Issue212 永不言弃第七次 by stgzhao 7#

stgzhaoUID: 2583165

TOPIC: ISSUE212 - "If a goal is worthy, then any means taken to attain it is justifiable."
WORDS: 608 TIME: 00:55:55 DATE: 2009-2-11 10:09:00

1.We often gain after pay.
2.With a fatal goal any cost is worth.
3.Means taken should be consistent with the ends in view.
4.Even if the goal is worthy, some means should not be carried out either.
5.If the goal the means is just to satisfy certain people’s appetites, then we cannot agree with the statement.

The speaker asserts that any means taken to attain a goal is justifiable as long as the goal is worthy. In my view this extreme position is controversial. In most cases, means taken often includes a series of concern in social benefits, public security, damage caused to the environment and so forth. However, we do admit that in some certain circumstances any means we are capable to figure out which can be helpful for the goal is worth to be carried out. Therefore whether the statement makes sense depends on several aspects.

To begin with, I strongly agree with a point view that when we always obtain something after paying certain costs. This may be explained as a simple "pay-gain" procedure such as after having a feast we certainly have to buy the bill. This example suggests that if we want to attain a goal, we are forced to use what we have to exchange for what we want. To go against this, taking robbery as example will be punished by the law made by government or by the nature itself, if we take deforesting rain forest to gain timbers instead. Besides, there is another kind of cost which economists name as "opportunity cost". This means when we choose to attain a certain goal we automatic relinquish some other things. This means even if we just take a walk after dinner takes certain costs.

Having acknowledged whatever we do certain cost should be paid, we will physically start to cogitate whether it is worthy, which, in other words, is for a certain goal, whether we should take any means to attain it. Whether a goal is worthy can be evaluated by imaging what would take place if the goal is not attained. For example, if it is considered to be fatal to all human beings, such as a meteor crashing on the earth - like the plot in many Hollywood movies, then whatever we figure out should be carried out. Even sending a group of drillers on the meteor, which is obviously a dead mission, and it is inhuman as we can see is reasonable. I believe this kind of instance do have their eventuality.

Even if the goal is worthy, we still have to think over the means to attain it. The ozone hole is a serious problem, but should we shut down the entire industry and destroy every vehicle just to keep the air clean? I think every thoughtful person will agree with the significance of protecting air, but to shut down whole industry is a method which is at the cost of public stability and security that cannot be carried out. To judge whether the means taken to attain the goal is justifiable should be evaluated by the value system, conscience and so forth.

However, we must also alert that some corporations, politicians or else take advantage of the worthy goal to attain their selfish interests. To stop Hitler's insane deeds is obviously a worthy goal, but some banker patronage the enemies just to prolong the war and loan more to the government in order to satisfy their own interests. Admittedly, loan given to the government to stop the war is a worthy goal and is definitely a worthy goal for the bankers, but what they did cannot be justifiable, and should gain their deserved punished.

In sum, whether it is justifiable to take any means to attain a worthy goal is dependant. It should consider the value of the goal and the rationality of the means. Whether it is right or wrong depends on the circumstance, to hold an extreme position is ridiculous.