In the perennial debate surrounding the morality of actions, a fundamental dichotomy emerges, pitting the significance of means against the consequentialist perspective that posits the ends justifying the means. The former contends that the methods employed in achieving a goal carry intrinsic moral weight, emphasizing the ethical significance of the journey itself. On the contrary, the latter school of thought argues that the ultimate outcomes of an action hold precedence, allowing for a utilitarian calculus that assesses morality based on the resultant benefits. Striking a balance between these perspectives necessitates a nuanced consideration of context, intent, and the broader ethical implications. Personally, I find the emphasis on means to be more ethically sound. It asserts that the ethical character of actions is not solely contingent upon outcomes, but is deeply rooted in the integrity and morality of the processes undertaken. This perspective places ethical responsibility on individuals to navigate the complexities of decision-making with a conscientious awareness of the methods chosen, fostering a more robust foundation for moral reasoning.
Tag: Laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance.
Decoding the Question:
- In Introduction, try to discuss the context.
- In Body, discuss what is more appropriate- means or ends.
- In Conclusion, try to write a way forward.
Answer:
The means-ends debate is a paramount ethical dilemma of the modern world. Ends justify the means (Machiavelli) refers to a situation in which the final aim is considered so important that any way of achieving it is acceptable. Whereas, Mahatma Gandhi firmly rejected the rigid dichotomy between ends and means to the extent that they believed that means and not the ends provide the standard of reference.
End or Means- which is important?
- The answer to the question depends on what the ends or goals are and what means are being used to achieve them. If the goals are good and noble, and the means we use to achieve them are also good and noble, then yes, the ends do justify the means.
- The ‘ends justifying the means’ usually involves doing something wrong to achieve a positive end and justifying the wrongdoing by pointing to a good outcome. There are certain things to consider in such a situation: the morality of the action, the morality of the outcome, and the morality of the person performing the action.
- The reason the means are important, maybe more important than the ends, is how we get to our goal is just as important as getting there. In other words, destiny tells us what we are to the world, but journey tells who we are; it’s the journey that unlocks our potential and establishes who we are as a person and what motivates us towards action.
- Thus, it can be said that both the views are appropriate depending on the situation and therefore there is no one size fits all approach. For example, when police carry out fake encounters of criminals; the means are not ethical. Although they were criminals and a threat to society, the police do not have the right to kill them. So, here the ends achieved are unethical because means are not justifiable.
- But during certain situations means may not be ethical, but ends matter more, like physical torture of a terrorist to know where he has planted bomb in the city. Here, although means (use of torture) is not ethical, but it is essential to know the whereabouts of bomb to prevent death of innocent people. Thus, the situation influences ends as well as means.
- A civil servant has to maintain the delicate balance between what they’re trying to accomplish and the means that they use to get there, such that in certain circumstances a particular means is ethical but the same means in other circumstances would be unethical. He cannot compromise the one for the other because his actions are watched by the society-he being a role model for them; he has to be upright in both in every possible circumstance, which can be analyzed as follows:
- If a civil servant goes out of the rules and regulations (legality) and helps a needy out of compassion, it may bring a huge burden on the exchequer and also encourage others to approach him, but this was not as per the law (right things in a wrong way).
- If a civil servant uses his power and authority to take revenge from someone he had biases against, like through repeated raids on his premises or holding him accountable for any wrong in his area etc (wrong things in a right way).
Balancing Ends and Means: Civil servants have to maintain the delicate balance between what they are trying to accomplish and the means that they use, such that in certain situations a particular means is ethical but the same means in others would be unethical. Civil Servant cannot compromise the one for the other because his actions are closely watched by the society because he is a role model for them. A civil servant has to be upright in both in every possible circumstances, which can be analyzed as:
- If a civil servant goes beyond the rules and regulations and helps a needy in compassion, it may bring a huge burden on the exchequer and also encourage others to approach him, but this was not as per the law.
- If a public servant asserts his power and authority to take revenge from someone he had biases against, like through repeated raids on his premises or holding him accountable for any wrong in his area etc (wrong things in a right way).
Saul Alinsky said “One’s concern with the ethics of means and ends varies inversely with one’s personal interest in the issue”. But for a civil servant it is not his personal interests which matters, but the public interest and the authority he is reposed with because he is a public servant and implements policies for the larger welfare of the society, and in doing so he cannot compromise on either- the means or the ends.
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