponent's entire political record as evidence of hypocrisy. I would venture to say the person who NEVER changes his viewpoint - after synthesizing new information - is as bad as a hypocrite.

George Bush won the election because he successfully accused John Kerry of being a "waffler" and changing his mind too much. We now see that the opposite of this - stubbornly remaining true to your convictions and never changing course when given new information - has disastrous repercussions, as in the Iraq War.

"Prejudgments become prejudices only if they are not reversible when exposed to new knowledge."
— Gordon W.

There needs to be a common middle ground. You don't want someone who changes his mind like a feather blowing in the wind; who is wishy-washy without any of their own convictions. But on the other hand, you don't want someone who is so entrenched in their own views that they are unable to take in new information that might warrant a change of course.

It should also be noted that an accusation of hypocrisy may also be a logical fallacy (specifically that of argumentum ad hominem) "because the person carrying out the condemnation is not relevant to the argument used as the basis for that condemnation. A parent who instructs a child not to smoke cigarettes, but who himself smokes, could be making an argument that is valid in and of itself, regardless of the parent's behavior."*

"In psychology, hypocritical behavior is closely related to the fundamental attribution error: individuals are more likely to explain their own actions by their environment, yet they attribute the actions of others to 'innate characteristics', thus leading towards judging others while justifying ones' own actions."*

"Some people genuinely fail to recognize 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."*

*Wikipedia has an in-depth discussion on hypocrisy as well:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/hypocricy

Answer 2

A hypocrite became a hypocrite because he doesn't really understand what he is doing and why he has to do the things he does.

A hypocrite usually evolves from someone who tries to agree with as much as many people as possible.

Everyone's been a hypocrite at some point in their lives, myself included. Like what is said, it takes one to know one. But to continually be a hypocrite is a choice of effort to be forever agreeable and pleasant in other people's eyes.

Answer 3

A Hypocrite is somebody who gives advice to others - but doesn't follow their OWN advice...

And in most cases - they are TOTALLY unaware that they are acting this way! Those who DO know tend to use the old saying "Do as I SAY - not as I DO!"

Unfortunately, there are a LOT of those around here ;););)

Answer 4

A hypocrite is one who must use the phrase, "Do as I say, not as I do."

Most, though not all, hypocrites are probably either unaware or in self-denial that they are hypocrites.

Answer 5

The Bible is hypocritical-Many seem to be unaware of that.

Answer 6

I think a hypocrite almost has to be ignorant of their hypocrisy. Otherwise, they would implode!

Answer 7

Someone who uses totally different sets of rules to judge others than him/herself.

Answer 8

yeah, liberals do it all the time! =) anyways, a hypocrite is someone who condems a person for their actions then proceeds to indulge in it themselves. For example, if I said killing is evil, then I murdered someone, that would be hypocracy.

Answer 9

Example: A Christian can sin left and right because they go to church but no one else cannot. If anyone else sins, because they do not attend church, they are crap.
(I have neighbor's like this.)

Answer 10

Is someone who claims loyalty to a religion or something but in reality doesn't practice it.