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Single Idea 20288

[catalogued under 24. Political Theory / C. Ruling a State / 4. Changing the State / c. Revolution]

Full Idea

It would be one-sided to say that violent revolution is always absolutely wrong, without taking account of the evils that the revolutionaries are trying to stop.

Gist of Idea

You can't condemn violent revolution without assessing the evils it prevents

Source

Peter Singer (Practical Ethics [1979], 09)

A Reaction

This seems like common sense, but there are plenty of right-wing authoritarians who would claim that stable authority has priority over all social wrongs. I think that view is mistaken. But the problem is, how to know the future?

Book Reference

Singer,Peter: 'Practical Ethics' [CUP 1989], p.197