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The Folly of Debating Evil

The Folly of Debating Evil

Update: 2025-03-24
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This week's episode discusses "The Folly of Debating Evil." Is every idea worthy of a platform? Should every position be considered worthy of debate? We tackle these questions head-on, arguing that the answer is a resounding no. Engaging with evil as if it were a legitimate perspective grants it an undeserved level of credibility and allows for manipulating moral absolutes into moral relativism.

Key topics covered in this episode include:

* How evil seeks to erode moral certainty by drawing the virtuous into debate, shifting the conversation from right and wrong to preferences and perspectives.

* Why debating with those who seek to justify wickedness is a dangerous game, as evil seeks to corrupt rather than understand.

* Why arguing with a liar only dignifies their lies and entertaining conversations about harming children grants evil legitimacy.

* Why the proper response to wickedness is to call it out, not debate it.

* We discuss how we should not debate, treat arguments as valid discussion points, or allow those advocating evil to set the terms of conversation; instead, we should expose them and name their tactics.

* Why, in an age of moral confusion, it is a mistake to assume all positions deserve a hearing, and some ideas deserve only rejection and condemnation.

* Why entertaining evil is a betrayal of the truth, and the only way to defeat it is to refuse to yield ground.



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.amodernstoic.com
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The Folly of Debating Evil

The Folly of Debating Evil

A Modern Stoic