Can Common Sense Find an Answer

Segment # 139

Often I get asked how can you possibly debate the issues of the day when there is so much to remember and understand. Because they aren’t listening to you anyway , debates with family, friends, or colleagues are not fact or data based.. Try these techniques instead and see where the discussion goes..

 We can agree on the definition below. Because the concept is the beginning and often the end of much dialog today, it is very important now and will be more so in the future. What do I mean? Let me answer it this way. Recall the exercise we had in school where our teacher would arbitrarily assign a position that we must argue regardless  of our personal beliefs. Then we would have to switch positions. Clearly understanding both sides of argument informs everyone of the merits of their personal position. See below.

Hypocrisy is the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform; pretense.

Hypocrisy undermines fairness and moral equality, which are essential for having the standing to blame others. The key points are: Equality hypocrisy occurs when people claim to value equality as a universal right, but then differentially favor equal rights for some groups over others.1 

 This violates the principle of moral equality, treating some groups as more deserving of equal treatment than others. Individuals can also exhibit equality inconsistency, where they advocate for greater equality for certain groups while denying it to others.1 

 This is a form of hypocrisy, as it goes against the idea of universal equal rights. The Moral Equality Account of Hypocrisy (ME) states that hypocrites make unfair exceptions for themselves, thereby implicitly denying moral equality.2 

 By violating moral equality, hypocrites undermine their standing to blame others, as the ability to legitimately blame presupposes the equality of persons.2

 According to Wallace and Fritz & Miller, what makes hypocritical blame wrong is that hypocrites treat or regard some people's interests as more important than others'.45 

 This offends against moral equality and fairness, which are necessary for having the standing to blame.2

 In essence, hypocrisy involves unfairly applying different standards to different groups or individuals, violating the principles of equality and fairness that are required for having legitimate moral authority to blame others.1245 

 Hypocrites cannot consistently uphold moral equality while making exceptions for themselves.

 References:

 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4404755/

 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10892-023-09454-5

 https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/fairness-equality-convenience-best-hypocrisy-worse-romil-kumar/

 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/meta.12281

 As an ideal, we should understand both sides of the argument. Realistically when we discuss the issues of the day the imperative is making your point, not listening to your opponent. With the divisive nature of issues today,  facts become less important than the emotion of the moment. Take it down a notch with the technique below.

 Therefore, the only logical way to make a point is to have the individuals engaging to stipulate agreement as to the rules of conduct that are now the rules of the road. Over 1000 people have been investigated in conjunction with January 6th and many have been jailed. Is that acceptable? If it is acceptable then you would not have problem with the BLM rioters that killed 6 people and created millions of dollars in damage to be jailed without the possibility of bail. If Trump’s inner circle could be taken into custody in cuffs and ankle shackles you would not have a problem with Biden’s advisors when charged to suffer the same fate. If Title IX now requires trans women access to all ladies bathrooms, locker rooms, sports teams, you would have no problem for them to have access to the facilities at your daughter’s school facilities?

 You get the point… this is the only way to force people to think and to make a point. Whether the left understands it, precedents are being set that they will not be comfortable with if imposed on them in the future. If my ox is being gored today, you can’t assume your ox will not be gored tomorrow.