I engaged in a debate with an old high school friend last night in which we both debated the idea about the means justifying the end. He’s an engineer, and he learned in school that, not only is there a right solution to a problem, there is a right reason for that answer and a wrong reason.
The example over which we were debating was the recent election: Many people voted, and obviously, the majority voted for Barack Obama. However, he felt that perhaps many people voted for Obama because of the significance that having an African American president will mean for this county. While that is a reason, he said, it’s not the right one. It’s not supporting the candidate for his foreign policy or his fresh outlook on politics. It’s a superficial reason to vote for this candidate.
He took the point one step further and said that it does not help in the “cause” for grassroots development, whatever cause is being championed.
On the other hand, there are an infinite number of reasons behind human motivation, all things that mean different things to different people. As an example, I cite my drug and alcohol clients. They are trying to stay sober. For whatever reason, perhaps their children or their parole officer or their health, they are trying not to use. There are a number of ways to accomplish this goal, some of them are healthy and some of them are not. That is not the point, however, the point is that they survived another night without picking up.
I would really like to know your thoughts on this, dear reader. How much does motivation matter in a person’s decision?
How much does motivation matter in a person’s decision?
The motivation is the persons answer.
Its a weird almost philosophical question. I do not see how a person can make a choice without motivation even if it is motivation they chose not to have. SO it does directly effect and basically is the answer. More importantly it is the motivation that depicts the outcome. If they do things for the 'wrong' reason or motivation then chances are things will not turn out as well or be carried forward, onward and upward. If it is the right motivation then success (long and short term) is more likely.
Lets take your addicts example. They were in fact motivated to drop the habit/abuse that is why they are recovering. The questions was will they continue to use? their answer in rehab was 'No'. If they had a good motivator they will stay clean and move on in their lives. If their motivation was bad then the change is only temporary and they will revert.
I was going to refrence back to President elect Obama and the effect you think on this motivation will have, but for the life of me I can not formulate the words into a coherent sentence.
Love is like a box of chocolates; if you chose wisely you won’t be disappointed and have to spit it out. ~T
It sounds like you are talking about when people make a choice and then have actions to take after it that will more completely affect their outcome. Or rather, the examples I presented do that.
1. Once someone votes, they're done. Not matter how they feel about their choice after the fact, (re: the candidate) there's nothing they can do about it, nor do they have to.
2. In the example with my addicts, there are choices they have after they make their decision. In fact, it's a decision they need to make over and over again. And their otivations may change over and over again. At first, it may be for their parole officer. Then for their family. Then for their jobs.
"Goodness is the only investment that never fails."
H.D.Thoreau http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/sahara
It seems to me that you're really asking 'if people make the right choice for the wrong reason, is it still the right choice?'
It's an interesting question. If one person decides to stop smoking because its bad for their health, and another stops smoking because they can no longer afford it, the benefits of not smoking anymore are present in either case. On the other hand, I don't think the end justifies the means. I don't think that people should choose a certain path for the wrong reasons... but which is worse: choosing the right path for the wrong reasons, or choosing the wrong path for the right reasons?
~C
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That's an interesting thought. What would that look like?
Perhaps a prostitute who is trying to feed her children?
I'd like to see what other people think of this idea.
"Consistency is not a human trait" - Maude, from Harold and Maude
It's interesting you use that example, turtlesuds, of prostitution. I recently read an article prostitution. If one removes the emotional and spiritual component of sex, or rather, removes that for the prostitue, we are left with the "solution" that prostitutes are providing comfort to someone.
"Goodness is the only investment that never fails."
H.D.Thoreau http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/sahara
Like a massage therapist ...maybe we should make it legal...
Love is like a box of chocolates; if you chose wisely you won’t be disappointed and have to spit it out. ~T
I though massage therapist were prostitutes I am joking. What would you do if your daughter came up to you and told you that she wants to become a prostitute because it was legal and paid really well would you be okay with that.
"Something given has no value"~Robert Heinlein
"Having been poor is no shame, but being ashamed of it, is." Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richards Almanack, 1749
of thought and staring at the screen, I would tell her to go to college first then we will talk about it!
Love is like a box of chocolates; if you chose wisely you won’t be disappointed and have to spit it out. ~T
I would be hanging my head crying wondering why I was such a screwed up mother.
But I don't think that's gonna happen because I'm an awesome mother, and my husband is an awesome father.
"Consistency is not a human trait" - Maude, from Harold and Maude
Is it possible to choose the wrong path for the right reasons? I would think that simply having the reasons would almost "purify" the path, the choice. Even if the consequences of the choice are bad, it was still "right."
Conversely, using that logic, choosing the right path for the wrong reasons is inherently "not right" because the reasons are bad, even if the result is "pure," right.
"Goodness is the only investment that never fails."
H.D.Thoreau http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/sahara
I suppose it depends on the path. For instance, killing someone with the reasoning of saving another life may be the wrong path, but chosen for the right reasons. The right path may be saving both the lives. Of course, it's often only after the fact that we can identify the 'wrong' path vs. the 'right' path. So, looking back on it, someone may condemn a person for choosing the wrong path (for the consequences), even if they had the right reasons.
Interestingly enough, one of my LJ friends just brought up a similar discussion about Cain and Abel. I'll have to read it when I'm less tired to get the gist of it :)
~C
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"Is it possible to choose the wrong path for the right reasons?"
Prohibition of Alcohol in the 20s,
Giving welfare to the poor only if fathers were not present in the home,
Establishing communist governments to help the 'working class',
Stopping communist aggression in Vietnam...
Almost all of the most wrong headed and destructive things had the best intentions. Most of them still have followers that believe in the original 'good reasons' despite the horrible outcomes.
"Believe those who are seeking the truth; doubt those who find it."
--Andre Gide
I love Andre Gide! "Straight Is the Gate," is my favorite.
"Consistency is not a human trait" - Maude, from Harold and Maude
The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
[1855 H. G. Bohn Hand-Book of Proverbs 514]
Or better yet
‘They say, “The road to ruin is paved with good intentions.”‥and you keep making potholes.’
[2001 Washington Times 5 Dec. D8 (Herb & Jamaal comic strip)]
There are very few human beings who receive the truth, complete and staggering, by instant illumination. Most of them acquire it fragment by fragment, on a small scale, by successive developments, cellularly, like a laborious mosaic.~- Anais Nin
http://www.answers.com/topic/list-of-english-proverbs