Means and Ends

In discussions of moral philosophy, the notion of means manage to work their way into many discussions.

A hot debate, for instance, is whether or not the ends justify the means. (They don't, by the way.) Another example is that it is wrong to consider another person as a mere means to your own ends, and rather should be treated as an end unto themselves.

I'm going to raise the bar. While pursuing the greatest good, there is no action that is merely a means to another end.

This may at first sound quite queer. Of course there are means. A means is no more than a method, a path way, a step (or many steps) between intention and completion. Without means at all... why then, how could be act strategically at all?

It is not my intention to be rid of step by step processes or rational action. Far from it. One of the ways all good will come to pass is by very strategic action on our part and it will be part of a very long process. Rather, I encourage you to not see any of your actions as simply a means. Each action, in that it is an expression of a moment of now (which is the present culmination of being) is in itself an end. At every moment, even if that action is also in service of another end, is an end unto itself.

I encourage you to see your actions in this way by adopting behavioral ends, which is to say, to see your behavior as something that is a thing of value, and that a particular action is worth striving for.

Lets take a practical scenario. Sure, you drive your car to work... so that you can get to work. But the driving of your car should also be an expression of what you want the world to be. This means that you use your car to communicate respect to the people around you, that you would drive a car (and in such a way) to reduce your environmental impact, and that should driving the car become something other than what you wanted your behavioral end to be... you would stop and seek another means that would better manifest your goodness.

No action is below having significance, and no moment here on earth need be wasted solely for the sake of another.