“The end justifies the means”: the origin, meaning of the phrase, examples from life, history, literature

If you need to write an essay on the topic “The end justifies the means”, then read the article. It has arguments, examples from life, literature and history.

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We often use phrases that everyone has to be in our speech, and we don’t even think about where they came from and what is their meaning. If you need to write an essay or essay, then examples from life or literature will be needed. To find them yourself, you need to re -read many books. But we will help, with the help of this article, you will write the story quickly and without difficulty.

Read in another article on our website about the origin of the phrase "Who is well done? I'm fine fellow!". You will find out where this phrase comes from, what source and where you can hear.

For example, the meaning of the phrase is described below "End justifies the means". You will find arguments, examples, and also learn about the origin of the phrase. Read further.

What is the origin of the phrase "the end justifies the means": the choice of the goal

The author of the statement "End justifies the means" often call Niccolo Machiavelli. However, in his creation "Sovereign" The phrase is not completely used. There are only references to this winged expression. According to other sources, for the first time used the expression Ignatius de Loyola.

Today it is impossible to accurately determine the creator and the origin of the phrase. In the future, expression was used by other theologians, prose writers and philosophers:

Antonio Escobar-i-Mendoz-"Book of moral theology"
English philosopher-materialist Thomas Hobbes - "About a citizen"
German theologian German Buzenbaum — "Fundamentals of moral theology" and etc.

From the point of view of philosophy, the moral choice (including the choice of the goal) is a kind of self -determination of the personality in terms of principles, judgments and actions. Representatives of some schools believed that a person is able to choose only actions as a means of achieving the highest goal.

However, a developed personality can set himself the goals: global and domestic (everyday). That is why it is important to measure your intentions with the means that are used to implement them. In the process of determining the resonation and rationality of his choice, the personality shows his best character traits and features of thinking.

The goal should justify funds.
This theory is relevant for both intangible impulses and for the business sphere.
The efforts and methods that are spent by a person to achieve the goal should not be more global and significant than the ultimate goal itself.
Quite often, the result of achieving the correctly chosen goal is the increase in something.
But Ignatius de Loyola, on the contrary, brings some religious interpretation. He argued that if the goal is implied by the salvation of the soul, then the goal always justifies the means.
Otherwise, the so -called “Pyrrhic victory” may occur - that is, the goal will be achieved too expensive at a cost, a certain imbalance will occur.

“At the exit”, the cost of any triumph should be much higher than the victory incurred. If, upon reaching the goal, a person loses more than he finds, such a goal cannot be called rational and true. However, everyone has freedom of choice - even if, from the point of view of society, he makes a mistake.

"The end justifies the means": the meaning of the phrase

In this case, we are talking about the rationality of the goal. It means that the advantages that a person can get if the goal should be more significant than the losses that the individual can incur in the process of ascent to the top. Another meaning of the phrase:

Phrase "End justifies the means" It hints that obvious reasons always lead to the expected investigation. However, implicit reasons can only work in separate situations.
Another meaning of the phrase: "Achieving the goal at all costs". This is evidenced by the word "justifies." In other words, a person can lose something important. After all, having achieved the goal, he will receive something much more.
This is a fairly true principle. It is impossible to come to a high goal, having lost anything along the way. The main thing is that the risk is justified. And the price of victory was higher than the cost of the defeat.

Very often, in order to ascend to Olympus, a person makes peculiar sacrifices: investment, effort, time. That is why, it is extremely important that when he came to his goal, he did not regret that he had sacrificed something and risk it. Synonyms of expression:

"The game is worth the candle"
"In war, all means are good"

Phrases with the opposite meaning:

"Short -on -sheepskin is not worth it"
"It is not worth it"
"There is no need and stain your hands"

With the origin and meaning of the phrase, we figured out, now you can write an essay or an essay. Read further.

Essay on social studies on the topic "The end justifies the means"

In social studies at school, in high school, they often ask to write an essay. If the student loves to philosophize, then composing a story will be simple. If not, then we will help. Here are an essay on social studies on the topic "End justifies the means":

Machiavelli affects the problem of goal -setting, very relevant in the context of the moral crisis of society. The thinker claims: for the sake of their goal, people sometimes unrescurpted. But can everyone be sacrificed? Will there be reasonable victims?

In general, the adoption or failure of this position depends on the situation. Sometimes a person should really put everything on a con, in order to achieve the desired. On the other hand, there are things that should never be “letting in the wind” - even for the sake of a great victory.

Often this category includes moral principles and norms. It’s much better to achieve what is desired, without staining your conscience, not having lost your honor, than to come to the top with the complete realization that the immortal soul was ruined, and all living and human was lost.

But the “deal with conscience” is also a rather abstract concept. After all, each person has his own understanding of “decency” and honesty. Therefore, everyone decides how much it is possible to “sink” in order to, in the end, achieve the highest goal.

The goal, in this case, is what a person strives for. As for the funds, these are the actions that the person takes in order to achieve the desired. It is important that the material good and ultimate goal are proportionate to the degree of ethical means of its achievement. Otherwise, the individual does not reach a great goal - but only destroys himself, exchanging for trifles.

The goal should always be more significant, higher than the ways to achieve it. It is important that coming to the triumph, the person feels that his conscience is pure, that his moral appearance was not injured, and that such a victory can be proud of. If the goal does not justify the means, then achieving it in all possible ways is a very shameful phenomenon.

Working on literature on the topic “The end justifies the means”: Example

Here is another example of an essay, but already in literature. Topic "End justifies the means" Very interesting and it can be developed into a long story. But we will write a small composition for which you will definitely receive the highest rating from the teacher. This is what a story on this topic can be written:

Since childhood, each of us is acutely facing the problem of choosing. Often it borders on morality. The simplest examples can be traced even in immature, naive acts. Tear out a page with a deuce from the diary or admit to parents that you have not prepared for the lesson? - Perhaps this is one of the simplest examples of moral choice.

In the future, the option - “Make a deal with a conscience, but achieve a goal, or come to it later, but clean from a moral point of view”, He stands in front of a person even more acutely. Over the years, the person sets himself more and more significant, high goals and develops ways to achieve them. However, it is very important that the price of victory is higher than the value of the victims that were spent on it, and there would also be no transaction with conscience and own moral principles.

Of course, in life there are times when you can and should be risky. But there are things that cannot be neglected. Otherwise, a person will lose himself, he will depreciate from a moral point of view. Another choice: “Get rich, but at the same time betray the friendship of childhood, or, to abandon this goal in favor of preserving your moral appearance?” The choice is exclusively for the person himself. It is he who decides whether the target justifies the means in this case.

In the 21st century, it is quite fashionable to go to your goals, no matter what. On the one hand, this is good quality. But on the other hand, it is precisely the morality of a person. For the sake of enrichment or glory, many sacrifice their principles, and then they experience the torment of conscience. Sometimes it is not clear what is better: to remain decent, but unrecognized, or, to receive power, money and fame, but at the same time to be known as a scoundrel and a traitor.

Often people choose the second. But only if their concepts of morality allow this. Even in our time, there are many personalities for which "the game is not worth the candle." After all, having betrayed someone, having acted unworthy, honest people will still suffer and the victory will not seem so sweet to them.

The justification of the goal of funds, in fact, is determined by the attitude of the personality itself and society to this problem. If, according to universal beliefs, a person came to the heights, retaining the purity of the soul and thoughts, if he retained his face, then such a goal can be considered reasonable and standing.

"The end justifies the means": Examples from life

In any essay or essay, you can use examples from life. They help convey the main idea what a person wanted to write about. On this topic "End justifies the means" You can write the following:

Example 1:

Peter was not from a wealthy family. In order to enter the best university of the country on the budget, he had to prepare hard and temporarily refuse to participate in the school musical group and judo training. For days, Petya was sitting at the textbooks. Sometimes, from despair, it seemed to him that he was doing wrong, that the game was not worth the candle. But when he became a student, he went to an increased scholarship, and realized that the end was justified. After the first two courses, when studying was not so tired, Petya resumed his classes with music and sports. Therefore, he almost lost nothing. But he managed to become a student at a prestigious university.

Example 2:

Oksana met with Pasha for 5 years. After graduation, they dreamed of getting married. But then Oksana found a cousin from Australia. He invited the girl to move abroad and continue her studies at a European university. She wanted to go with Pasha, but the relative said that he could pay for travel and further accommodation abroad only to one of them. Oksana thought, and decided to break with her beloved for the sake of a successful future. But after more than a dozen years, already being a citizen of Australia, Oksana has stained herself for this choice. As it turned out, the goal did not justify the means. Not only, instead of a prestigious company, Oksana continued to work as a cleaner. She never met the love of her life abroad.

Example 3:

Misha was the best player of the amateur football team. But later he was noticed by the coach of the famous club and offered to go to his team for a rather large fee. At first, Misha was worried about how comrades would react to this. He was afraid that he would be called a traitor. But when he explained the situation and said that he was not striving for fame. The guy needs money because his mother is seriously ill. Friends themselves told Misha that the end justifies the funds. Therefore, they will not be offended if he goes to the Premier League and will make decently there.

Every person can cite such examples, and a lot. Therefore, use these or, if you remember something of your own, then describe in detail. It will turn out an interesting essay.

"The end justifies the means": examples from history

If in the essay on the topic "End justifies the means", you will give examples from history, you will get a story that will be written “excellent”. Here's what you can write:

The expression is confirmed by many historical examples. AT 16th century In order to propagate the sacred struggle, many members of the Jesuit organization were exempted from all moral doctrines, and were liable only for the interests of the order. Such people did not have any moral barriers.

But not at all because they were low personalities. Simply, in this case, the goal was higher than the moral appearance. The leadership deliberately removed all moral obligations from the participants so that they could accomplish their plan. Deceptions, blackmail, murder - all this was not considered shameful. The main thing was to fulfill your mission given by the order.

Another example of a goal justifying the means is the great commander, A.V. Suvorov. From the young age, he was so poor in health that no one prophesied him the position of commander. But Suvorov set himself a great goal, to which he went on by any means. He tempered, led an ascetic lifestyle. As a result, the body is used to it and stronger, and Suvorov himself became a great person who remained forever in history.

"The end justifies the means": examples from literature, arguments

If you are preparing for the final essay or for the exam, then you will need on the topic “The end justifies the means” - examples from literature or arguments. Here's what you can write:

An example of a situation when the goal does not justify the means, we can consider prince Igor from "Words about Igor's regiment". On the one hand, he had good intentions - to stop murders and robberies, to protect the land from the Polovtsy. But this added a thirst for glory to this. As a result, the prince acted recklessly. His actions could not be justified by a great mission. It is desire Igor "Heroit", as a result, destroyed the whole army. As you can see, the prince chose incorrect means to achieve the goal. He should pay all attention to the salvation of the people, and not to amuse his ego.

Another literary example - Prostakova From comedy D.I. Fonvizin "Undergrowth". She wanted to provide everyone with her beloved Mitrofanushka. But she defended her son exclusively through lies and tyranny: she humiliated the servants, hired fake teachers. Everything so that the son does not have to hit a finger on a finger. The goal did not justify the means: not only did Mitrofan He grew up unconvided to life, lazy and spoiled, he also turned away from his mother.

And finally Chatsky in "Woe from the mind" of Griboedov - The young man sought to fight the Famus society. He expressed his progressive ideas. But no one could share them. All because people were simply not ready. On the way to the good goal of Chatsky, they began to consider at first an eccentric, and then - crazy. He shunned. The trouble of this “speaker” is not only that he chose a bad goal. He did not think about the methods of its implementation. It is necessary to correlate the goal and means. Not all human ideas can be perceived with enthusiasm.

Conclusions on the topic: "The end justifies the means"

What an essay without a result. Here's what you can write in the “Conclusions” paragraph on the topic "End justifies the means":

It is believed that you need to go to a great goal by any means. This is partly true. However, it is necessary, nevertheless, to analyze the goal and means of its achievement. This will allow you not to tarnish his conscience and honor, as well as to achieve the victory that a person himself will later recall with pride.

Moreover, if a person selects incorrect means to achieve the goal, he will not correct, but only exacerbate the already deplorable situation. Correctly selected actions will bring a great goal. They should be good for both personality and humanity.