Chapter 79
When Bad Means Serve Good Ends
OF ILL MEANS EMPLOYED TO A GOOD END There is wonderful relation and correspondence in this universal government of the works of nature, which very well makes it appear that it is neither accidental nor carried on by divers masters. The diseases and conditions of our bodies are, in like manner, manifest in states and governments; kingdoms and republics are founded, flourish, and decay with age as we do. We are subject to a repletion of humours, useless and dangerous: whether of those that are good (for even those the physicians are afraid of; and seeing we have nothing in…
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Critical Thinking Exercise
Map Your Impossible Choice
Think of a difficult decision you're facing or have faced where all options seem to cause some kind of harm. Draw three columns: Option A consequences, Option B consequences, Do Nothing consequences. List both immediate and long-term effects for each choice. Then identify which option minimises total damage, not just the damage you can see clearly.
Consider:
- •Consider hidden costs of inaction - what problems grow worse if left alone?
- •Distinguish between harm you cause directly versus harm you allow to continue
- •Ask who benefits from keeping the current situation unchanged
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you had to choose between bad options. What helped you decide? Looking back, do you think you minimised total harm, or just avoided the harm that felt most uncomfortable to you personally?
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