2006-08-25 22:50:42 · 13 answers · asked by sethmorris30 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It is the lesser of two evils argument. There is no right or wrong answer, it is all a matter of degrees.
2006-08-25 22:54:52 · answer #1 · answered by Curious1usa 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The end never justifies the means. The means utilized must pass the moral test on their own. It's not OK to murder one innocent person in order to save a thousand. It's not OK to poison a river that local children & families use upon for drinking water, in order to secretly conduct tests that would lead to a medical breakthrough that benefits the world.
While people can choose to sacrifice themselves for the sake of others, that decision must be their own.
Doing something very bad is simply very bad, regardless of the motivation. We judge people, groups and societies by their actions. As the saying goes, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions".
Sometimes you're stuck with the a choice between two bad options, so you choose the lesser of two evils. That doesn't make your choice good, simply less evil than the alternative.
2006-08-25 23:14:42 · answer #2 · answered by C-Man 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is the age old question. It's like in the movie "Serenity" where the assassin tells someone who is protecting his mark that he, the assassin, is going to kill this young girl because she is a weapon of unimaginable power. And that he is killing this girl for the sake of the New World. The protector fellow responds with "isn't that funny? You kill to make a better world." The assassin replies "Oh no, I will not be going to the New World." The assassin, in this case, was dead wrong. The girl was no threat to anyone but the elitists who wanted her killed. And the New World was to be much like what you expect as you unofficially hear about what the Bush Administration is after.
The bottom line is that No, the ends do not justify the means, especially since no one knows what the "end" is going to be as the purity becomes perverted by the means.
2006-08-25 22:58:37 · answer #3 · answered by InternetPosterChild 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hurting someone physically or mentally will never accomplish something good. No matter what a politician says. Look around has it worked so far???
2006-08-25 23:00:08 · answer #4 · answered by The Pooh-Stick Kid 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The actions taken that are bad, color the good results and the good is not on a solid foundation,
2006-08-25 23:00:41 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Are you saying like you go John Wu style on a gang of terrorist to save your entire family leaving trails of dead guys in your path?
2006-08-25 22:55:48 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The end does not justify the means.
2006-08-25 22:53:21 · answer #7 · answered by suzanne 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its good and bad. its not good to do bad things to accomplish something good.
2006-08-25 22:56:14 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on your definition of "very bad." Don't harm anyone.
2006-08-25 22:55:30 · answer #9 · answered by Mrs. Pears 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
is this a quote from president bush's first national security meeting?
2006-08-25 23:00:23 · answer #10 · answered by spike missing debra m 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋