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8 answers

Think of it in terms of cost/benefit. The goal is important. It is so important that the cost is not regarded. In this case, the goal is the end. The cost is the action or set of actions required to achieve the end.
This phrase is used to justify acts which would normally not be considered due to ethics or morals.
Example: It was not uncommon to practice cannibalism in life-boats following a ship wreck. They cast lots to decide who would be killed. The highest ranking officer would then perform the killing and those left would eat.
They said that it was better for one to die than for all to die. Normally, cannibalism was not practiced.

2007-01-24 12:55:38 · answer #1 · answered by Jack 7 · 1 0

The end result out weighs the means of getting those results. This doesn't necessarily apply to all situations, but say you had to kill everyone just to save your family. Some people would argue that the end justifies the means because you saved your family and that was the most important, many others would argue against that. That is an extreme case, but that is the gist of it.

2007-01-24 12:50:23 · answer #2 · answered by Mickey C 4 · 0 0

"The ends justify the means" is a phrase encompassing two beliefs:

1. Morally wrong actions are sometimes necessary to achieve morally right outcomes.
2. Actions can only be considered morally right or wrong by virtue of the morality of the outcome.
Conversely, people who believe that the consequences of an immoral action are greater than those of the expected outcome will often say that the ends do not justify the means.

2007-01-24 12:50:00 · answer #3 · answered by ••Mott•• 6 · 2 0

that's saying that regardless of your ending result with ought to justify the skill (or the way) you went approximately getting that result. case in point: If I spent one million,000,000 money in finished expenses for college and scientific college and different different issues, mutually with books, components, etc., could the spending of that money be worth it to alter right into a physician? maximum could say it does, because of the fact that this well being care expert now has the skill of helping to make the ill properly returned, and to help avert different ailments and ailments. wish that's clever!

2016-11-27 00:10:39 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

If the result (the end) of your less than honest action turns out to be good, the bad thing you did to obtain that result (the means), is judged to to be good.

2007-01-24 20:03:10 · answer #5 · answered by PDY 5 · 1 0

when u achieve a goal, everything u did to get to it has been justified

2007-01-24 12:51:09 · answer #6 · answered by Flusher 3 · 1 1

It means that the most important is how I can solve something

2007-01-24 13:03:02 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0 1

the end result is more important than what it takes to get you there

I like that quote by Machievelli

2007-01-24 12:50:53 · answer #8 · answered by love2figureskate 4 · 1 1

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