Solved Ethics Papers → CSE - 2018

Q4(b). Importance of Means or End

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. (150 words) 10
 
Answer
Some people believe that end justifies the means. However, many wise people don’t agree. Mahatma Gandhi once said, ‘“Means are, after all, means.” I would say, “Means are, after all, everything”. As is the means, so is the end.’
 
In my view, means are as important as the end. If good ends are achieved by evil means, they can’t last long. It is often easy for public servants to produce quick results through wrong means like curbing crimes by performing false encounters of criminals. However, such actions often backfire. If it is proven that an encounter was false, the involved police officers may be arrested and dismissed from service. This also leads to increase in criminal activities as criminals get hardened. Moreover, people lose faith in police and they refuse to believe them even when they are doing the right things.
 
The right means are thus of paramount importance to achieve the desired end by following the due process of law. (161 words)
 
Q4(b). Importance of Means or End
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