Hypocrisy and Integrity : Machiavelli, Rousseau, and the Ethics of Politics [Paperback]

Ruth W. Grant (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 4, 1999 | ISBN-10: 0226305848 | ISBN-13: 978-0226305844

Questioning the usual judgements of political ethics, Ruth W. Grant argues that hypocrisy can actually be constructive while strictly principled behavior can be destructive. Hypocrisy and Integrity offers a new conceptual framework that clarifies the differences between idealism and fanaticism while it uncovers the moral limits of compromise.

"Exciting and provocative. . . . Grant's work is to be highly recommended, offering a fresh reading of Rousseau and Machiavelli as well as presenting a penetrating analysis of hypocrisy and integrity."—Ronald J. Terchek, American Political Science Review

"A great refreshment. . . . With liberalism's best interests at heart, Grant seeks to make available a better understanding of the limits of reason in politics."—Peter Berkowitz, New Republic

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ruth W. Grant is professor of political science and philosophy and senior fellow in the Kenan Institute for Ethics at Duke University. She is the author of John Locke’s Liberalism and Hypocrisy and Integrity: Machiavelli, Rousseau and the Ethics of Politics, the latter of which received the best book award from the North American Society for Political Philosophy in 1997. She is also the editor of Naming Evil, Judging Evil and In Search of Goodness.

Product Details

• Paperback: 209 pages
• Publisher: University Of Chicago Press (June 4, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0226305848
• ISBN-13: 978-0226305844
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,135,206 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Grant's Integrated Conception of Morality and Reason, February 3, 2001

By 

mungowitz "mungowitz" (Durham, NC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hypocrisy and Integrity : Machiavelli, Rousseau, and the Ethics of Politics (Paperback)

Ruth Grant has written a book that challenges many of the beliefs that have given form to our most important political debates. Grant defines a hypocrite as "a person who pretends to be morally better than he is for the sake of some advantage to himself." She starts by claiming there has been a failure by contemporary scholars to take hypocrisy in politics seriously. Why has this happened? Because part of the liberal project is to make politics "honest", reasoned, and transparent.

To be fair, Grant is not opposed to honesty and rationality. The point is that we demand too much rationality in politics by insisting that political debate and portrayal of issues and candidates is nothing more than information. Such rationalism is itself unreasonable, and creates pressures that promote lying and misrepresentation.

0 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ideology and pragmatism, March 15, 2007

By 

Neeraj - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hypocrisy and Integrity : Machiavelli, Rousseau, and the Ethics of Politics (Paperback)

I was looking for a book which could tell me whether it is possible to be both idealist and pragmatist at the same time.

This book seems to be the answer.

I havenot read it yet, but I liked its philosophical premises and language.

I feel this book will be a good one.