Betrayal
If trust exists, the possibility of breaking it—betrayal—exists, too. In a culture which values trust, betrayal is viewed with horror. It opens up the possibility that the friendships, loyalty and trust that hold society together and make it comprehensible are not what they seem. Dante’s Inferno reserves for traitors the deepest pit of hell.B8
Betrayal destroys any “now” in which logic can operate: an enemy has at least the merit of existing in the present; the betrayer derives his value in his new life from what he was, and yet his old life has been repudiated; there is nothing there. The Psalms reflect on this with a summary of why it hurts:
For it is not an open enemy, that hath done me this dishonour: for then I could have borne it. Neither was it mine adversary, that did magnify himself against me: for peradventure I would have hid myself from him. But it was even thou, my companion: my guide, and mine own familiar friend. We took sweet counsel together: and walked in the house of God as friends.B9
Betrayal is an uncomfortable idea. It is out of its time, like character. We will become aware of it again.
Related entries:
Bad Faith, Lean Economics, Promiscuous Ethics.
« Back to List of Entries