Ans. The concept of “means and end” refers to the distinction between using a person or thing as a tool for achieving a goal (means) versus valuing the person or thing as an ultimate goal in themselves (end). This distinction is central to deontology and teleology, where deontology, as articulated by Immanuel Kant, stresses that people should always be treated as ends in themselves, with dignity and respect, never merely as a means to an end. Teleology, on the other hand, argues that the morality of actions is determined by the outcomes they produce, implying that people or things can be treated as means if the results benefit the greater good.

In today’s techno-economic society, this dilemma manifests frequently, especially in industries where people and technology are often treated as tools for economic success.

with reference to modern techno-economic society, means are often compromised to achieve desirable ends such that humans are treated as means that lead to several consequences as discussed below:

1. Automation and Job Displacement: In the modern techno-economic landscape, automation and artificial intelligence (AI) are frequently employed to maximize efficiency and profits, often reducing human workers to mere “means” to an economic end. For example, the rise of autonomous vehicles and AI-driven customer service systems has led to job losses in industries like trucking and retail.
2. threat to privacy and personal data: The increasing role of technology in our lives has made personal data a valuable commodity, often treating individuals as “means” to the end of profit.

• For instance, Companies like Facebook (now Meta) and Google collect vast amounts of personal data from users, which is then used to target advertisements. This monetisation of personal information often neglects the individual’s privacy and autonomy. In this context, users are viewed as tools to generate profit, with little regard for their individual rights or privacy.

1. Workplace exploitation: In corporate environments, particularly in tech and manufacturing sectors, workers are sometimes treated as mere tools to achieve company goals. This exploitation often appears in forms like overwork, poor working conditions, and job insecurity, with a focus on productivity over employee welfare.

• For example, in the gaming and tech industries, employees are often subjected to “crunch time,” where long hours are demanded to meet tight deadlines, prioritizing company profits over the health and well-being of workers.

1. global inequality and technological Access: Modern technology has the potential to bridge inequalities, but it also exacerbates them. Many multinational companies often treat people in underdeveloped regions as mere consumers or tools for accessing cheap labour.

• For example, Countries like India or Bangladesh provide low-cost labour for global tech firms, but their citizens often have limited access to the technology that powers the global economy. This reduces them to instruments of economic development without becoming beneficiaries of economic development.

In today’s techno-economic society, people are increasingly treated as means to an economic end, whether in the form of labour, consumerism, or exploitation of personal data. While the teleological approach justifies these actions by the outcomes they produce, it often neglects the intrinsic value of individuals. Kant’s deontological ethics reminds us that people must be treated as ends in themselves, deserving of dignity and respect. A balanced approach is needed, one that integrates the pursuit of economic progress with the ethical responsibility to value and protect human well-being and the environment.

As Mahatma Gandhi said, “The world has enough for everyone’s need, but not enough for everyone’s greed.” Balancing progress with respect for humanity and the environment ensures