Who said the ends don't justify the means

Apr 29, 2014 when the end goal is just, right, or laudable, the pernicious argument that the ends justify the means can lead even the best legislators or executives into temptation. Even when we are forced into extreme measures in order to offer hope for the down trodden we can never allow the result to free us from the need to self reflect and analyse whether we may have crossed the. However sometimes people cannot see clearly what is sin and what isnt. Aldous huxley the end cannot justify the means, for the simple and obvious reason that the means employed determine the nature of the ends produced. These two questions will be considered here in light of the postmodern churchs insistence in doing whatever it takes to win souls, even if it means disobeying scripture and embracing pagan deities. Asking that question is sure to get a blank stare, because most people havent thought about this subject in detail. That pushbutton philosophy, that deliberate deafness to suffering, has become the monster in the war machine. The answer to this question depends on what the ends or goals are and what means are being used to achieve them. Contents hide 1 the ends justify the means meaning.

Sometimes even the best decisions cause some bad results. On the other hand, if the ends justify the meansif your. Not all means are justified by the end, of coursebut some means are. Niccolo machiavelli never actually said the ends justify the means. One is the belief that the end justifies the means. Visit the bible online to search for words if you dont know the specific passage yourre looking for. Jul, 2014 in the kingdom of god, where the cross sits like a jewel immovable from its setting in the incarnation, the ends can never justify the means. Being healed was a good end, but naaman was furious because he wanted a different means to accomplish the healing. By anyones standard other than gods, asa did a very good thing. Niccolo machiavelli never said, the ends justify the means, although he did allude to a complex version of the concept in his prince and other works. Hes campaigning with illegal funds on the theory that if he wins the election the end will justify the means, or the officer tricked her into admitting her guiltthe end sometimes. The problem with the ends justify the means philosophy is that it puts the law into the hands of human beings, and makes the law subjective. Did machiavelli actually say, the ends justify the means. The phrase the ends justify the means means it is okay to do something wrong if the final result is something very good.

But as i just indicated, you dont need to look far to find public policies that rely on similar arguments. The ends don t justify the means is merely a misstatement or simplification of a situation in which some of the ends are so terrible that the desired ends aren t worth it. Machiavelli said, the ends justify the means fact or myth. What is the origin of the quote the end justifies the means. May 12, 2011 it has become clear that many politicians and lawyers, and a few real people, don t understand what is meant by the end does not justify the means.

Definition of the end justifies the means in the idioms dictionary. This means actions people take are justified regardless of how they go about achieving their desired end result. It has become clear that many politicians and lawyers, and a few real people, dont understand what is meant by the end does not justify the means. I couldnt think of anything that would fit your description could you give some examples. What is being said when saying, the ends justify the means. The volume of philosophical discourse thats gone into analyzing the implications of the phrase is. People have been arguing about this kind of thing for just about as long as there have been arguments at all. In other words, one cannot commit a series of knowingly fraudulent and illegal acts, even if purportedly done in the name of a noble cause. Machiavelli in all cases is implying that the means matter, and the ends dont magically justify them, yet sometimes it is worth accepting all the. The ends can never justify the means red letter christians. Also missing in the endsmeans ethics discussion is an understanding of the providence of god. The end justifies the means simple english wikipedia, the free.

For example, hes campaigning with illegal funds on the theory that if he wins the election the end. This cliche is usually quoted in the context of the ends dont justify the means, but in practice most folks seem to live as if the ends did justify the means even if the means involved sin. Why the end does not justify the means but now you know. In this quote from chapter 18 of the prince about keeping faith. This cliche is usually quoted in the context of the ends don t justify the means, but in practice most folks seem to live as if the ends did justify the means even if the means involved sin. Mar 09, 2009 who said the ends always justify the means. Relatives said it also killed a guest of the family, identified by an israeli human rights group as a member of the hamas military wing, ostensibly. Asa displayed some amazing leadership skills, and he even saved his people from the enemy. The phrase is better translated as one must think of the final result, and was written in regards to the lack of a true judge of whether a princes. An important flaw in the ends justify the means is that it artificially makes a course of action appear more just by ignoring the costs, and by ignoring whether or not it even worked. Does the end justify the means i think there is a big if at the end of that sentence. We can rationalize any action if the motivation for the goal is strong enough. If the means justify the endsif you should follow the rules no matter the consequencesthen when the agents ask lepp point blank whether hes selling the medicine, the ethical action is to admit it. It is never the ends that matter it is only the means that matter.

One example would entail lying under the threat of government punishment to save an innocent persons life, even though it is illegal to lie under oath. The means justify the ends versus the ends justify the means. When the ends dont justify the means evangelism outreach. Apr 14, 2019 what is being said when saying, the ends justify the means. They act like people are saying the desire to have pancakes cannot justify making batter. In the example of an officer inflicting pain to apprehend a violent suspect, it isnt that the end justifies the evil means, but rather, the means isnt even evil to begin with. If people dont like you now, then they probably never will.

Sep 10, 2017 the phrase and concept of the end justify the means are at least as old as the first century bc. Utilitarian theories, on the other hand, must answer the charge that ends do not justify the means. The ends do not justify the means synonyms, the ends do not justify the means pronunciation, the ends do not justify the means translation, english dictionary definition of the ends do not justify the means. The term the end justifies the means means that the results of some actions taken is more important than the other repercussions of said actions. For example, some students i have taught justified lying on their resume because it. The end justifies the means phrase meaning and origin. Widely attributed to machiavelli s the prince, which does reflect this philosophy but does not use the phrase in this wording. What is the origin of the quote the ends justify the means. The problem arises in these theories because they tend to separate the achieved ends from the action by which these ends were produced. Oct 04, 2019 but as i just indicated, you dont need to look far to find public policies that rely on similar arguments. If the end justifies the means, then spurious ends, such as the supremacy of the third reich, and justify unethical means, such as destroying anyone who gets in the way of this end. End justifies the means, the definition of end justifies the means. Jan 06, 2015 the officer can encounter circumstances where he may need to use those devices that inflict pain and even fatality, but doesnt the catechism say that such circumstances still dont justify the means.

Morally wrong actions are sometimes necessary to achieve morally. For example, some students i have taught justified lying on their resume because it could help them get a job. The volume of philosophical discourse thats gone into analyzing the. They justify this by saying they dont have enough men who are qualified to lead.

The line, often adopted by strong men in controversy, of justifying the means by the end. What does the bible say about the ends justifying the means. Niccolo machiavelli said, the ends justify the means. And no, i dont think our strategy is to provide solutions for the new style of it will cut it, even if you do capitalize the words new and style in the presentation. An example might be withholding information from a loved one so as not to upset them.

Mar 02, 2015 and although he remains famous today for his wellarticulated methods for ruthlessly thriving in a corrupt world, he never said the phrase that is most often attributed to him. The ends dont justify the means when we rely on anything other than god for our victories. The ends still dont justify the means the american. The end justifies the means meaning in the cambridge. The reason we probably dont know who said things like these is that they are really very common ideas. Most people attribute this quote to niccolo machiavelli. This work, however, never directly uses this expression, in english translations or the original italian. The ends dont justify the means, but christian forums. God did not simply create the world, populate it with people, and then leave them to muddle through on their own with no oversight from him. For example, hes campaigning with illegal funds on the theory that if he wins the election the end will justify the means, or the officer tricked her into admitting her guiltthe end sometimes justifies the means.

Most men and women are geniuses when it comes to justifying our behavior. How does the church reconcile her teaching that the end doesnt justify the means with her allowance for self defense and just war. The ends are simply what we want to achieve, like happiness, a loving boyfriend, or a career. The officer can encounter circumstances where he may need to use those devices that inflict pain and even fatality, but doesnt the catechism say that such circumstances still dont justify the means. Consequentialism is primarily nonprescriptive, meaning the moral worth of an action is determined by its potential consequence, not by whether it follows a set of written edicts or laws. Who said does the ends justifies the means answers. The end did not justify using a means different from what god said. Jan 02, 2020 so, clearly, from gods perspective there are no ends that justify the means of breaking his law. Widely attributed to machiavellis the prince, which does reflect this philosophy but does not.

Despite the fact that this notion has been condemned ever since paul wrote romans 3. It is an unpopular and even counterintuitive notion that the ends don t justify the means, particularly when the ends turn out well. Then the chaldeans said to the king in aramaic, o king, live forever. A good outcome excuses any wrongs committed to attain it. Who originally came up with this, or is the main supporter of this quote the ends always justify the means or some variant. It means that if a goal is morally important enough, any method of getting it is acceptable. It is an unpopular and even counterintuitive notion that the ends dont justify the means, particularly when the ends turn out well. The pornographer pretends he is disgusted by his work. The three examples above show that the us government does effectively torture people, or take away their freedom, or have them killed, all for ends justify the means reasons. The end justifies the means idioms by the free dictionary.

It would have to be the ends justifies the means if most people probably dont think of it this way. The answer to the question do the ends justify the means. Sep 26, 2016 they justify this by saying they dont have enough men who are qualified to lead. Ovid wrote in his heroides that exitus acta probat the result justifies the deed. It was later picked up and used to justify murderous acts by lenin and. No one has ever claimed that the means justify the ends. There is a growing trend of these types of cases being filed against corporations, claiming to be in defense of the environment or human rights, which are ultimately. If the end goal is righteous enough, few elected leaders can withstand the flawed reasoning that it doesnt matter how you make that. He should tell the truth even though that will mean the end of his business.

I may agree with you that the ends do not justify the means but i dont think you can say that we would all agree to that. Feb 17, 2018 the results justify the means to an extent. Concerning the way in which princes should keep faith. I remember that it was some renaissance prince or something in a book about how to rule a kingdom and control your subjects. The question whether the end justifies the means depends on the type of goal or end a person wants to achieve and the means they use. Malcolm x is associated with the phrase by any means necessary.

May 16, 2006 the answer to the question do the ends justify the means. The phrase and concept of the end justify the means are at least as old as the first century bc. A machiavellian perspective a characteristic behavior in todays society is the belief that the ends justifies the means. The only way we can determine with any reliability what means should be employed are by the ends those means produce. When the end goal is just, right, or laudable, the pernicious argument that the ends justify the means can lead even the best legislators or executives into temptation. Did sarah palin really say that she could see russia from her house. Although society has a way of still rewarding and idolizing those who succeed despite dubious, or downright despicable means, the saying itself. But if evil depends on many factors, then some ends would be worth the evil means taken to get to there. The ends do not justify the means definition of the ends. If both the means and the ends are equally noble and good, there is no question because the ends are justified by the means. The end justifies the means definition is used to say that a desired result is so good or important that any method, even a morally bad one, may be used to achieve it. Some people have claimed that the ends justify the means, but not viceversa. What your version of the expression means is that you cant use a desired outcome to say that what youre doing is okay. It is indeed right to inflict a just amount of force and punishment to those who by their behaviour, necessitate the force and punishment levied upon them.

In the kingdom of god, where the cross sits like a jewel immovable from its setting in the incarnation, the ends can never justify the means. A characteristic behavior in todays society is the belief that the ends justifies the means. I am guessing most people make a mental pros and cons list, and go from there. Oct 12, 2012 if the ends dont justify the means, what does. He was the author of the prince, which was published in the first half of the 1500s. The statement that the ends justifies the means can be traced back to niccolo. This fiery man, who translated the entire bible into latin, called the vulgate, said this in the 48th letter to a guy named pammachius ab. If the goals are good and noble, and the means we use to achieve them are also good. However sometimes people cannot see clearly what is sin and what isn t. Or, the if the glory of god and the fulfillment of his wishes is the end, then burning people who are in the way of this is justified. But you might have noticed ive said people might be incidentally correct when they say the ends dont justify the means. And the king said to them, i had a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream. If the end goal is righteous enough, few elected leaders can withstand the flawed reasoning that it doesnt matter how you make that goal happen.