“i don't understand what precludes a good neutral evil”

@Lady Desire to control others vs. Desire to improve the lives of others.

Various forms of authoritarian paternalism can be Evil Neutral Good or Evil Lawful Good (or probably Evil Chaotic Good, but I can't think of what specifics that would mean right now). ("Desire to control others in order to improve the lives of others", specific details depend on the flavor.)

... I'm not sure what Good Neutral Evil would be.

@gaditb so you think what distinguishes good (d&d alignment) from evil (d&d alignment) is ends and not means

@gaditb under your definitions, the good neutral evil character understands that material conditions are such that their aims are most achievable when people work together in solidarity over shared mutual interest. they do not care about “helping people” in the abstract, but materially, they believe that a mass perspective will do better for them than a perspective of individualism and manipulation. it so happens that a mass perspective is also, materially, what is best for people in general

does it really matter whether you are organizing a union because you are a disempowered worker who wants more power, or if you are organizing a union because you want what is best for society? in the end, disempowered workers getting more power IS what is best for society

@gaditb my point is, i definitely recognize that

fascist / capitalist / ancap

are evil archetypes. but i'm not convinced that

tankie / poststructuralist / ancom

are not ALSO evil archetypes. but like, in a good way