The Greater Good?

In the first week of class we briefly touched on what we refer to as 'the greater good', the term we use as the justification for 'the ends that justify the means'. We often argue that compromises can be made, so long as the end result is better than what would have resulted had we not compromised. In class it was suggested that Batman does this, and while he may sacrifice a lot in pursuit of the greater good, as I discussed last post there is one law he will never break. Let's look at what several other sources have to say about this matter:

In Marvel's recent relaunch of its classic team of the Avengers in Ultimate Avengers #1 and 2 there is a surprising revelation at the very beginning. (Spoiler Alert) The Red Skull, Captain America's arch nemesis (look for him in the upcoming movie, I'm sure he'll be there) is revealed to be the son of the very patriotic hero himself.

In the second issue of this series the origins of the Red Skull are discussed in greater detail. When Captain America was believed dead, his fiancee was essentially forced by the government agency who created him to give the child up for adoption. They claimed to have found a loving 'All-American' family who would raise the child as their own. However, in reality the government, seeking to replicate the success of the super soldier program that created Captain America, takes the child to a government facility where he is essentially used as a lab rat and raised as a soldier. The child is pushed to the limit, treated like a prisoner and a test subject, undergoing inhumane treatment that would not be tolerated by the law. The government allows all of this in the name of the greater good. They reason that their treatment of this child is justified in creating a weapon that can protect the United States.

There is obviously a lesson to the contrary involved when the young boy turns on the scientists who raised him. He murders the entire staff of the facility (a staggering 247 people) and becomes the Red Skull (pictured at the beginning of the post). By their harsh mistreatment of the child in the name of the greater good, those in charge were responsible for the deaths of all those people, along with the countless others the villain has killed.

This reminds me of a scene from the most excellent movie Hot Fuzz (it is actually relevant to the overall point of the movie, but the specific scene I am thinking of, where the town justifies their actions can be viewed here). This scene (spoiler alert again) comes near the climax of the movie, where the main character, Sgt. Angel finds out that the town he works in is killing off any criminals in order to lower the crime rate so that they can win the 'best village' award. It's all for 'the greater good' (the greater good). It's a bit of a ridiculous exaggeration to see the concept stretched so much, but that seems to be a commentary on how ridiculous the idea of compromise is.

A far more serious look at this topic, one that more obviously answers the question at hand, can be seen in the character of Rorschach from the Watchmen graphic novel and movie. This character, at the end of the story is presented with the choice of allowing thousands of deaths in order to potentially save the entire world. While all the rest of the heroes are willing to lie in order to let this happen, Rorschach states that 'Even in the face of Armageddon I shall not compromise in this."



This stance seems to be the most right. Compromise is not acceptable, and all the examples I have discussed seem to speak to this fact. The writers of Ultimate Avengers show the disastrous consequences of compromise, while those behind Hot Fuzz depict it as something outright ridiculous. Rorschach says it explicitly. There is no excuse for compromise. When God gave us the Ten Commandments, He did not give any loopholes. There is no context for 'thou shalt not lie' and 'thou shalt nor murder' to be taken out of...they are inflexible, and they are complete. There is no excuse for compromise, even in the face of Armageddon.

'Nuff Said!
-Cable