Master Class [95]: Consequentialism: Do the ends justify the means?
Q4. (b) With regard to the morality of actions, one view is that means is of paramount importance and the other view is that the ends justify the means. Which view do you think is more appropriate?
Justify your answer. (2018)
Answer
“In general “consequentialism” refers to a family of moral theories that assert that the wrongness of actions is determined entirely by the consequences.
An action that makes things better is good; an action that makes things worse is bad.
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.