Niccolò Machiavelli in “The Prince” mentions that “the end justifies the means”. At least once in everyone’s life, at one point they’ve made a dishonest decision. Some have even tried to explain their actions by bending the truth. It doesn’t matter how people reach what they want as long as the outcome is what they had hoped. The end goal doesn’t necessarily have to be good or noble. Though many people believe the end does not justify the means I believe it is acceptable to go to any extent to obtain something that is for a good cause.
Several individuals would argue that there are occasions were a lie must be told in order for it to be favorable. According to Machiavelli “[one] should be as strong as a lion, and as shrewd as a fox, and may …show more content…
The North went to war with the South in order to officially end slavery one in for all. Both the North and the South were engaged in a fierce violent battle. The North was fighting to end slavery and the South was fighting to keep slavery. Thousands and thousands of soldiers were killed during that period. At the end of this war, President Lincoln ended slavery in all Southern states. Although many soldiers were killed during that period it was for a good cause. I believe the end indeed justifies the means.
Another example would be a family in need of shelter. Suppose a family is lost and is freezing cold and exhausted. The family is dying of thirst and hunger. They spot a home and break into the home for shelter. They utilize whatever is inside of that home. Some individuals may view this as incorrect and illegal, but the family was in urgent need and did something that was for a good cause which therefore makes it justifiable. They did not break into the home to steal or with a malicious intent they did it because there was not another choice. The family did what it had to do in order to get what they wanted …show more content…
Let’s suppose the officer is making a traffic stop and the person in the vehicle has a weapon, but the officer has no idea. The officer approaches the vehicle and views the gun so he draws his weapon and fires. The police officer kills the man in the vehicle. The actions of the police officer are therefore justified by pointing out the positive outcome. The officer saw the gun and had to shoot the man to protect himself. Now an officer not being charged for killing someone is something serious and can result in total chaos. Some officers can abuse of this which can be a difficulty that can arise when unworthy means are used to achieve worthy ends. According to Machiavelli “so long as a [Prince] keeps his subjects united and loyal, ought not to mind the reproach of cruelty; because with a few examples he will be more merciful than those who, through too much mercy, allow disorders to arise” (Machiavelli 409).
For these reasons, I believe the end does indeed justify the means. Though many people believe the end does not justify the means I believe it is acceptable to go to any extent to obtain something that is for a good cause. Any way of achieving the end goal is acceptable. The bombing of Japan killed thousands of citizens, but it brought an end to WWII and saved thousands of lives that were in danger. The National Security Agency spies and gathers information from citizens, but serves as a way of
Several individuals would argue that there are occasions were a lie must be told in order for it to be favorable. According to Machiavelli “[one] should be as strong as a lion, and as shrewd as a fox, and may …show more content…
The North went to war with the South in order to officially end slavery one in for all. Both the North and the South were engaged in a fierce violent battle. The North was fighting to end slavery and the South was fighting to keep slavery. Thousands and thousands of soldiers were killed during that period. At the end of this war, President Lincoln ended slavery in all Southern states. Although many soldiers were killed during that period it was for a good cause. I believe the end indeed justifies the means.
Another example would be a family in need of shelter. Suppose a family is lost and is freezing cold and exhausted. The family is dying of thirst and hunger. They spot a home and break into the home for shelter. They utilize whatever is inside of that home. Some individuals may view this as incorrect and illegal, but the family was in urgent need and did something that was for a good cause which therefore makes it justifiable. They did not break into the home to steal or with a malicious intent they did it because there was not another choice. The family did what it had to do in order to get what they wanted …show more content…
Let’s suppose the officer is making a traffic stop and the person in the vehicle has a weapon, but the officer has no idea. The officer approaches the vehicle and views the gun so he draws his weapon and fires. The police officer kills the man in the vehicle. The actions of the police officer are therefore justified by pointing out the positive outcome. The officer saw the gun and had to shoot the man to protect himself. Now an officer not being charged for killing someone is something serious and can result in total chaos. Some officers can abuse of this which can be a difficulty that can arise when unworthy means are used to achieve worthy ends. According to Machiavelli “so long as a [Prince] keeps his subjects united and loyal, ought not to mind the reproach of cruelty; because with a few examples he will be more merciful than those who, through too much mercy, allow disorders to arise” (Machiavelli 409).
For these reasons, I believe the end does indeed justify the means. Though many people believe the end does not justify the means I believe it is acceptable to go to any extent to obtain something that is for a good cause. Any way of achieving the end goal is acceptable. The bombing of Japan killed thousands of citizens, but it brought an end to WWII and saved thousands of lives that were in danger. The National Security Agency spies and gathers information from citizens, but serves as a way of