2006-06-22 13:54:05 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
If you ask G W Bush, he'd say that means of opening a concentration camp offshore where people can be tortured at will, held indefinitely without charge and even (he had hoped) 'executed' (= murdered) after a travesty 'trial', is justified by the stated 'end' of scaring everyone witless of the US as it becomes an international bully without regard for human rights. This will help America to achieve its stated aim of 'full spectrum dominance' and at last make the world realise that the US Government is not interested in democracy, international law or any moral absolutes with regard to the rest of the world. Its only concern is naked self interest.
However, in my view, the end almost never justifies the means where the 'means' is morally wrong. If your Mum asks, 'Does my bum look big in this dress?' then I can excuse a 'little white lie'.
The 'means' being morally wrong is, of course, often a matter of opinion. The US foreign aid to anti-AIDS programmes in sub-Saharan Africa for example. The US government (which is supposedly not involved with religion) has refused to give aid to projects which do not pledge to preach 'abstinence' as the primary weapon in the fight against AIDS. As a result, it is almost impossible for any work to be done in encouraging condom use in sex-workers. The 'Christian Right' will claim this as a moral victory while condemning (in effect) many people to death. Those Christians are - whatever else you might say about them and their beliefs - morally consistent. However, I disagree that there is a moral problem here. It's not that I agree that the end here justifies the means - but that I feel there is nothing to justify.
2006-06-22 14:48:32 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
According to one of the main tenets in Moral (or Ethical) Philosophy, if not THE main tenet: "The ends never justify the means.", there would be no example, good or otherwise.
2006-06-23 15:26:24 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Taking tens thousands of dollars worth of student loans to pay for college and grad school because you know you are going to become a really good and high earning doctor or lawyer or something, eventually!!!!!
2006-06-22 20:58:39 · answer #3 · answered by cvo 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The military puts out a death warrant on Sadam Hussein. Yeah, causing a death is wrong, but when the "victim" is a mass murderer?
2006-06-22 21:13:50 · answer #4 · answered by coffeevonhelle 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋