Hypocrisy.

[shirenomad]

Yesterday I heard a law professor describe two essential forms of morality. The first she associated with the right wing: a morality that comes from somewhere other the holder (e.g. from a religious source), which that holder attempts to achieve. The second she associated with the left wing: a morality that the holder establishes by herself through philosophy and thought.

I have my own opinions about whether one can truly create a morality uninfluenced by others, but she admitted to what was an interesting insight in the process. The "right wing" morality is something to be sought, a finish line to strive for, therefore somewhere you (unless you claim otherwise like some pious gasbags) are NOT YET AT. So when you are caught short of the line, there is sighing, but there should be no condemnation; it is a hard road to travel. Whereas the "left wing" morality, by default, should be where you ALREADY ARE, your beliefs are already in line with where you say they should be. You have drawn the finish line around yourself. So when you stumble, you couldn't live up to the circle you yourself picked, and we should be free to cry "hypocrite!"

(Mind you, the professor falls firmly on the "left wing" side of things, and was speaking to a group of largely like-minded individuals.)

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

That's odd. My left-wing-leaning morality is based on my religious source (don't judge, take care of those less fortunate, etc.) so all around I'd say someone's reaching. :P

[pantswarrior]

Er, that was me. I have no idea why it posted anonymously, I chose a userpic and everything. :P

[looniewolf.livejournal.com]

Actually, that sounds fairly accurate so far as the Right Wing is concerned. How many Moral Majority spokespersons fall off the wagon? How many were caught with their pants down or the like? And they're patted on the back and forgiven, while anything the Left does is condemned.

Personally, I hold a different morality, but this might be because of my libertarian beliefs: Personal Responsibility. I am responsible for my actions. If I harm someone, I am responsible for that harm and need to take action to deal with my responsibility for what I did.

Oddly enough, this isn't a moral philosophy often used. The Right claims that only God can show us the path. The Left claims Big Brother and the Law shows us the path. But how many state "you are responsible for your actions and if you do something, you must live with the consequences"?

Rob H.

[surgo.livejournal.com]

Do you have any names of these moral majority leaders in mind? The only one I actually know is Jerry Falwell, and while he was an enormous douchebag he wasn't a hypocrite.