Such interesting questions and analysis!! The signal I have started to watch for when I’m trying to decide who the good guy is: when someone tries to convince others that the end justifies the means, no matter who gets hurt along the way. If in the moment, an individual’s sovereignty or chances for happiness or even life is sacrificed for the good of an institution, I just don’t think the institution is worth it. Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe this is an over generalization?
Here is a real-life example: If my friend is mourning a betrayal by someone she trusted, but the group we’re in tells her to shut up because she is white and privileged, because what’s most is important is that she recognize that another member of the group has been oppressed by people like the one who betrayed my friend. I see that the end is a lesson in intersectionality, but the means is rejecting and ignoring the needs of a member of the group.
MLK Jr. said: “We recognize that the end is pre-existent in the means. The means represents the ideal in the end in process. And in the long run of history, destructive means cannot being about constructive ends.” I just don’t believe good will come when people are mowed over in multiple ways to reach some “noble” end.
Such interesting questions and analysis!! The signal I have started to watch for when I’m trying to decide who the good guy is: when someone tries to convince others that the end justifies the means, no matter who gets hurt along the way. If in the moment, an individual’s sovereignty or chances for happiness or even life is sacrificed for the good of an institution, I just don’t think the institution is worth it. Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe this is an over generalization?
Here is a real-life example: If my friend is mourning a betrayal by someone she trusted, but the group we’re in tells her to shut up because she is white and privileged, because what’s most is important is that she recognize that another member of the group has been oppressed by people like the one who betrayed my friend. I see that the end is a lesson in intersectionality, but the means is rejecting and ignoring the needs of a member of the group.
MLK Jr. said: “We recognize that the end is pre-existent in the means. The means represents the ideal in the end in process. And in the long run of history, destructive means cannot being about constructive ends.” I just don’t believe good will come when people are mowed over in multiple ways to reach some “noble” end.