Learn English – Justifying one wrong thing by comparing it its opposite which is also wrong

idiomslogicphrases

Is there a word or name for the phenomenon or syndrome in which people try to defend one wrong thing by comparing it something that is total opposite of it but also wrong?

For example:

Drone attacks are the right thing because they are against terrorism which is wrong.

A more general but abstract kind of example could be:

I want to kill all the sharks because they are dangerous for human beings.

Best Answer

Expanding on Andrew Leach's response, this is an example of consequentialism, a philosophical principle that holds

that the consequences of one's conduct are the true basis for any judgment about the morality of that conduct.

The most common expression of this principle is the axiom the ends justify the means.

Related Topic