They are certainly not synonyms: There many things that are justified but not necessary, and that's the whole basis of forgiveness and redemption: A punishment for some given harm done is justified, but is not carried out because repentance and/or forgiveness makes it unnecessary. See also "suspended sentence", where a justified punishment is witheld as unnecessary, *unless* the criminal goes on to demonstrate an unwillingness to mend their ways (by committing a further crime or breach of the conditions of their sentence).
However, the question is whether anything can be necessary but not justified.
Also, I think from reading your pervious comment that there's some confusion between "apparently necessary at the time", and "actually necessary in the final (objective, omniscient) analysis (assuming there can ever be one)". [ETA:] Of all the things that might count as justification for an act, necessity is pretty much a clincher, PROVIDED you can prove the necessity is real, or at least that you had very good reasons for being convinced it was real.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2011-01-13 12:59 pm (UTC)However, the question is whether anything can be necessary but not justified.
Also, I think from reading your pervious comment that there's some confusion between "apparently necessary at the time", and "actually necessary in the final (objective, omniscient) analysis (assuming there can ever be one)". [ETA:] Of all the things that might count as justification for an act, necessity is pretty much a clincher, PROVIDED you can prove the necessity is real, or at least that you had very good reasons for being convinced it was real.