Does the end really justifies the means...?

Question

What if the means makes you more miserable and lonely?
Does it still justifies the end?

...

Answer 1

The end does not ever justify the means.

That is why we have rules and laws and ethics in the first place.

Think of it this way. Have you ever seen a sign that says "The eating of rocks is strictly forbidden!" ? No, of course not, that is because nobody ever wants to eat rocks, so there is no need to forbid it.

So in life there are four kinds of actions. Things that are good that are fun to do (like having a good meal, making a friend). Things that are bad that you don't want to do (like eating rocks, breaking your teeth, and making yourself sick). Things that are good that you don't want to do (like defending your country in a war), and things that are bad that you do want to do (like extra-marital sex, theft, lying... think any of the 10 Commandments here.)

So when we come up to something we DO want to do, but know that we should not do (because we know it is wrong) we need rules to remind us NOT to do those things. (Nobody ever needed a rule to keep him from doing something he didn't want to do in the first place.) This is why we have laws, ethics, morality, etc.

"The end justifies the means" is just something people tell themselves when they REALLY want to do something, but there is no moral way to justify doing it. It is a load of bull$$$$. It is what you say when you sell drugs but or you tell yourself there is "no other way to get ahead" (even though the McDonalds across the street has a big HELP WANTED sign up), it's what you say when you tell the accounting department to cook the books and make your company look better than it is so your stock goes up. It's what you say when you kill someone but tell yourself "they had it coming".

EVERY single person in prison today, from the lowest drug pusher to the CEO of ENRON, to the serial killer to the guys who shoot 7-11 clerks dead during a robbery; every single one of them thought "the end justified the means".

It didn't work out very well for them now did it?

Answer 2

I always believe that there are no absolute stand for any questions, even to yours. That's why i don't even give very absolute stand to essay questions like this. I am studying translation, and there is a theory i have come across, called "Skopo Theory" , which exactly supports the idea of "the end justifies the mean". It states that, when a translator translates, he should first set up a goal and aim for his translation, and he can then use all means to achieve his purpose as best as he can. The more fulfilled his purpose is, the translation strategies he employed is said to be more justified. So, in other words, it is to be said that the fulfillment of the purpose is directly proportional to the justification of the mean. So, stating these shows my partial agreements towards the statement of "the end justifies the mean". What holds me back is that, when this idea is to be applied to areas like politics, if politician overuses this saying and use all means, no matter ethical or not, as long as they think they achieve their purpose, can u see how horrible the scenario would be? So, "IT DEPENDS" is the idea that is universally true, but not the saying "The end justifies the mean".

Answer 3

If the ends would desire to justify the potential then the potential would desire to be unjustified initially. considering there is no thank you to be responsive to with certainty no remember if the potential will gain the ends, some thing can continually bypass incorrect, that's greater advantageous to stay interior of ethical limitations. you won't be able to construct an ordinary sturdy via a private evil.

Answer 4

Sheesh, what a load. Muzzy-minded thinking, there and there and there ... in fact, most of the answers above make me fear for the species.
This phrase you present to us is a QUESTION, not a statement or a philosophy, old son.
"DO the end justify the means?" is a question used to evaluate a course of action.
Like any completely undefined question, the answer is "Maybe."
What ends? What means? Tell me and I'll answer more definitively. Stay vague and you'll get vague answers.
Proof of position:
Q+ Do the ends of feeding myself justify opening a can of beans and cooking them? Certainly.
Q- Do the ends of getting a pair of shoes justify shooting my brother in the head and taking his loafers? Certainly not.
Hope that clears it up.

Answer 5

You first need to answer the question "What is the GOOD?" If the means to the GOOD, ends up causing more BAD, then the means does not justify the end.

Answer 6

Of course the end doesn't always justify the means. That's the saying 'The end doesn't justify the means'.

Answer 7

I could beat about the bush - but would that justify anything? I reckon if the end is what you want and you can see the 'means' then usually it's human nature to take that course. Ultimately though, one asks: Are you happy? If the answer is 'no' then my answer is: NO. If you are not happy - then it did not work. 'Means' is a 'mean' 'mean' if it didn't work. Go for the upper and feel good about a 'mean' that will work! All the best. Not knowing the circumstances surrounding your predicament is not helpful - but don't do anything if you don't feel good about it! :-}

Answer 8

Sometimes. It depends on the means & the end. If it's for the "greater good," if it does more good than harm in the long run. Delayed gratification. The big picture. Not sure what your situation is but if being miserable & lonely now means that one day you will be happy & fulfilled then it's worth it. Perhaps you have some soul-searching to do & personal growth that you must do alone (& can't do in a relationship) & if you go through this difficult phase you will end up a stronger happier person ready for a healthy happy relationship then of course it's worth it.

Answer 9

If God put you on this earth for a reason, maybe misserable is the means and living misserable to the end justifies the end.

Answer 10

Depends on the means and the targeted end.