Does the end justify the means?

[Doubt]

Does the end justify the means?

http://radicalacademy.com/adlerendsmeans.htm

From Mortimer J. Adler


You cannot use bad means for a good end any more than you can build a good house out of bad materials.


I went looking for this because of Win’s actions regarding the moderation of the board.

Based on what Adler wrote, I have to wonder what role the probability of a given outcome plays in justifying a given course of action. (The issue of the means being good or bad is not vital to the discussion of probability.)

1.) Can an action be justified if the probability of a favorable outcome is small?
2.) What if the odds are even between two or more choices?
3.) What if the probability is less than 0.5 but greater than all other individual alternatives?
4.) What if the probability is large but far less than certain? (0.75 probability of success, for a working number.)

This may lead to a poll over in banter. This is intended to discuss the larger concept for now, not the specifics of Win’s request for the mods to quit. If you care to cite an example, please do not use the current issue on this board since that will most likely derail the thread.

[Hegel]

George Bernard Shaw

The road to hell is paved with good intentions.


I fell that as good as your intentions may be, you are almost certain to get off track. After all Hitler thought that he was doing good, however I'm sure a great deal of us would tend to disagree.

[Skeptical Greg]

I would say the means never justifies the end.

I would be interested in someone presenting a contrary example.

[c4ts]

Sure you can use the ends to justify the means. But all it takes is one error and you're f*cked.