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ZBK 48:176-197 (1978)

11. Towards a Common Aim: A Psychoanalytical Contribution to Ethics*1

Author: Roger Money-Kyrle

Introduction

Ends and means. Two relatively distinct problems have always faced individuals, societies, and humanity at large: the problem of choosing the best means to achieve a given end, and the problem of choosing the end to be achieved. I say relatively distinct, because what from one point of view is an end, may be a means from another. For instance, good housing is an end from the point of view of the Ministry of Reconstruction, but a means from that of the Ministry of Health. From the point of view of the physiologist, the only ultimate ends are perhaps the satisfaction of the primary instincts,2 and the psychologist would probably agree that all other ‘ends’ are the result of sublimation and are therefore, in the last analysis, indirect ‘means’ to the satisfaction of these instincts. But the word ‘end’ is commonly used in a much wider sense to denote any conscious aim which is not obviously and consciously a means to some other more remote end. It is only in this wider sense that we can distinguish between the two problems: choice of means and choice of ends.
Science and ethics. The choice of the best means to a given end is a practical problem of applied science. If as a society we agree that the greatest material comfort shall be our end, the best means can be deduced from empirical generalizations
1. * B. J. Med. Psych., XX, 1944.
2. This paper was originally read at a small informal meeting of psycho-analysts in November 1942, and has been subsequently revised. As it was written under conditions which precluded access to a library, there are very few references to the relevant literature, and these were made from memory.
3. Since the organism reacts when stimulated, and ceases to react when the stimulus is removed, it is convenient for some purposes to regard the removal of stimuli as the only ultimate ends.
Page 176
of engineering and economics.1 There may of course be heated disputes, for example, between the protagonists of rival means to end slumps; but such disputes are

ZBK 48:176-197 (1978)

11. Towards a Common Aim: A Psychoanalytical Contribution to Ethics*1

Author: Roger Money-Kyrle

Introduction

Ends and means. Two relatively distinct problems have always faced individuals, societies, and humanity at large: the problem of choosing the best means to achieve a given end, and the problem of choosing the end to be achieved. I say relatively distinct, because what from one point of view is an end, may be a means from another. For instance, good housing is an end from the point of view of the Ministry of Reconstruction, but a means from that of the Ministry of Health. From the point of view of the physiologist, the only ultimate ends are perhaps the satisfaction of the primary instincts,2 and the psychologist would probably agree that all other ‘ends’ are the result of sublimation and are therefore, in the last analysis, indirect ‘means’ to the satisfaction of these instincts. But the word ‘end’ is commonly used in a much wider sense to denote any conscious aim which is not obviously and consciously a means to some other more remote end. It is only in this wider sense that we can distinguish between the two problems: choice of means and choice of ends.
Science and ethics. The choice of the best means to a given end is a practical problem of applied science. If as a society we agree that the greatest material comfort shall be our end, the best means can be deduced from empirical generalizations
1. * B. J. Med. Psych., XX, 1944.
2. This paper was originally read at a small informal meeting of psycho-analysts in November 1942, and has been subsequently revised. As it was written under conditions which precluded access to a library, there are very few references to the relevant literature, and these were made from memory.
3. Since the organism reacts when stimulated, and ceases to react when the stimulus is removed, it is convenient for some purposes to regard the removal of stimuli as the only ultimate ends.
Page 176
of engineering and economics.1 There may of course be heated disputes, for example, between the protagonists of rival means to end slumps; but such disputes are