They are. But in Special Circumstances we deal in the moral equivalent of black holes, where the normal laws - the rules of right and wrong that people imagine apply everywhere else in the universe - break down; beyond those metaphysical event horizons, there exist . . . special circumstances." She smiled. "That's us. That's our territory; our domain." "To some people," he said, "that might sound like just a good excuse for bad behavior.
In Iain M. Banks' "Use of Weapons," the concept of Special Circumstances refers to situations that challenge conventional morality, functioning like black holes where established rules of right and wrong no longer hold. The protagonist acknowledges that these circumstances create a unique domain where typical ethical guidelines can be disregarded, suggesting a troubling ambiguity in moral decision-making.
Furthermore, the dialogue highlights the tension between justifications for actions that may be deemed unethical and the reality of navigating complex moral landscapes. The mention of Special Circumstances implies that those involved may exploit them as rationalizations, prompting deeper reflections on the nature of morality and justification in extraordinary situations.
