The end justifies the means phrase meaning and origin. The end justifies the means simple english wikipedia, the free. What is the origin of the quote the end justifies the means. Widely attributed to machiavellis the prince, which does reflect this philosophy but does not use the phrase in this wording. Most people attribute this quote to niccolo machiavelli. What is the origin of the quote the ends justify the means. For example, if you cheat to win something, do the ends winning justify the means cheating. For example, hes campaigning with illegal funds on the theory that if he wins the election the end. Your subscription to the christian science monitor has expired. No one has ever claimed that the means justify the ends. End justifies the means, the definition of end justifies the means.
This is the means justify the ends versus the ends justify the means, section 2. Definition of the end justifies the means in the idioms dictionary. Malcolm x is associated with the phrase by any means necessary. Sometimes even the best decisions cause some bad results. It was later picked up and used to justify murderous acts by lenin and stalin. Some people have claimed that the ends justify the means, but not viceversa.
The line, often adopted by strong men in controversy, of justifying the means by the end. End justifies the means, the definition at, a free online dictionary with pronunciation, synonyms and translation. The end justifies the means definition of the end justifies the. Full transcription and quotation can be found here heroides, ii, 85. What does the end justifies the means expression mean. What is the origin of the quote the ends justify the.
The idea is ancient, but it was not meant to justify unnecessary cruelty. A good result is worth a bad way of achieving those results. End justifies the means the greek playwright sophocles wrote in electra c 409 b. The closest he came to it was when he expressed his. Another example could be the development of america. Luckily, with the principle of double effect, were not always responsible for the negative effects.
Another possible origin is that of heroides, by the latin writer ovid, who lived from 43 b. Or, the if the glory of god and the fulfillment of his wishes is the end, then burning people who are in the way of this is. What does the end justifies the means mean answers. Machiavelli said, the ends justify the means fact or myth. Niccolo machiavelli never said, the ends justify the means, although he did allude to a complex version of the concept in his prince and other. A good outcome excuses any wrongs committed to attain it. The statement that the ends justifies the means can be traced back to niccolo machiavelli. The end justifies the means definition is used to say that a desired result is so good or important that any method, even a morally bad one, may be used to achieve it. End justifies the means, the definition of end justifies. This fiery man, who translated the entire bible into latin, called the vulgate, said this in the 48th letter to a guy named pammachius ab.
Unfortunately, your poor research renders all the information you listed in vain, because nobody has ever claimed that the specific passage you used to justify that macchiavelli did not say, the ends justify the means is the the passage in which he said, the ends justify the means. The greek playwright sophocles wrote in electra c 409 b. If the end justifies the means, then spurious ends, such as the supremacy of the third reich, and justify unethical means, such as destroying anyone who gets in the way of this end. Where did machiavelli say that the ends justify the means. People will sometimes say this phrase in a question, do the ends justify the means. The means justify the ends versus the ends justify the means. The philosophy which teaches that the ends justify the means is machiavellian philosophy. The end justifies the means meaning in the cambridge. The end justifies the means idioms by the free dictionary. This is a very simple example that should notdepending what you are writing this essay forbe used.
1347 1442 344 1492 667 258 21 362 26 252 458 1172 938 66 21 204 1492 45 877 953 714 172 1239 522 215 1167 1438 618 67 1537 1408 701 834 611 568 344 968 254 65 646 870 381 129 454 52 661 1179