Artifice or deception is often perceived as a negative action. However, it is possible for it to be useful in a political theater, but what are the consequences? Artifice can simultaneously help and destroy someone. If found to be dishonest, a person could lose their position, or lose the support of many people. Whether or not artifice is an essential skill is interesting because artifice is used by many politicians to businessmen alike. This makes it particularly relevant in today’s society. Some still believe that artifice is an essential skill. They say this is because it can be utilized in many situations. There are a few reasons why it is simply not a critical skill. With the use of artifice, a candidate in the election can cause people
The art of artifice compels the idea of false intimacy between a leader and his or her people. This essential skill acts like a play to distract its audience from the reality behind government authority. All a country wants is a leader that can talk the talk and walk the walk, even if they are faking it. In Empire of Illusion by Chris Hedges, the author exemplifies the importance of artifice in political theater and consumer culture since “Those who are best at deception succeed.” Artifice masks the true intentions of political leaders, whether it’s Napoleon’s domination over Europe, Hitler’s rise to power, or Donald Trump’s proposal against illegal immigration.
Kouzes, James M., and Barry Z. Posner. Credibility: How Leaders Gain and Lose It, Why People
What makes artifice such an essential skill? In the excerpt from Empire of Illusion by Chris Hedges, it is argued that “the most essential skill… is artifice.” Artifice, the act of deceiving people, can be very useful when you want more power or popularity in the world. Many widely known people use artifice to stay rich, popular, and in power. However, artifice isn’t so essential that everybody needs to be a faker in order to succeed.
A scuffle for strength can be sparked by several of man’s worldly faults. For the want of wealth is fueled by greed. The pursuit of power is driven by pride. And the desire of it all for one’s self is vanity’s only wish. All these elements can be achieved by means of true authority granted by deceitful appearance. For it is what you are viewed as, not how you got there that is feared and respected. Such qualities are prevalent in leaders both of valor and treachery.
society can be seen. In the late 1800’s there was a rise in the number
William Damon uses the classical rhetorical devices of logos, pathos and ethos to convince his audience of the urgency to address the decline of honesty. He provides a balanced assessment of the need for discretion in specific circumstance, the expectation of lying that leads to the decline in honesty, and the outright accommodation to cheat without consequence. By alluding to historical attitudes regarding honesty, Damon provides a vast background to support his thesis. His essay successfully evokes a response to this current situation of decline in honesty, and creates an urgent call for action to restore the virtue of honesty. As a society, the audience would likely agree with Damon that the virtue of honesty is fundamental to the success of democracy and we would desire to espouse to the protection of this jeopardized virtue.
In this article Bruce Miroff explains what a presidential spectacle is and how it relates to the government of the United States and its presidents. A spectacle is a kind of symbolic event, one in which particular details stand for broader and deeper meanings. At spectacle also presents intriguing and often dominating characters not in static poses but through actions that establish their public identities. A spectacle does not permit the audience to interrupt the action and redirect its meaning. The most distinctive characteristic of a spectacle is that the actions that constitute it are meaningful not for what they achieve but for what they signify. What is important is that they be understandable and impressive to the spectators. The mass
When discussing the new science of politics laid out in the Federalist papers, it is imperative to understand that proponents of the Constitution had various reasons for writing these papers, not the least of which was convincing critics that a strong central government that would not oppress but actually protect individual freedoms as well as encouraging the state of New York to agree to ratify the Constitution.
Many people will argue that honesty will make a person go far in life; however, people who practice artifice succeed substantially. Artifice is a clever or artful skill especially used to trick or deceive others. In the excerpt Empire of Illusion, Chris Hedges states that,” The most essential skill in political theater and a consumer culture is artifice.” I profoundly agree with Hedges’ position on artifice.
Political machines were supported by continuing immigration, sustained by patronage, enlarged by wealth, and in the end were weeded out by reformers progress for public rather than private good, and caused by the need for public works and skilled workers, after the population of cities expanded.
There are certain skills that certain people possess in order to find success in today’s society, and within those skills is artifice. As the main example, Chris Hedge’s used political leaders and explained how a skill like artifice helps them obtain a powerful position in politics. His example was very effective because this group of people are practically experts with this particular skill. Politicians have a large effect on society if given the power by the people, and it is crucial to know that artifice is a significant part of most of them. Without a doubt, if used correctly, artifice has the ability to give an individual profound advantages and success compared to those who don’t, but is certainly not the most essential skill.
Deception is defined as “the act of tricking someone by telling them something that is not true”. In the play, Macbeth by William Shakespeare, deception is always present and things are not always what they appear to be. In this great work of literature, the three witches; the Thane of Cawdor; and Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are the very embodiments of trickery and show us the true effects deception can have on man.
Political efficacy refers to the degree in which an individual believes he or she has an ability to influence the government (Chan 2014). The decision to engage with politics is usually a result of one’s attitudes towards participation, in the sense that there cannot be a political action without some prior thought about a political issue. One of the common attitudes related to political participation is political efficacy (Caprara et al., 2009). Political efficacy is individual's faith and trust in government and their belief that they can understand and influence political affairs. it is commonly measured by surveys and is used as an indicator for the broader health of civil society. When an individual has low efficacy, he does not have faith in his
But since that didn’t happen, the readers are left to interpret the moral and ethical justice of the different acts of deception that are fabricated. Shakespeare’s Hamlet digs deep into moral compasses of deception. We are taught through this play that lies are the only sin that will never go unpunished. We all lie, and all for different reasons. It’s important to look at those reasons and honestly decide what lies are worth telling and which are not. Even then, it’s nearly impossible to predict how big the lie could get, which can cause more problems than before. As a general guideline, it’s much easier to take the repercussions of a truth, than take the pain and confusion that comes with
supported by their words, by being honest. In Othello, Shakespeare exhibits how dishonesty can be used as a form of manipulation on honest people, but also leads to self-destruction on the person using it.