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nightblade354
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Joined: 31 Jul 2017
Last visit: 10 May 2026
Posts: 1,769
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Status:He came. He saw. He conquered. -- Going to Business School -- Corruptus in Extremis
Location: United States (MA)
Concentration: Finance, Economics
Schools: Darden '25 (M)
Expert reply
16 May 2019, 05:44
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Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
95%
(hard)
Question Stats:
49% (02:27) correct
51%
(02:19)
wrong
based on 419
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The end of an action is the intended outcome of the action and not a mere by-product of the action, and the end’s value is thus the only reason for the action. So while it is true that not every end’s value will justify any means, and even, perhaps, that there is no end whose value will justify every means, it is clear that nothing will justify a means except an end’s value.
Which one of the following most accurately expresses the main conclusion of the argument?
(A) The value of some ends may justify any means
(B) One can always justify a given action by appeal to the value of its intended outcome
(C) One can justify an action only by appeal to the value of its intended outcome
(D) Only the value of the by-products of an action can justify that action
(E) Nothing can justify the intended outcome of an action except the value of that action’s actual outcomes
Which one of the following most accurately expresses the main conclusion of the argument?
(A) The value of some ends may justify any means
(B) One can always justify a given action by appeal to the value of its intended outcome
(C) One can justify an action only by appeal to the value of its intended outcome
(D) Only the value of the by-products of an action can justify that action
(E) Nothing can justify the intended outcome of an action except the value of that action’s actual outcomes
18 May 2019, 04:59
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nightblade354
Which one of the following most accurately expresses the main conclusion of the argument?
Working through this blind review method and got this wrong both times... but will take a shot at thought process.
The facts state:
end of action = intended outcome (NOT by-product)
end's value = reason to act
The portion that still confuses me is the "while it is true.....", which says:
not every end's value justifies any action
no end value justifies every action
The Machiavellian conclusion states:
end's value justifies means (or action).
(A) The value of some ends may justify any means
Says "some ends"; main conclusion is more forceful about expressing that end's value justifies all means. (A) is more like a repeat of the "while it is true..." section.
(B) One can always justify a given action by appeal to the value of its intended outcome
Was a big toss between (B) and (C) when I was doing this timed, which vary only by a few words. However, taking the "always" into consideration...the first portion of this answer goes against the "while it is true that not every end's value justifies any action." The argument knows that one CANNOT ALWAYS justify an action in this way.
(C) One can justify an action only by appeal to the value of its intended outcome
Final answer after eliminating the rest of these very confusing arguments.
(D) Only the value of the by-products of an action can justify that action
This is not what the conclusion states. It's also false based on the facts/premise that it's the END of an action, not the by-product.
(E) Nothing can justify the intended outcome of an action except the value of that action’s actual outcomes
Should be "nothing can justify an action/means" not "intended outcome", which means something difference. "Actual" seemed off here....since it wasn't mentioned. Passage was more focused on action's intended outcome than actual.
06 May 2024, 07:59
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Understanding the argument -
The end of an action is the intended outcome of the action and not a mere by-product of the action, and the end’s value is thus the only reason for the action. Premise.
So while it is true that not every end’s value will justify any means, and even, perhaps, that there is no end whose value will justify every means, it is clear that nothing will justify a means except an end’s value. - Again, we highlight the importance of the end value.
Which one of the following most accurately expresses the main conclusion of the argument?
(A) The value of some ends may justify any means - Opposite.
(B) One can always justify a given action by appeal to the value of its intended outcome - Opposite.
(C) One can justify an action only by appeal to the value of its intended outcome - ok. The intended outcome is the "end."
(D) Only the value of the by-products of an action can justify that action - opposite.
(E) Nothing can justify the intended outcome of an action except the value of that action’s actual outcomes - It means nothing can justify the end except the end. Distortion.
The end of an action is the intended outcome of the action and not a mere by-product of the action, and the end’s value is thus the only reason for the action. Premise.
So while it is true that not every end’s value will justify any means, and even, perhaps, that there is no end whose value will justify every means, it is clear that nothing will justify a means except an end’s value. - Again, we highlight the importance of the end value.
Which one of the following most accurately expresses the main conclusion of the argument?
(A) The value of some ends may justify any means - Opposite.
(B) One can always justify a given action by appeal to the value of its intended outcome - Opposite.
(C) One can justify an action only by appeal to the value of its intended outcome - ok. The intended outcome is the "end."
(D) Only the value of the by-products of an action can justify that action - opposite.
(E) Nothing can justify the intended outcome of an action except the value of that action’s actual outcomes - It means nothing can justify the end except the end. Distortion.
