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>That's pretty much the definition of totalitarianism (the end justify the means, like in The Prince).

I don't understand your argument here. As far as I understand it, totalitarianism means that the government has total control. Whether they do good, or bad, or both, justification doesn't play into it because they are beyond needing justification.




Totalitarian governing bodies in the making always justify their actions in regard of the coming end. But this coming end never actually comes because a totalitarian body can never truly exists because there'll always be a part of society that can't be controlled, no matter how small it is. Thus the governing body will seek more and more control but it is without end. Totalitarianism can't sustain itself without the belief (or the propagandist fake belief) that the end justify the means. Both notions are so intertwined that claiming the end justify the means is de facto a totalitarian way of thinking. Hence my "pretty much the definition" (which is different from "the end justify the means is the definition of totalitarianism).

I hope you now better understand my reasoning.


totalitarianism -> ends justify means but ends justify means -\-> totalitarianism




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