Idea
The Pun Tyrant
Not quite. One has to keep in mind that if someone (and I mean a real person not a character in some movie) states that the ends justify the means, that means then they are aiming at something that is irrefutably of greater value. In your example, dethroning the person using such means would be justifiable only if that person was likely to continue their mass genocide.WanderingJester said:@Idea Huh, interesting that you would agree to the statement under any and all circumstances. So (without trying to attack you at all, just trying to provide an understanding for myself about your choice), it would be justifiable for someone to commit an atrocity, such as genocide, if by doing so that person dethrones a ruler who has committed many more atrocities himself during his reign?
@kokochii That's fair, I'm of the thought that the statement's never acceptable under any circumstances. I believe that there are many quotes for it (e.g. “Beware that, when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster... for when you gaze long into the abyss. The abyss gazes also into you.” ) but my personal favorite comes from everyone's #1 white haired wolf school witcher gwent card:
"If that's what it takes to save the world, it's better to let that world die."
Guess I'm just old fashion I supposed *shrug*
A famous example is the launch of the atomic bomb. What was known was, they would be killing thousands, millions of innocents with that bomb. But if the war went on, even more lives would be wasted.
The thought associated with the expression "the ends justify the means" is that if there is an action you have the opportunity to do and don`t do it, it`s the same as doing it`s opposite. In the given example, not creating a mass genocide would, in fact, mean you allowed an even greater one to happen.
I hope he comes out of it though. Depression sucks; I know from first hand experience. :/
