Do the ends justify the means?

In his famous book "The Prince", Machiavelli advises that you can get away with all manner if crimes, if only you can maintain the public appearance of virtue. Many politicians, and powerful people have taken his advice to heart by doing one thing, saying another and investing heavily in public relations campaigns to maintain their images.

It's tempting to believe that your ends can justify your means. We care about the result of our actions, and not how we get there. We can pursue our ideals without getting bogged down by technicalities or compromises. But this question is not so simple when it hinges on values that we hold dear like human life, well-being and fundamental rights.

Is it justified for the government to draft citizens and send them to war? Should we ban the sale of human kidneys, when an open market would save lives? How should self-driving cars choose which people to save and which to sacrifice in a catastrophic accident? Do you believe that the ends justify the means?

Excerpt

It's tempting to believe that your ends can justify your means. We care about the result of our actions, and not how we get there. We can pursue our ideals without getting bogged down by technicalities or compromises. But this question is not so simple when it hinges on values that we hold dear like human life, well-being and fundamental rights. Do you believe that the ends justify the means?

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