Is Extremism Ever Excusable?

Note to Attendees: Please consider making a $5 donation to contribute to the running costs of this Meetup.

From climate protesters gluing themselves to paintings to religious fanatics committing acts of violence, the word extremism tends to provoke immediate moral judgment. But are all forms of extremism equally condemnable? Can extreme acts ever be justified in the pursuit of justice, survival, or truth?

Martin Luther King Jr., in his famous “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” wrote:
“The question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be.” History is full of movements—some praised, others reviled—that have relied on radical means. This is the topic we will discuss at our next Gold Coast library meetup.

The questions we will address at this meetup are as follows:

1. Are there circumstances in which extreme actions become a moral obligation?
2. Is there a meaningful ethical distinction between extremism and activism?
3. Can the ends ever truly justify the means?

For those who want to keep chatting after the meetup, we will head to lunch at a local venue in Southport.

PLEASE NOTE:
– This is intended to be a good-natured but robust discussion. Please be respectful and prepared to have your ideas challenged. If you are easily offended, this event may not be for you.