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Mar 25th, 2025
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Joined: Nov 2001
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Lord Acton Quote of the Week: “Political atheism: End justifies the means. This is still the most widespread of all the opinions inimical to liberty.”
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Joined: Nov 2001
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If the end does not justify the means, what does?
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Joined: Jul 2002
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Za myr z'wysot ... Member
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Za myr z'wysot ... Member
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CDL,
While I might be inclined to agree that believing "the end justifies the means" is equivalent to political atheism, and that such belief is inimical to liberty, I should be more interested in Lord Acton's explanation of why these things are so, than simply to hear the affirmation.
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Joined: Mar 2010
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I say the means are justified by our Christian beliefs. There are many "Ends" that don't justify the "Means"
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Joined: Jul 2002
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Za myr z'wysot ... Member
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Za myr z'wysot ... Member
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Scotty,
The expression, "the end justifies the means," always implies an end that is indisputably noble and praiseworthy, which is pursued using means that are considerably less noble and praiseworthy.
Theoretically, Christians are always to reject such a notion, but does this mean we cannot go to war against Hitler?
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Joined: Mar 2010
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The expression can refer to doing anything whatsoever that is required to get the result you want, regardless of the methods used.
I think the just war doctrine allows the use of violence vs Hitler.
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That would be nice if there was such a thing as "Just War Doctrine" in Eastern Christianity. That aside, there are more than a few adherents of "non-consequentialist ethics" who believe that, even if going to war against Hitler was permissible under Just War Doctrine, the manner in which the Allies fought World War II was an explicit violation of Just War Doctrine. When pressed on how the Allies could have won the war while waging it in accordance with Just War doctrine (as they understand it), such people usually beg off, saying its beyond their competence.
Just so.
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Joined: Nov 2001
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“Socialism easily accepts despotism. It requires the strongest execution of power -- power sufficient to interfere with property.”
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Joined: Jul 2002
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Za myr z'wysot ... Member
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Za myr z'wysot ... Member
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... there are more than a few adherents of "non-consequentialist ethics" who believe that, even if going to war against Hitler was permissible under Just War Doctrine, the manner in which the Allies fought World War II was an explicit violation of Just War Doctrine ... That's the trouble with a "just" war: once the fighting starts, it's hard to remember about the "just" part ...
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"Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.”
John Wooden
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