Concept of goal
Target - one of the most complex and at the same time ancient categories. It is present in one form or another in the consciousness of a person carrying out any type of activity, and is transferred by him to many natural and artificial systems.
They talk about a goal or purpose:
Surrounding objects (a chair is made for sitting, a knife is made for cutting);
Technical systems(a radio receiver is made to receive transmissions, an industrial robot is made to replace a person when performing technological operations);
Social economic systems(an enterprise was created to produce certain products), etc.
Knowledge of the goal helps to understand the essence of the systems under study and that is why interest in the content of this concept is continuously growing. The category “goal” has gone through a long development path from the simplest forms to complex structural and functional concepts. The evolution of the concept of “goal” can be traced in Table 5.1.1, which shows its definitions, reflecting the process of changing the idea of goal in philosophy.
Table 5.1.1
| Author | Defining the Goal |
| Aristotle | 1. There must always be a final final goal, which does not exist for another, but for which everything is different. 2. A goal is that for which something exists |
| Democritus | The goal is a good state of mind. |
| Holbach | The goal is a stable whole, preserved in the continuous change of parts |
| Fichte | It is impossible for a person to act without having some goal in mind, while he determines himself to act, he has a concept of the future that should follow from his actions, and this is precisely the concept of goal |
| K. Marx, F. Engels | Goal is a designation of anticipation in the consciousness of a certain result, towards the achievement of which the actions of the subject, the bearer of this goal, are aimed |
| TSB | A goal is a category denoting a pre-conceivable result of the conscious activity of a person, group of people, party or class |
The last definition of the goal (TBD) can, to a certain extent, claim to be universal, but the content of the goal is so meaningful and multivariate that it is hardly possible to assume for such a category any single definition, even the wisest one.
Other definitions of purpose. These include:
Goals are future states desired by an individual or a socio-economic system;
Goals are perceived restrictions imposed on current and future behavior and are based on an analysis of past and future needs, desires, aspirations (refusal of junk food and bad habits for the sake of a healthy and long life);
Goals are not only desirable guidelines for future achievements, they imply certain behavior and the allocation of resources necessary to bring the goals to life.
Aspects of purpose
The founders of Marxism-Leninism noted that the goal has a complex reflective nature, manifested in two respects:
1. a goal is a human need that arises due to the latter’s contradiction with the environment;
2. human goals are generated by the objective world and presuppose it.
The need leads to the “actual” goal - the image of the object (“mentally represented object”), which should arise as a result of upcoming actions.
The goal is the main form of anticipatory reflection, which covers the actual cognitive and projecting aspects (anticipation - anticipation, anticipation of events).
The goal reflects the expected result of people’s conscious activity.
The relationship between the form and content of the goal is shown in Fig. 5.2.1.
Rice. 5.2.1
The cognitive aspect of the goal corresponds to the forecast of the future.
The projecting aspect of a goal corresponds to ways of moving towards a desired future or plan.
Representing an image of what a person or some system wants to achieve, the goal is characterized and expresses itself in many aspects, which can be seen in Fig. 5.2.2.
Rice. 5.2.2.
Purpose as a working category of various sciences. Purpose serves as a working category not only in philosophy, but also in a number of other sciences, such as control theory, mechanics, physics, biology, economics, cybernetics, and psychology. Each of these sciences specifies the concept of “goal” from the perspective of the research apparatus used.
In economics, a goal is associated with specific final results towards which production activities are aimed. This understanding of the goal opens up broad opportunities for increasing the efficiency of economic systems based on management by results.
Types of goals
Based on the availability of information about how to achieve it, three types of goals can be distinguished:
Functional;
The goal is analog;
Development goal.
1. Functional goal. This is a goal, the method of achieving which is known to a given system (or person), which has already achieved this goal. Functional goals are repeated in time and space.
Examples:
· results of production operations that are repeated many times from shift to shift;
· standard control functions, etc.
All systems created by man are functional goals achieved.
2. Analogue goal. This is an image that was obtained as a result of the actions of another system (human), but was never achieved by this system (human) or, if achieved, then under a different state of the external environment.
Examples:
· production of color televisions for a plant producing televisions with black and white images;
· transition from pilot production to serial production at the same enterprise.
3. Development goal or new goal. We will consider this a goal that has never been achieved by anyone before. This goal is usually related to education new systems
Examples:
· creation of the first artificial Earth satellite;
· formation of market relations at a specific enterprise in the Russian economy.
All three types of goals are interconnected. The development goal, subject to its successful achievement by one of the systems, turns into an analogue goal for all other systems, and for a given system it becomes a functional goal, subject to constant external conditions and the target with an analogue if the conditions have changed (Fig. 5.3.1.).
Rice. 5.3.1.
When considering the diverse issues of the topic, we will encounter varieties and modifications of goals, interpretation of their definition and other points that include the process of cognition of the goal. The acquired knowledge will help the manager to correctly navigate the goals when managing systems.
Means and ends, their relationship
Each means can be considered simultaneously as an end, and each end as a means. Each intermediate goal can be considered as a means to achieve subsequent goals.
Examples:
· acquiring money to create a company – goal (initial);
· materials, equipment, labor are purchased with money, i.e. the goal serves as a means;
· the acquisition of equipment is the goal, and the acquired and installed equipment is a means for the production of goods - achieving the goal.
Value of funds. The effectiveness of a particular means represents the likelihood of achieving the desired goal. The higher this probability, the more effective remedy. Thus, the effectiveness of a product is a measure of its extrinsic value.
The internal value of means is directly related to the satisfaction received, and the external value is related to the expected results. Satisfaction is a very subjective concept, it is an aesthetic goal, it is difficult to evaluate it using indicators of target or economic efficiency.
If goals are not viewed as means to other goals (i.e., their extrinsic value is not considered) and are therefore not taken into account possible consequences their achievements, this in itself may have serious consequences.
Striving for ideal. The result of solving a problem can always be considered as a means to achieve a more distant result - the final goal. Therefore, to determine the external value of any intermediate result, it is necessary to know what outcome is ultimately necessary and how close the intermediate outcome is to it
The possibility of approaching final outcomes determines the degree of progress towards them important indicator external value of any intermediate result (Figure 5.4.1.).
Figure 5.4.1.
Ideal – desired end result. The feeling of moving toward ideals gives meaning to life and makes choices meaningful.
Goals are constructed as a result of taking into account means, and vice versa, means are selected in accordance with the goal. The goal becomes the means, and the means itself serves as the goal until it is mastered. The acquisition of equipment is the end (the means serves as the end), and the purchased and installed equipment is the means (the end becomes the means).
The question of the goal and the means to achieve it has worried humanity since ancient times. Many writers, philosophers and public figures reflected on it and gave historical, life and literary arguments to prove their point of view. In the Russian classics, there were also many answers and examples that, as a rule, prove the statement that the paths of achievement must correspond in everything to what needs to be achieved, otherwise it loses all meaning. In this collection, we have listed the most striking and illustrative examples from Russian literature for the final essay in the direction of “Goals and Means.”
The end justifies the means - this is popular expression, which is often attributed to N. Machiavelli. Machiavelli expressed the idea that the end justifies the means in his essay “The Prince.” According to another version, this phrase could belong to the founder of the Jesuit order, Ignatius de Loyola.
So does the end justify the means? Are all means good to achieve the goal? Is it possible to do anything to achieve your goal?
The answers to these questions will never be clear cut. For each person, the means of achieving his goals will depend on his moral and ethical values, psychological characteristics and the specifics of character, education and skills, in the end - from the objective realities of life.
Let's remember Dostoevsky's "Crime and Punishment". For the hero of his work, killing an old woman in order to improve his financial situation is a completely obvious solution.
Gogol, analyzing this problem on the pages of the poem “Dead Souls,” paints a dual image of the main character. It seems that Chichikov has a great desire to “hotly engage in service, to conquer and overcome everything.” We see a selfless, patient person who limits himself to all the needs. But on the other hand, the writer notes by what means the hero achieved his goal: he “began to please his boss in all sorts of unnoticeable little things,” began to court his daughter and even promised to marry her. The author shows that in order to achieve a successful career, Chichikov neglects the laws of morality: he is deceitful, calculating, hypocritical and cynical. It is no coincidence that in the final part of the fragment N.V. Gogol emphasizes that the moral “threshold” was the most difficult and after that it was not difficult for the hero to deceive, please and be mean in order to achieve his goals. So the author warns the reader: it is easy to turn away from the moral path, but it is difficult to return to it. Gogol suggests thinking: is it worth going against universal human principles, becoming a scoundrel even to achieve what you want?
Of course, I agree with this point of view and believe that the desire to achieve what you want at any cost not only does not lead to happiness and well-being, but can also affect the lives of other people.
I want to substantiate my position by referring to Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace.” Using the example of his heroine Ellen Kuragina, a woman of impeccable external beauty and elegance, we understand what the selfish desire to achieve one’s own can lead to. Hunting for the wealth of Count Bezukhov, she achieves her goal: she marries Pierre and becomes one of the richest women in St. Petersburg. But marriage does not bring happiness to young people: Helen does not love her husband, does not respect him, and continues to lead her usual lifestyle. We see how the heroine's cynical calculation leads to the collapse of the family. The story of Helen and Pierre makes you think about whether it makes sense to achieve the desired goal by any means.
I would like to substantiate my opinion by referring to the story “Press the Button,” written by Richard Matheson. According to the plot, the average Lewis family appears before us. At first glance, we cannot blame Arthur and Norma for lack of spirituality, because at first Mr. Stewart’s offer to exchange lives stranger for fifty thousand dollars causes disgust and indignation among the spouses. Unfortunately, the very next day the heroine begins to seriously think about the agent’s tempting offer, in her opinion. We see how in this difficult internal struggle the dream of traveling around Europe, a new cottage, fashionable clothes wins... Reading this story, you understand that the inability to set priorities, the rejection of generally accepted values is destructive for a person: the price of Norma’s desires was the life of her husband Arthur. So Richard Matheson showed what the desire to achieve what you want at any cost can lead to.
The works of N.V. Gogol, L.N. Tolstoy and R. Matheson make it possible to understand that a person should not set goals for himself, the achievement of which requires the abandonment of universal moral laws.
In conclusion, I would like to remind full text catchphrase, which was analyzed earlier: " the end justifies the means if this goal is the salvation of the soul"It is in this context that this statement will be correctly perceived.
More examples of essays in the direction of "Goals and Means":
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Argumentation for revealing the topic of the final essay: “Goals and means”
1. Helen Kuragina married Pierre Bezukhov to receive part of his impressive fortune. At the same time, Helen did not love Pierre at all.
2. Vasily Kuragin and three nieces of Count Bezukhov tried to destroy the will, according to which Pierre Bezukhov (the illegitimate son of the count) was to receive the entire inheritance. They were so worried about the will because without it it was possible to enrich themselves at the expense of the dying person's money.
3. Pierre Bezukhov, Andrei Bolkonsky, Nikolai and Petya Rostov are true patriots. They strive to defend their homeland, so they help bring closer victory over the enemy on their own.
Danko wants to help people. He tears out a burning heart from his chest and lights the way for it. Danko saves people: soon they emerge from the forest. The hero dies without receiving gratitude, because they simply forget about him. Danko sacrificed himself to help people.
1. “Am I a trembling creature or do I have the right?” - to answer this question, Rodion Raskolnikov decided to kill the old pawnbroker. By chance, he also killed Lizaveta, her sister, whom he did not want to touch. Deciding to test my theory" strong personality", he did something terrible - he took the lives of two people.
2. Sonya Marmeladova took the “yellow ticket” to help her father and Katerina Ivanovna, his wife, somehow survive. Circumstances forced the girl to dishonor herself in order to help her loved ones.
1. Pyotr Grinev had one goal - to save Masha Mironova, captain's daughter. To help the girl, the hero went to great lengths: more than once he put his life in danger and resorted to the help of Pugachev. Despite the connection with the impostor, Pyotr Grinev did not violate the oath, but proved that he is a man of honor.
2. Shvabrin always tried to save his own skin, not neglecting any means and methods of achieving the goal. At the first opportunity, he went over to Pugachev’s side, betraying his homeland and showing himself to be a dishonest person.
Kirila Petrovich Troekurov did everything to harm his former comrade Andrei Gavrilovich Dubrovsky. The hero acted completely immorally. He bribed officials and deprived Dubrovsky of his estate. Andrei Gavrilovich went crazy and died.
Martin Eden wanted to win Ruth's love. To do this, he needed to become worthy of this girl. Young man nothing stopped. He worked tirelessly on himself and eventually became smarter than the revered people of high society. Martin Eden's path is an example of a worthy path to achieving a goal.
Semyon Dmitrievich wanted to make a real holiday for the unfortunate orphans. For this he did not need a lot of money; the most important thing was the desire to help. Mitrich bought sweets, brought a Christmas tree and even cut the children a piece of sausage (his favorite food). Semyon Dmitrievich achieved his goal: for the first time, smiles and laughter appeared in the gloomy room.
Below we provide an example of a final essay for grade 11 on the topic “Goals and Means” with arguments from the literature. After reviewing the example below and the structure of writing the final essay, you will come to the exam with prepared theses and arguments on the topic!
Every active person with an active life position sets goals for itself, the achievement of which forms the meaning of our existence. And the choice of means to implement our plans largely depends on us, which can be moral, humane, or, on the contrary, immoral.
There is a famous expression: “The end justifies the means.” But is this always the case, or are there cases when it is worth realistically assessing the possibilities and consequences of your actions?
Sometimes, in order to achieve a goal, a person recklessly sacrifices his environment, often destroying the most harmless, naive and harmless.
In the novel by F.M. Dostoevsky's "Crime and Punishment" the main character Rodion Raskolnikov decided to test whether he could step over moral standards and himself. He kills the old pawnbroker, her sister, who is carrying a child under her heart and who became an accidental witness to the murder.
Therefore, you cannot sacrifice not only your life, but also the well-being and comfort of someone in the name of your aspirations.
For the sake of realizing his petty, unworthy goals, an offended person may choose too cruel means, without thinking about the consequences.
For example, Eugene Onegin from the novel by A.S. Pushkin's Onegin, succumbing to a stupid insult, took revenge to the best friend. Lensky invited him to Tatyana’s name day, to whom he had recently denied love. They were seated opposite each other, and Onegin experienced severe discomfort. For this, he began to flirt with Lensky's fiancee. This led to a duel and the death of Vladimir.
This example confirms that before you take any action, no matter how much you want something, no matter what you dream about, you need to think about the consequences. Otherwise, such games can destroy someone's life, lead to loss of self-esteem and, ultimately, to the destruction of one's own personality.
It happens that a person sacrifices himself to achieve a goal.
Thus, in M. Gorky’s story “The Old Woman Izergil,” one of Danko’s heroes tore out his burning heart from his chest in order to illuminate the path for his people and lead them out of the dark forest. But his good intentions were not appreciated, someone simply crushed his heart with their foot.
In the name of good, we can do whatever we want, provided that it does not infringe on the interests of other people.
All we have the right to do is sacrifice ourselves, our means, our well-being in the name of realizing our dreams. This way we won’t harm anyone but ourselves, but we will also, quite possibly, help others.
