Ends justifies the means vs the Means is only what matters

[charlie cho]

Two types of leaders exist. Most people seem to be divided by the two. One is "the ends justify the means" while other leaders like to say "Means are only what matters, not the ends". The former creates great economies, less poverty, effective political systems, gets shit done. The latter might not create great economies, may experience more setbacks, maybe the people may experience some poverty at times, but people will love him, loyalty will prevail a little more, there will be more harmony between the people, subordinates will not feel too much fear from the leader, people will not be intrenched in fear of angering the leader... etc. 

Historically, both of these qualities I have written above represented great leaders. This debate still goes on since ancient literature to modern ones. 

For example, a manga called "Death Note" talks about this. Two main characters fight on this notion "do good people have the right to commit evil to murderous people?"  One student called Light Yagami uses a notebook stolen from the Gods of Death to kill any rapists, frauds, debauched politicians, violent people to kill them with one pen stroke of their names on a notebook. Since the birth of this Killer, debauchery and evil significantly drops in the country and villainous people (except for the student) stop themselves from committing evil for the fear of the anonymous killer. L (the antagonist) stands by this statement opposing Light Yagami, "Whatever the reason may be, murder is always wrong." As a detective, he decides to find the anonymous  killer of "justice" risking his life, because he doesn't believe this killer is at all "just". 

Another example is from ancient literature called "The Three Kingdoms". One warlord is talented, gifted, charismatic, strategic while the other character that is the protagonist is more pious, noble, kind, not that strategic or gifted but loving towards his subordinates, sometimes loosens effective results to make people happy, but he loses in war many times (almost all the time), people love him, and he is famed for his nobleness. Many today still debate who is the better leader and the two are divided mainly by these two ideologies: the ends justify the means vs the means are what only matters. The story is somewhat fictionized but the main debate of the fight was most likely true. 

Currently, I do not advocate one or the other. The former creates results fast but will be cruel and unjust sometimes. The latter will create results very slow and be even hazardous for its ineffectiveness sometimes, but it won't be so cruel or unjust most of the time. I don't agree when people hate on the quote "the ends justifies the means" because this holds true for many instances.  

Edited September 2, 2021 by charlie cho