Hypocrisy: a form of irony itself?

Answer 1

Perhaps. The requisite aspect of irony is that there is an unintended and unanticipated result. This could likely be the case if the hypocrit wasn't aware of his hipocrisy.

In a way, the opposite is more true, irony is a form of justice against hypocrits.

Answer 2

I can only offer a couple of quotes on the subject of hypocrisy:

"I hope you have not been leading a double life, pretending to be wicked and being really good all the time. That would be hypocrisy."
--Cecily, in the Oscar Wilde play "The Importance of Being Earnest"

"If this is hypocrisy, then I must conclude that hypocrisy can do a man good. To be ashamed of what you were about to say, to pretend that something which you had meant seriously was only a joke—this is an ignoble part. But it is better than not to be ashamed at all. And the distinction between pretending you are better than you are and beginning to be better in reality is finer than moral sleuthhounds conceive."
-- C. S. Lewis, "Surprised By Joy"

Answer 3

Absolutely, or not. The trouble with the duplicitous nature of hypocrisy lies in the myriad definitions of the principals to which one does or does not adhere. The countless, drastically different viewpoints expressed as responses in these vary forums are an excellent example of how many different interpretations there are for even the simplest of abstract concepts. There are of course many a person who do not even strive to achieve their own definitive values, but, I am quite certain that the vast majority of hypocrits are simply those whose ideals are defined somewhat differently. Good luck and God Bless.