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Andrew N's avatar

The section where you state,

Where there is ‘a greater good’, there thus has to exist, by definition, ‘a greater evil’. Or one could perhaps even say that the creation of a greater good itself necessitates the simultaneous creation of a greater evil.

Really stood out for me and reminded of Leonard Read who wrote in Why Not try Freedom,

Every individual is faced with the problem of whom to improve,

himself or others. The aim, it seems to me, should be to

effect one's own unfolding, the upgrading of one's own consciousness

- in short, self-perfection. Those who don't even try or, when

trying, find self-perfection too difficult, usually seek to expend

their energy on others. Those who fail to direct their

energy inwardly and let it manifest itself externally - become

immoral leaders. Those who refuse to rule themselves are usually

bent on ruling others. Those who can rule themselves usually

have no interest in ruling others.

And if they locate this source of "greater good" in government - a man-made institution - you have created an authoritarianism you must live with until you revoke it.

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