Hypocrisy: A Theoretical Situation

September 7, 2007

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion regardless of who they are. Also each person is entitled to their own belief of what is right and what is wrong. One of the most debated subject in philosophy is the notion of right and wrong and the idea of an absolute truth. Some believe that there is no absolute truths and that everything is relative. However, others belief is an absolute right and wrong.

An example of this would be the situation where a group of people are together, and there is no leader or a form of law present. If someone in the group poses a threat, would it be right to single them out? Some believe there is, in order to preserve the survival and wellness of the group. Others believe we should not judge others based on what they are like.

If indeed we are entitled to our own opinions, do we not also have the right to change our minds based on what we believe? Our beliefs can change and thus we can change our own opinions as how we see fit.

Hypocrisy is the act of condemning or calling for the condemnation of another person when the critic is guilty of the act for which he demands that the accused be condemned.

source: Wikipedia: Hypocrisy

In the previous example, if the person who had posed a threat had a change in belief and another person emerged as a threat, and the previous person asked for the new threat to be singled out, do we say that he is a hypocrite?

Posted in Philosophy