Editing Venality

{{Short description|Manipulatable behavior}}
{{More citations needed|date=April 2017}}
{{Wiktionary|venality}}
'''Venality''' is a [[vice]] associated with being bribeable or willing to sell one's services or power, especially when [[people]] are intended to act in a decent way instead. In its most recognizable form, venality causes people to lie and steal for their own personal advantage, and is related to [[bribery]] and [[nepotism]], among other vices.
Though not in line with dictionary definitions of the term,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://onelook.com/?w=venal|title = Definitions of venal - OneLook Dictionary Search}}</ref> modern writers often use it to connote vices only tangentially related to bribery or self-interest, such as [[cruelty]], selfishness, and general [[dishonesty]].

== Context ==
Venality in its mild form is a vice notable especially among those with [[government]] or [[military]] [[career]]s. For example, the [[Ancien Régime]] in [[France]] from the 1500s through the late 1700s, was notorious for the venality of many government officials.<ref>Andrews, Richard Mowery (1994) Law, Magistracy, and Crime in Old Regime Paris, 1735-1789: Volume 1, The System of Criminal Justice, Cambridge University Press</ref> In these fields, one is ideally supposed to act with justice and honor and not accept bribes. That ensures that the organization is not susceptible to manipulation by self-interested parties.

In contrast to the previous interpretation, [[dishonesty]] is not specifically expressed in the literal meaning, but is often implied. The condition of failing to act [[justice|justly]] is not a literal component of the word's meaning either. By definition, committing "venal" acts does not indicate "stealing" or "lying", but rather suggests a consensual arrangement, perhaps without conscience or regard for consequences, but is not synonymous with stealing. While [[bribery]] could be related, [[nepotism]] clearly has no literal similarity or correlation with venality. Though venality is generally used as a pejorative term, an individual or entity could be venal (or mercenary) and not be corrupt or unethical. One could perform one's duties or job in a perfunctory manner in order to collect a wage or payment, or [[prostitute]] one's time or skills for monetary or material gain, without necessarily being dishonest.

Much contemporary use of the words [[venal]] or venality is applied to modern professional athletes, particularly [[baseball]], [[basketball]], [[American football]], and [[soccer]] players all around the world. The implication being that the highly paid players are essentially "hired guns" with no [[allegiance]] to any team or city, and are motivated solely by the acquisition of material wealth.{{citation needed|date=August 2015}}

== In revolution and other [[moral panic]]s ==

For people to accept settlements and [[legislation]], the acts of the government must be seen as just. This perception enhances the legitimacy of the government. Venality is a term often used with reference to [[French Revolution|pre-revolutionary France]], where it describes the then-widespread practice of selling administrative positions within the government to the highest bidder, especially regarding the [[Nobles of the Robe]].

Thus, for example, venality was a charge for which, in part, [[Danton]] and others were executed during the [[Reign of Terror]].

==References==
{{Reflist|1}}

[[Category:Human behavior]]
[[Category:Corruption]]