Necessary Evil
Published at 2026-06-26.
Visited 56 times (last visit: 2026-08-04).
A "necessary evil" is an oxymoron.
There is no such thing.
Evil implies a choice.
There can be no good or evil without a deciding agent.
Moral statements are only applicable to individuals choosing one action over the other.
Necessity implies the absence of a choice.
There can be no necessity if there is a choice.
Whenever someone tries to justify anything as a necessary evil, call them out on their bullshit.
Such people are mostly trying to convince you that there is no alternative course of action, making the action seem non-evil.
Most probably, they don't know what they're saying.
This is basically what the entire political system builds on top.
I can not remember how often I have heard this argument:
Yes, taxation is technically theft, but it's actually a necessary evil that allows us to build the roads, which then benefits everyone!
Checkmate AnCap, you forgot about the roads.
No, seriously.
ALL HAIL TO THE ROADS, OUR COMMON GROUND FOR MORAL THEORY AND TRAVEL ALIKE, UNITING ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE UNIVERSE!
ALL MORAL THEORIES AND EXTREMIST GROUPS SHALL KNEEL AND PRAY TO OUR MORAL COMPASS, LET THEM PERISH IN THE FACE OF THE UNREFUTABLE TRUTH THAT WE HAVE FOUND.
NOBODY SHALL EVER WIN AGAINST OUR STRONGEST ARGUMENT: WHO WOULD BUILD THE ROADS?
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