TOPIC: ISSUE212 - "If a goal is worthy, then any means taken to attain it is justifiable."
WORDS: 555 TIME: 00:45:00 DATE: 2008-8-2 13:16:05
The speaker seems to be an extremist by contending that any means taken to attain a goal that is worthy is justifiable. I agree insofar as goals can be attained by any means within the limit of laws and moral. And the exact definitions of the words "worthy"，"justifiable" need to be discussed cautiously.
First, what kind of goals is worthy? What kinds of means taken to attain a goal is justifiable? The definition of the two words is relatively different due to different understanding of them according to individual standards. Some people may take it for granted that in order to get a job one has to tell lies to some extent while others consider one should be honest and frank when he/she is hunting a job. Another example is the test-tube baby which is still controversial. For couples who want to have a baby of themselves it is justifiable to use any method useful including the way of "test-tube baby". However, in other people's views, this method contradicts with traditional ethical and moral standards and should be forbidden. An even simpler example can also demonstrate this point. Gambling is a way of gathering personal wealth ，but many people consider this way is unjustifiable while others take it very easy. Because of the problem discussed above it is not an easy thing to make comments on this issue.
Second, no matter what kind of goals one want to pursue, there is a definite thing that the goals and the means taken to attain them must be under the confinement of laws and human's conscience. Attaining a goal by sacrificing the interests of other people is a kind of shameful behaviors. Conversely, those goals contributing greatly to human society should be encouraged. For example, without Martin Luther King's fighting for the freedom and equality of African-American people would have no chance of enjoying such a democratic society in
By contrary, obtaining personal goals by sacrificing the interests of other peoples can cause detriments to the society. These kinds of goals, even if is worthy in his/her opinion, is meaningless and will not be obtained ultimately.
During World War Two, Hitler, the leader of the German army, attempted to dominate the whole world by starting such a war and he commit a catastrophe by slaughtering thousands of Jews. And of course he got nothing but failing and chastisement of death. This example illustrates that goals must not contradict with the existing laws and human's conscience and no one can expect a good result by sacrificing the interests of others to get what he/she wants.
