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> It's like saying human society needs people on welfare, thieves, and robbers to function

Malicious agents may actually play a critical game-theoretical role in promoting in-group coöperation [1]. Sort of like how teams can be made stronger with an enemy "them" to be defeated by a now-defined "us".

(That said, I agree that any parasite that preys on humans should be eradicated.)

[1] http://deim.urv.cat/~alexandre.arenas/publicacions/pdf/joker...



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