Thursday, January 26, 2012

Philosophy of Code Geass: Do the ends justify the means?


It depends on the situation. Lets just say that you lie to a child to keep them safe, than the end justify the means. For example, my mother told my 2 year old brother that a monster lives in the attic so he wouldn’t go up there. True, she did the immoral thing and lied, but she had a good reason- keeping her child safe. There have been many cases of children going up into the attic and getting hurt.
            A time when the ends do not justify the means is revenge killing. Instead of settling things in a courtroom someone goes and kills the perpetrator because he doesn’t believe that the justice system doled out adequate punishment or loses control.
            The ties to Code Geass: Was Suzaku right in trying to bring peace by working within the system or was Lelouch way of terrorism the better course? I’m not condoning terrorism but Leouch way allowed him to change the world without being bogged down by rules, regulations, and procedures. It’s also a much faster way but that doesn’t change the fact that terrorism, no matter what the purpose, is immoral.
            That brings into question whether the Revolutionary War was the work of colonial terrorist? Let’s face it, the Boston Tea Party, The Declaration of Independence, and the many battles fought were all acts of terrorism but we still glorify it, making stories, movies, documentaries, statues, and even college courses solely based on the Revolutionary War.
            This begs the question, if freedom is the end, are causing public disturbances (eps. 4 The Orange Incident), killing solders and causing emotional harm to there families (eps. 13 Shirley and her Father), killing innocent people (eps. 23 Euphy), and assassinations (eps. 2 Clovis) justified? True, it created a better world with no oppression, but was the ends justified by the means?



4 comments:

  1. Your topic is fascinating, and I love how you related it to both anime and several important events in American history. Not only that, but the topic is wonderful, and of course there is not simple yes or not answer. However, I don't hear enough of your voice in the argument that you make. When do the ends justify the means, and when do they not? Is there some kind of boundary between "revenge killing" and some other justifiable act of violence? Maybe there isn't a definite line at all.

    PS: I ttly <3 Code Geass :D

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  2. I'll be honest if it wasn't for the first portion of your post, I would not have understood anything that you have said. Although I did like the way you tied in your personal experience to the post. I think that a more in depth assesment of your morals about justifiable means would do wonders for your continuing blogs.

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  3. Do the ends justify the means? As you said in your post, I agree that it really does depend on the situation. Although I find it hard to justify violence, is it right to hurt someone else to save others? Since I have never seen Code Geass, it is hard to form a clear opinion on all the examples you have given from the episodes. It would be very helpful to include clips from the episodes you are referencing. I am going to guess in an anime like Code Geass, there is a clear-cut bad guy and therefore using underhanded means to defeat him are justifiable.

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    Replies
    1. Watch it. There is a bad guy but the hero of the story, Lelouch isn't much of a hero because he uses underhand tactics that are questionable like lying, killing, and even betraying his allies.

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