I actually see the logic in determinism, and recognize its arguable connection to a more humane and merciful way of treating others. I did my undergrad philosophy thesis on “the metaphysical nature and cause of moral evil,” from a Thomist perspective, and after all my study, reading and reflection was left with the impression that true moral evil is arguably a logical impossibility. But if by determinism we can’t “blame” the Leopolds and the Loebs we also can’t “blame” the Kids-for-Cash judges and their ilk. More important to me than the debate between determinism and free-will is the issue of the existence of “God,” without whom I believe life is meaningless. It seems to me that determinism is not completely and necessarily incompatible with the existence of “God.”

It’s interesting that Darrow, who at times asserted there are no moral absolutes and no “justice,” also wrote “It is very hard for one who, like me, believes that the injustice of the world can only be remedied through law,” etc.

Although I haven’t gotten very far in the biography, I agree from what I’ve read so far that Darrow did not consciously conceive of himself as an “anarchist.”

p. 9.

Darrow was not an anarchist. In the Hobbesian world he saw, something was necessary to ameliorate the cruelty that the powerful would inflict on the powerless. He didn’t much like government because it was too often a vehicle for that cruelty, but it was also the only barrier against it.