[omginternets]

We can agree that C.S. Lewis' quote is not a scientific theory, but that doesn't make it incorrect.

For example, to the extent that the various Communist regimes fall under this descriptor, C.S. Lewis may have a point.

Are you dismissing this out of some logical-positivist impulse, because you reject the idea that well-intentioned groups can behave tyrannically, or because you don't think anybody acts with good intentions?

[argomo]

Maybe he/she is just arguing that harm(robber_baron) > harm(moral_crusader).

[teachrdan]

I read the comment as saying that actual robber barons are worse than busy bodies.

Take the oil and gas industry for example. They have known for 40+ years that they cause global climate change while disavowing it publicly and funding fake scientists and interest groups to spread FUD about it. I think the effects of global climate change will be at least an order of magnitude worse than well intentioned busy bodies. Climate change doesn't sleep.

(You could easily say the same about the tobacco industry, advertising monopolies, social networking websites, etc.)

[wernercd]

I'm not sure I follow your opinion on the quote... I don't see the oil/gas companies as "tyrannical" entities. Nor would I personally apply this to companies from tobacco to Google...

"they have known about climate change" and those who know about it also have said we'll be dead in 1980... 1990... the seas will rise a dozen feet in 2000 and the snowcaps will be gone in 2010. If the "tyrannical" companies are wrong...

https://nypost.com/2020/01/09/glacier-national-park-removes-...

https://cei.org/blog/wrong-again-50-years-of-failed-eco-poca...

If you want to go that route that Oil Companies are Robber Barons... that would make the GCC doomsayers the "good" guys who are as bad on the other end - and have no problem being as bad with their lies and happy about it because it matches their conscience.

what does that say about the doomsayers? Exxon knew? When did the doomsayers know that their predictions were bunk? They are the "omnipotent moral busybodies" who have no care that all of their predictions are wrong and the damage - past, present and future - of their lies? Who cares because they are "Saving the Planet"...