I would say members of the public are hypocritical when they complain of Prince Charles re-marrying, when so many of us re-marry.

Are you saying that is an incorrect usage Prof. Grayling?

Keith S, Winnipeg, Canada

Professor Grayling perhaps forgets the WAY Spitzer handled those who failed to follow his public morality. He sent his troops into their offices, handcuffed them, and then paraded them in front of the media, in the famed "perp-walk".
This was more than mere hypocrisy! He went out of his way to humiliate them, before they were even indicted, much less convicted.
Yes, there was much schadenfreude when this bully finally got his own public humiliation.

Harvey S. Frey, Santa Monica, CA

Professor Grayling is roughly right, but there is still some ambiguity. Hypocrisy is not saying one thing and doing another; it is saying one thing and meaning another. If I strongly advise friends that smoking is foolish and dangerous, and that they should on no account practise it, provided this is my honest opinion it is nothing to the point if they discover me to be a private smoker. They may fairly consider me a poor role model but not a hypocrite.

Whether Mr Spitzer has behaved hypocritically depends on whether or not he holds a genuine opinion that prostitution is a social evil to be prosecuted by the law. If he does, his private behaviour is irrelevant to the accusation. Not that that is likely to help him much.

W Geer, London, UK

On the contrary, the British people have been in a dream state for the past 50 years. When they should have spoken out they kept quiet thinking perhaps their leaders would look after things. Under a misguided belief their one vote would keep them safe for eternity. Now they find it is too late. Now they find they have been over-run. Now they find they have living among them people who hate them. Even the media are now afraid to say anything. The people are hamstrung in that they are unable to criticize or get printed any criticism of the situation. The schools are full of multicultural propergander. The only people who know the full story are dying out and the young ones are brainwashed.

Roy Smith, Tauranga, New Zealand

The trouble is, Mr Spitzer left himself open to blackmail, even if the threat was just to tell his wife. Prostitution is well known for criminal involvement. Professor Grayling holds up the French example, but in truth a great deal of unhappiness is caused by their attitude. Plus, if a man's wife and family cannot trust him, why should we trust him to carry out his political duties honestly? It takes a great deal of barefaced nerve to lie to the person you live your life with.

Kate G, London, United Kingdom

Most 48 year-old men, married or not, would jump at the chance to have a 'liaison' with a pretty, firm-bodied 22 year-old female. The only problem is that most of us, in front of an audience of our peers and strangers alike, act like we're whiter than white.

The only reason why his enemies are lining up to crucify Spitzer is because they haven't been caught doing what they spend most of their waking hours fantasising about! Not to mention the fact that some of them have been investigated by him in the past.

John, London,

The reason Spitzer has all the condemantion and schadenfreude because he based his whole career on a totally ascetic puritanism where he was purer than pure. I am afraid most people are a little less sympathetic in these circumstances than if it happens to someone with a more relaxed persona.

MikeS, London,

Hypocrisy certainly involves a little more than simply not living up to one's ideals all the time. A very strong component involves criticising and/or targeting others for not living up to an ideal you have no intention of attempting to achieve yourself. Where that criticism is levelled specifically for one's own benefit, it is even more reprehensible.

Angela, Cheltenham, NSW

Is this making philosophy, and ethics in particular relevant and accessible?

This is a question of breaking the law, a law that is supported in the community. The liberal attitude of prostitution as victim less crime fails community standards. Spitzer only resigned because of community pressure.

Yes this is a high price for public life. Spitzer knew this , and has paid for his moral failing publically. He should now be procescuted as an example to others. This is a necessary public spectacle.

Michael, Melbounre, Austrlai

"Many people assume that certain public roles automatically carry with them expectations of traditional sexual virtues, and in some cases they are right - for example clerics, school teachers, doctors... " Why is this so? Well, i can understand, that a cleric preaching marital fidelity would be expected to abide by those rules, but why teachers and doctors? Is a doctor who lives in a monogamous (presumably heterosexual) relationship or ,alternatively , in celibacy better at diagnosing ailments, than a one who doesn' t? If so i'd like to see some proof. And what about teachers? If a teachers ability to teach is not affected by what they get up to in the privacy of his/her bedroom in his/her own time, why is it anyone else's business?

Mikko, Lahti, Finland

AC Grayling is wrong. Spitzer had to resign because using prostitutes is a crime in Washington, DC and New York State. He may have to go to jail, or at least pay a fine, for it. Committing a crime while behaving as a anti-crime crusader and a governor with the ultimate power to rule over capital cases, is like the good professor of philosophy not believing in logic. If Spitzer had committed adultery with the gardener's wife, he would have been shamed, but he would not have had to resign.

Elaine, Egham,

Actually, Professor Grayling, it would not be refreshing or even logical. By your own definition Spitzer is a hypocrite, even if other, less moralistic politicians in the same predicament would not be. So, I would suggest you save this article for another, more appropriate occasion.

Roland Mahoney, London,

I would say we are too slow as a nation still in criticising our lords and masters !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ian Payne, WALSALL,