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The Pragmatics of Hypocrisy
Edited by Sandrine Sorlin and Tuija Virtanen
[Pragmatics & Beyond New Series 343] 2024
► pp. 231–253

Chapter 10
A plea for hypocrisy

Pragma-philosophical considerations

| University Paul-Valéry – Montpellier 3

This chapter shows to what extent hypocrisy is more ubiquitous and essential than one may think. There are however degrees of hypocrisy that I highlight by elaborating a continuum of the phenomenon that ranges from insincere politeness to deliberate deception. Politics being one of the fields where hypocrisy has been shown to be inevitable, I use the satirical political TV series Veep (HBO 2012–2019) to illustrate what I propose as a “Hypocrisy Principle”. This principle comprises several maxims which consist of flattering and (dis)simulating, each using different forms of language and being the preserve of a certain type of hypocrites. I develop the notion of ‘civil hypocrisy’ for the lighter side of the phenomenon. The darker socially unacceptable side involves the notions of duplicity and simulation that can go all the way towards self-deception.

Keywords: politics, TV series, Hypocrisy Principle, flattery, dissimulation, deceit, civil hypocrisy
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Establishing the frontiers of a pragmatic space
  • 3.Pragmatic degrees in hypocrisy
    • 3.1A continuum
    • 3.2Hypocritical compliments
    • 3.3Dissimulation
    • 3.4Simulation and self-deception
  • 4.The Hypocrisy Principle
  • 5.Civil hypocrisy as shared understanding
  • 6.Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 1 March 2024
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/pbns.343.10sor
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