Talking Politics: HISTORY OF IDEAS Shklar on Hypocrisy
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Apr 20, 2021 Judith Shklar, author of 'Ordinary Vices,' argues that cruelty is the gravest moral failing. In a deep dive, she explores how other vices like hypocrisy and betrayal can distract from this truth. The conversation navigates the paradox of hypocrisy in politics, particularly in the context of public figures like Donald Trump. Social media dynamics reveal a blend of kindness and cruelty, prompting a call to focus on systemic issues over individual flaws. Ultimately, Shklar suggests that accepting hypocrisy can lead to greater tolerance and personal growth.
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Good Place Illustration Of Shklar
- Runciman recounts a scene from the show The Good Place where a character summarises Shklar's thesis.
- The show uses the idea that a tweaked heaven can become hell to illustrate ordinary cruelty's impact.
Cruelty As The Primary Vice
- Judith Shklar argues that cruelty is the worst ordinary vice and deserves priority in moral attention.
- Cruelty causes the deepest fear, pain, and loneliness and can arise in everyday life, not only in extreme horrors.
Bentham's Anti‑Cruelty And Its Pitfalls
- Shklar defends Bentham as motivated by opposing cruelty, not totalitarian control.
- She warns that systematising anti-cruelty risks indifference and treating people as means, enabling new harms.