Most people would define a hypocrite as someone who does something that they claim is wrong. That can’t be the right definition, however, because it would consign everyone to being a hypocrite. Everyone sins, which means everyone who believes in morality acts in ways that is contrary to morality. That would make everyone a hypocrite. If your definition of hypocrite turns every person into a hypocrite, then your definition is not a meaningful definition. Something is wrong with the definition. A hypocrite is not someone who fails to live up to their moral ideals, but someone who falsely professes to believe in such ideals in the first place. A hypocrite is an actor.
See also:
“I’m not a Christian because there are too many hypocrites in the church”
Thinking to Believe 
December 6, 2023 at 2:39 pm
Correct. It is also the homage that vice pays to virtue.
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December 6, 2023 at 4:45 pm
Great subject Jason. Especially with so much hypocrisy on display in the political and social media and media environments. Here is my reply, please correct my thinking if needed.
“Most people would define a hypocrite as someone who does something that they claim is wrong. That can’t be the right definition, however, because it would consign everyone to being a hypocrite..”
Not necessarily, this can indeed be an accurate definition of a hypocrite, but it depends on the circumstance or reason of the action. If I say that stealing is wrong, and I actually believe it is wrong, and strive to not do it, but find myself in a situation where I honestly feel that I have to steal to survive, or to help someone else, I know and believe it is still wrong, but I do it out of what I feel is necessity at that moment, not intending to make it a practice; that cannot be defined as hypocrisy, even though I did what I say is wrong, and it is a wrong act, and perhaps depending on the situation, a sinful act.
But if I say something is wrong and then do it as a matter of practice, because I really do not have a moral conviction that it is wrong for me to do it, but claim it is wrong for others to do, with no justification for thinking or doing so, (or I really don’t not believe it is wrong, that is hypocrisy. Whether this is a false profession or a condition of being willingly deceived, it is hypocrisy.
Question: But what if you are unwillingly deceived to believe that what is wrong for others is not wrong for you? Is that Hypocrisy?
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December 8, 2023 at 1:03 pm
Interesting question, Preacherteacher. This is one is hurting my brain. Here are some initial thoughts I have.
The sine qua non of hypocrisy is acting. A hypocrite refers to an actor. For one to be acting, one cannot truly believe that X is wrong when they declare that X is wrong. That’s why the hypocrite’s actions don’t match his profession. Given that definition, your scenario would not qualify as hypocrisy, in my opinion. It is moral failure, but I would actually consider it worse than “normal” moral failure because the person is justifying their sin. They know it is sinful, but feel justified in doing it anyway. Perhaps it is akin to hypocrisy in the sense that they would hold others to the standard of the moral law against steeling, but do not think it applies to them in their particular situation. Having a double-standard (“one for me and one for thee”) is part and parcel of hypocrisy.
As for your final question, I’m not sure of the right answer. On the one hand, it still involves a double-standard and that makes it hypocrisy. Why you hold to that double standard (being deceived) should not matter. On the other hand, if the person does not believe that the moral law in question applies to himself, then he isn’t acting when he claims it is wrong for others. He would only be acting if he claims it is wrong for all, while secretly believing it is not wrong for him and he secretly breaks that law.
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December 9, 2023 at 3:39 am
If a person does not preach with systems of words. But rather by their actions only – they will never be a hypocrite.
Thus being removed from religion – all religions preach with their mouths.
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