Socrates Exchange: Is it ever right to do what is wrong?
By Laura Knoy on Thursday, May 27, 2010.
Do the ends ever justify the means? Assuming, for example, that lying, torturing, stealing, and murder are wrong, are such actions justified in rare instances in order to avoid some terrible consequence, or to achieve some great good? If so, how far does this go? Are all actions potentially justified, so long as the benefit is sufficiently great? Or are some actions so horrible that they are never justified, no matter what the consequences? What makes actions right or wrong in the first place-the consequences, or something else?

GUEST

Max Latona, Associate Professor of Philosophy at St. Anselm College

Write a response to the question: Is it ever right to do what is wrong? Write and save your response on Google Docs. Proofread your response out loud in your head. Be prepared to get Socratic on Thursday, May 27 at 9:00 a.m.