They were applied to other P Y PP uses less justifiable or defensible; they served to execute the will of the despotic master upon all who set themselves in opposition to his authority, or were decreed, more or less wisely but still arbitrarily, by a government in the best interests of society, organized for the general good.
This, it seems to me, is entirely defensible.
With this use of the word, philologically inexact, but historically quite defensible, may be compared the use of the word English, which is not exactly the language of the Angles, or of the word French, which is not exactly the language of the Franks.
Our space suddenly became defensible, criminals flourished as opportunities became more lucrative and the laws changed in favor of civil liberties.
For example what is the ethically defensible social role of the University in such a scenario?