Abstract
This paper examines the moral status of hypocrisy in the moral andpolitical philosophy of David Hume. Its aim will be to try to determine whether,according to Hume, hypocrisy has any positive moral value, or whether, not havingany, Hume should therefore be placed in the same category of political realists suchas Machiavelli, with his sharp distinction between moral and political values. If thelatter is the case, then hypocrisy can be described as an absolute moral vice. But ifthe former is the case, that is, if hypocrisy has any moral value, then Hume doesnot support the sharp separation between what is right from a political and froma moral point of view, which means that there may even be, then, some relationbetween hypocrisy and moral obligation. In other words, hypocrisy may very wellbe virtuous.
Highlights
Ethics, Politics & Society "(...) the world is still too young to fix many general truths in politics, which will remain true to the latest posterity
That argument has been made throughout the history of political philosophy
Can hypocrisy be a virtue? Hume on the morality of princes qualities of mind which contribute to our common good, one may conclude that hypocrisy, which is an absolute vice in the realm of the relations among individuals, may be a relative virtue, and not merely a breach of justice, in the realm of the relation among nations
Summary
Benevolence, is one of the main motives behind human behaviour. So is self-interest, but the fact that benevolence is an independent factor means that not all behaviour can be reduced to self-interest. With each action expressing some derivative form of benevolence, such as delicacy or generosity, general happiness is enhanced It shows that humans are not lonely, independent individuals roaming the landscape and getting into scrapes with other individuals, but it doesn’t say human nature is all benevolence and no hostility. Benevolence and justice, both social virtues, one natural the other artificial, have each a distinctive way of contributing to the common good. While benevolence is practiced in individual actions, justice is a system and application of general rules This difference means that the two virtues can and often do come into conflict with one another. Can hypocrisy be a virtue? Hume on the morality of princes that keeps in check that other, and very powerful, human motivation, selfishness.
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