does the end truly justify the means? is it better to ask forgiveness than to ask permission?

Question

can you treat both questions separately?

Answer 1

I do believe in considering if the end justifies the means. In truth that can only be answered in individual circumstances...yes, at time it does...but at other times, the means are more wrong than the end result.

The Skeptical Christian
Grace, Peace, Freedom, Love, FAITH
Peg

Answer 2

I treat these as totally separate questions. I take the first one seriously, and say that no end justifies immoral or unethical means. (I just answered a question on that last week.) The second one, the way I've heard it, is: "It is easier to get forgiveness than permission." I use that one when there's something fairly trivial that I want to do, but it's contrary to usual procedure or would take too long to get proper authorisation, so I go ahead and do it, assuming that pacifying whoever might object will be quicker than going through the correct channels would have been. Most managers at work prefer people who go ahead and risk being contrary to procedure, than people who always wait for leadership on every little thing. My husband is one of the people who take the time to seek permission first, so I try to tell him it's easier to get forgiveness than permission. I don't think this particular aphorism was originally meant to have deep meaning.

Answer 3

The end never justifies the means.
It's better to ask forgiveness.

Answer 4

The ends never justify the means. They are not 2 separate things, but one thing.

~ Eric Putkonen

Answer 5

Forgiveness or permission? I'm sorry I stole your car. It doesn't sound good, does it?

The end doesn't necessarily justify the means, unless you live in a world with no consequences.

Answer 6

The end does not justify the means, and in my own life when it comes to doing stupid stuff for fun, I often take the ask for forgiveness approach.

Answer 7

That all depends. At times I would say yes and yes. At times I would say no and no. It depends on if anyone gets hurt or killed. Huring and killing others should be avoided. This sort of rational can be good and bold. Or, it can lead to things like genocides. It all depends on the specifics. Everything depends on the specifics. We have a unified USA that stretches from ocean to ocean, but we had to massacre the Native Americans to get it. Is that justified?

Answer 8

These are two separate questions.

This is often referred to as the command decision or the management decision.

The sacrifice of yourself is a powerful decision; the sacrifice of someone else is a much tougher choice to make.

Emotionally I have trouble with making a decision. Intellectually I understand the need and can override my knee jerk response and do what has to be done.

Answer 9

I do both. When I pray on something or for something it is basically asking for God's permission because you are seeking His will on this something. And I seek forgiveness each day for any sins I may have committed.

Answer 10

It is good to take in to consideration the sacrifices that everyone makes in order to get to the end, forgiveness is something that is hard to ask and even harder to receive from people who lost too much because of your actions.