Hypocrites

Hypocrites are individuals who consciously or unconsciously have a double standard of behavior, who appear to be false and duplicitous in their ethical or moral conduct. They may be consciously living a lie, to gain personal advantage, such as prestige or power, or they may be sincerely self-deceived. They outwardly seem to be what in fact they are not.

Many hypocrites commit the logical fallacy of special pleading for their own actions or omissions. Often, either deliberately, knowing themselves to be guilty of actual ethical, religious and moral infractions, or in the mistaken belief that they are innocent of any wrongdoing and are therefore not actually being hypocritical, they accuse others of being hypocrites. In either case, whether innocent or guilty, persons charged with being hypocrites are offended. They may even sue their accusers for slander.

In religion, government, politics, journalism, education and business, persons seen as trusted, leading, and influential that are exposed as hypocrites, who have violated standards of integrity and right conduct, are sources of public scandal.

Historically, many virtuous persons have been villainously libeled with the unjust and unfounded charge that they are hypocrites.

See also

• Hypocrisy
• Polemic
• Rhetoric