Introduction
Life is filled with complex realities that we often accept reluctantly—things we recognize as “necessary evils.” These are actions, systems, or emotions that, while problematic or even harmful in some ways, seem unavoidable for society or individuals to function. From government and law to relationships and tolerance, this exploration considers how necessary evils shape human experience and moral understanding. Telling them apart from evils that are less than necessary is generally impossible.
Tolerance
Tolerance is putting up with something bad. It means enduring it because you cannot stop it, and hoping that the person will reconsider their behavior.
Tolerance implies intolerance of intolerance. For example, if we should be tolerant of gay people, we must be intolerant toward those who would persecute them.
Tolerance is a necessary evil because acceptance would be better, but is not always possible. Intolerance is never good, even if sometimes necessary.
Unnecessary occasions that invite intolerance should be avoided. Religion is one such occasion. If tolerance is a necessary evil, it should be tested as little as possible.
Perception
We can swear we know somebody, only to discover their terrible secrets. Then we see that we didn't know them. Our perception of them led us astray. We need perception, and we cannot help forming judgments about who or what is good or bad. Perception is a necessary evil because it need not be correct.
Testimony and Evidence
Testimony is a necessary evil when, though the person could be lying or wrong, we have nothing else to depend on. Otherwise, it is an unnecessary evil to rely on it.
We believe many things on testimony that we mistakenly think is true. We trust testimony not because it is perfect, but because a lot of the time it seems to tell the truth. Evidence can also point you to the wrong conclusion.
We must take a risk and risk hurting people through our faith in testimony and evidence. To believe in X because testimony says it is correct is a necessary evil: testimony is sometimes right, and sometimes it is all you have. This "have to" makes it a necessary evil in itself—a reluctant acceptance.
Opinion
An opinion is not a belief. Opinions are conclusions thought out at least a little but open to dispute. They are provisional until you get further light and therefore invite challenge.
People get attached to their opinions and try to silence challengers by saying, "I have a right to my opinion." If you must silence someone, is it really an opinion, or more than that? Are you the bigot who puts too much value on your opinions?
People hang on to bad opinions. It is hard to reconcile somebody having a right to their opinion with them not being allowed to act on a harmful opinion. For example, if you view a baby as the offspring of Satan, your opinion will not be harmless—it may lead to harmful action.
An opinion is little more than a guess. It is hard to respect or accept somebody having an uncharitable opinion, as opinions reflect forming ideas about someone without enough data.
If you have a right to your own opinion, why? Is it because you cannot be stopped from having it, or because opinions are sacred in themselves? If it is because you will have it anyway, it is incorrect to speak of a right—it is inevitable. If all opinions are sacred, the world will go crazy. One opinion is not as good as another.
The force of facts can be lost in a world too fond of opinion, where people confuse opinions with knowledge. Opinions can suppress truth unless we are willing to discard them when better evidence emerges. An opinion is intended not to be the truth, but a reflection that we must always think and remain open to new data.
Belief
There is a saying: belief divides, and doubt unites.
Belief is sometimes developed by people who do not want to know the truth. It can blind and mislead those who do want to know the truth.
Belief is not certainty and is fraught with risks. Yet some people adhere to their beliefs as if they were certain, treating them as fact when they are not.
CONCLUSION
Tolerance
Required to maintain social cohesion when confronting behaviors or beliefs we dislike.
Avoids escalating conflict, even though it often forces us to endure situations we would prefer to change.
Necessary because complete acceptance is sometimes impossible, yet intolerance is harmful.
Perception
Essential for navigating social and moral life, even though it can be flawed or misleading.
Allows us to form judgments and make decisions, but carries the risk of error and misjudgment.
Necessary because some form of judgment is unavoidable; doing without perception is impossible.
Testimony and Evidence
Provides information when direct knowledge is unavailable.
Carries the risk of error or deceit but is required for decision-making and understanding the world.
Necessary because reliance on imperfect sources is better than having no guidance at all.
Opinion
Allows reflection and discussion in areas lacking certainty.
Can mislead or be harmful if acted upon blindly, but it is unavoidable in forming provisional conclusions.
Necessary because withholding all opinion would paralyze thought and communication.
Belief
Helps individuals orient themselves and act decisively in the absence of certainty.
Can blind or mislead, yet some adherence to beliefs is unavoidable for functional decision-making.
Necessary because complete skepticism is impractical; humans must act on some convictions.