“In their moral justification, the argument of the lesser evil has played a prominent role. If you are confronted with two evils, the argument runs, it is your duty to opt for the lesser one, whereas it is irresponsible to refuse to choose altogether. Its weakness has always been that those who choose the lesser evil forget quickly that they chose evil.[....] Acceptance of the lesser evil is deliberately used to accustom officials, as well as the population at large, to accept the evil itself.”
Hannah Arendt
Hannah Arendt was a German-American philosopher and political theorist, known for her works on totalitarianism and political theory.
This quote highlights the danger that the argument of the lesser evil can lead to accepting evil as normal, thereby blurring ethical boundaries.
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Hannah Arendt on the Dangerous Argument of the Lesser Evil – A Moral Warning
Hannah Arendt warns against the lesser evil argument: It can lead to accepting moral evil as normal – an important insight.
Hannah Arendt (1906–1975) was a prominent German-American philosopher and political theorist. She became known for her profound analyses of totalitarianism, power, authority, and political action. Her works such as "The Origins of Totalitarianism" and "Eichmann in Jerusalem" continue to influence the discourse on politics and ethics.
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