The psychological process of concocting emotionally plausible, self-serving excuses to justify one's own or one's group's harmful, cruel, or immoral actions. It uses the language of reason—practical necessity, greater good, victim-blaming, or righteous retaliation—to evade moral responsibility and soothe cognitive dissonance. The rationale is crafted after the decision to do harm, not as its guide.
Example: A colonial administrator rationalizing the exploitation of a colony might tell himself, "We're bringing them civilization and saving them from themselves. It's for their own good, even if they don't understand it yet." This Rationalization of Evil dresses up greed and violence in the noble costume of a "civilizing mission."
by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal February 4, 2026
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