What is evasion?

Evasion is the act of avoiding or escaping from something, typically a danger or an obligation. It can be a deliberate attempt to avoid something, like evading taxes or evading a confrontation, or it can be a natural response to a threat or danger. Evasion can take various forms, such as physical evasion, mental evasion, or rhetorical evasion.

Physical evasion involves physically avoiding something. For example, someone might evade a predator by running away or hiding. Mental evasion involves avoiding something by diverting one's attention or focus elsewhere. For example, someone who is anxious about an impending deadline might try to distract themselves with other tasks or activities. Rhetorical evasion involves avoiding a question or issue by changing the subject or using vague or misleading language. Politicians are often accused of using rhetorical evasion when they avoid answering direct questions.

Evasion can have negative consequences, such as avoiding responsibility or consequences for one's actions, causing harm to others, or failing to address important issues. However, in some situations, evasion can be a necessary survival mechanism or a means of protecting oneself from harm.