Means and ends
by Jack GrantRecently, there have been many arguments presented in weblogs where the ends are being used to justify any means. While this argument is used most frequently by those on the right-wing to justify the Iraq War, it is used qith equal frequency by those on the left-wing to justify some of their actions.
I find these arguments repugnant.
How can you claim to be moral if you attained your moral end by immoral means?
How can you claim to be fair if you attained your fair end by unfair means?
How can you claim to be honest if you attained your honest end by dishonest means?
For a nation such as the United States that claims to believe in liberty and democracy, using the ends to justify means that are questionable is hypocritical at best, for it is the process itself that is important.
In other words, the means ARE the end.
The victory at any and all costs mentality that is now the prevailing view is damaging us more than we realize, and I can only hope that we leave this path before the damage is irreparable.
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The regression has been constant.
From “Cheaters never win” down to “All’s fair in love and war” to “The enemy of my enemy is my friend”. We have devolved into a “Two for me, none for you” society that no longer embraces the virtues of community, honesty or fairness.
By Redoubt on 05.27.05 14:15
Two-Dimensional Ethical Analysis
The old question of means and ends — is it moral to accomplish a moral action by immoral means? — has been addressed here before:
We’ve reached a point where the end is no longer noble. We have reached a point where unethical behavior is employed withou
By Pennywit.Com on 05.28.05 14:22