Kings, castles, and kingdoms, along with ammunition, are all means functioning. War itself is 100% means justifying the ends functioning, and the means in this situation should not justify the ends. Just because Russia and Putin (who needs to be brought to the hospital) can invade and destroy Ukraine does not mean they should. The sustainable striving holistic ends are supposed to justify the means. Therefore, just like most wars, the war in Ukraine is a complete disaster and definitely not justified for the people of Ukraine because of means functioning. War itself is not holistic, nor is it sustainable striving. Therefore, the problem with war itself and the presence of kings’ castles and kingdoms may be the problem of means justifying the ends, just as it is with ICE in the United States. In fact, we live in a world of means functioning, and it’s destroying our planet and our people. We should live in a world of holistic, sustainable, striving ends functioning. The ends should justify the means.
My reflections are increasingly drawn to a fundamental philosophical challenge confronting our global society: the pervasive tendency toward what might be termed “means-driven functioning.” This paradigm dictates that processes and instruments, whether they be historical structures of power and control or the mechanisms of modern conflict, often become ends in themselves, overshadowing their intended purpose and ethical implications.
Consider the instruments of war, from ancient sagecraft (skill in writing) to contemporary armaments. They exist as prime examples of means that, when unmoored from justifiable, holistic objectives, lead to catastrophic outcomes. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine starkly illustrates this tragedy. Here, the brutal machinery of warfare operates in a manner that fundamentally undermines any notion of sustainable progress or genuine holistic well-being for the affected populace and beyond. War, by its very nature, is antithetical to comprehensive thriving and long-term stability, consistently sacrificing human potential and environmental integrity for immediate, often destructive, pursuits.
This problematic reliance on means, where short-sighted implementation trumps ethical considerations, extends beyond military engagements. We observe its manifestations across various societal structures and policy implementations, where efficiency or control is prioritized through methods that ultimately harm individuals, our natural environment, and our shared planet. The current global trajectory, heavily influenced by these destructive “means-driven” approaches, is visibly eroding both our natural ecosystems and the very fabric of human civilization.
I firmly advocate for a shift towards an “ends-driven paradigm.” This philosophy posits that truly holistic, sustainable, and progressively striving objectives must serve as the foundational bedrock, guiding and ultimately justifying the methods we employ. It is a vision where our actions are deliberately chosen to achieve greater, enduringly beneficial outcomes for all of humanity and our planetary home. Only by embracing this profound shift—by allowing our noblest aspirations to define our chosen path—can we hope to navigate towards a future characterized by genuine peace, shared prosperity, and ecological harmony.
Richard Thomas Simmons