I'm working on a theory. It goes something like this:
1) High-status males (or alpha males, or dudes with big egos and powerful personalities, whatever you want to call them) tend to cheat on their spouses/partners. Not because they are intrinsically less virtuous than the rest of us, but because they are presented with many, many more opportunities to do so, particularly from high-status (read: attractive) females.
2) Most (successful) men in politics are high-status males.
3) Ergo, most men in politics cheat on their spouses.
4) Being caught cheating on your spouse often (though certainly not always) brings a political career to a close, or at least derails higher ambitions.
5) Proposed: Men who are successful at the highest levels of politics tend to not only to be liars and cheaters, but those who are very, very good at lying and cheating.
None of this is intended to excuse, dismiss, or minimize the behavior of any individual. Nor is it to say that we shouldn't concern ourselves with the moral fiber of those we put in power over us. I just wonder if by drumming out all of the inept cheaters in politics we aren't running a sort of moral/political Dosadi Experiment.
2 comments:
I think the phenomenon stated in #5 can be the resolution to a hundred different tests. This is a good theory, but I think it's more like YET ANOTHER proof of #5 which probably ends up axiomatic.
Allow me to commend to you Harry G. Frankfort's little book called "On Bullshit", i which he pretty much proves that everything is.
He is Professor of Philosophy Emeritus at Princeton.
It's enlightening and only 67 pages long, but your work here reminded me of it a great deal.
Frankfurt's book has been on my Amazon list since 2005 (I just checked.) Thanks for the reminder.
Also, the compliment.
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