If both roads lead to trouble, any turn you take can be a mistake. Torn between two bad options, many people settle for the “lesser evil,” a common compromise. Pope Francis has distanced himself from the fray of American politics, criticizing both presidential candidates and advising people to vote for “the one who is least evil.” But Hannah Arendt, a thinker he deeply admires, warned long ago: “He who chooses the lesser evil soon forgets that he has chosen the evil.” Such a choice is totalitarian, under the pretext that the end justifies the means. Even if there is, it often leads to justifying a bigger mistake.
In our political fear and anger, we often overlook the obvious. We are constantly faced with tensions between “greater” and “lesser” evils and are faced with complex choices. “The lesser evils” include holding down a dead-end job to pay the bills, dealing with a political dilemma, and deciding whether to uproot your family for a risky but potentially life-changing opportunity. ” is increasingly reverberating in our daily lives. These personal dilemmas reflect broader tensions. Every political system must face conflicts between collective and individual interests, tensions between majority rule and minority rights, and conflicting visions of justice.
In the face of such tensions, reminding us of the inevitability of lesser evils feels like moral avoidance, police exclusion, to justify difficult choices. Debate over shades of gray often leads to impatience and self-righteousness. Because we believe we have a unique clarity of vision that allows us to discern the “right” path, we turn a blind eye to the unintended consequences that often follow. As Graham Greene wrote quiet american“Innocence always silently seeks protection, even though it would be far wiser for us to protect ourselves from it. Innocence is like a lost soul wandering the world, seeking no harm. It means no effect.”
If self-awareness and humility are left unchecked, “innocence” can wreak havoc. When we choose the “lesser evil,” we lose our innocence of responsibility. Dealing with the complexities of being human and recognizing our complicity in what we mourn requires a balance of compassion and accountability. Political action may not achieve good, but like maintaining a garden, it can resist evil. You can't force flowers to bloom, but you can tackle weeds that choke them.
In recent years, crises have escalated, from systemic racism and widening economic disparities to rising rates of depression among teens, unprecedented natural disasters, and a global pandemic, leading to collective anxiety and reactionary The trend is growing. Many on the left believe they have a monopoly on political virtue, the right insists on timeless truths, and independents cannot see their illusions. Many have simply lost the bond of consistency. Social media algorithms create echo chambers and encourage hyperbole and self-righteousness. Even like-minded people find it difficult to express their opinions freely, as if the script has already been written. Believing in justice on all sides endangers free speech and genuine dialogue. The tension between “greater” and “lesser” evil does not tolerate either side.
Cultural pessimism is rarely a helpful state of mind. German writer Thomas Mann once accused his colleagues of cultivating “abyssal pity,” the mood that follows deep political disillusionment. We might think that societies simply return to a previous, more stable state after a period of upheaval. However, it is important to distinguish between policies and the people behind them, between leaders and their supporters. As one columnist pointed out, dismissing large sections of society as hideouts, extremists, or otherwise threatening our way of life is a “fatal medical error.” Dismissing their concerns as invalid, such as racist, sexist, or homophobic, does not justify their real concerns. That's it.
An unrestricted ability to respond to and relate to others does not necessarily lead to “good,” but it can prevent complicity in extreme evil. A “lesser evil” can become a “greater good.” Claiming that you cannot communicate, as frustrated spouses often do, is the same as assuming that there is only one way to express yourself. Is it true? The choice is ours.
notes and reading
“God always saves us from good and innocent people.” – Graham Greene quiet american (1955, 2018), Part 1, Chapter 4. Protagonist Thomas Fowler reflects on the idealism of Alden Pyle, an American CIA operative whose well-intentioned but misguided actions in Vietnam had deadly consequences. innocence And despite moral intentions, a sense of justice can cause harm. Also, “Innocence silently seeks protection.” – Part 4, Chapter 2.
Pope Francis – Hannah Arendt. “Amor Mundi: The Miracle That Saved the World” – Roger Berkowitz, Bard College's Hannah Arendt Center for Politics and Humanity (December 23, 2020). – Arendt discusses the concept of the “lesser evil” in her work responsibility and judgment In his essay “Individual Responsibility Under Dictatorship”.
Even if I don't like either candidate, am I obligated to vote for the lesser of two evils? – Debate: “Should Americans Vote for the Lesser of Two Evils?” Two Muslim Americans debate whether voting or abstaining is a better option. wisdom of the crowd – Substack, October 25, 2024. (Note: Kamala Harris received 11th hour support from Palestinian, Arab and Muslim community leaders.- new republic, October 25, 2024. )
Sympathy for the Abyss: A study of German modernist novels: Kafka, Bloch, Musil, Thomas Mann – Stephen D. Dowden (Kindle edition 1986). Dowden is a professor of German language and literature at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts.
“To dismiss their concerns as invalid…” – Robert Eisinger, “Siloed Opinions” persuasion (October 26, 2024). Mr. Eisinger is a professor of political science at Roger Williams University. – “Fatal medical error” – Edward Luce financial timesAmerican commentator. The retreat of Western liberalism (2017).
About 2 + 2 = 5: https://williamgreen.substack.com/about – revision
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