spies and immorality

Does spying and it's completely immorality create more immorality back at those they are working for? Is it possible that spies make the world worse for those they work, because they create bad feeling and negative image of those they represent. Is there then any such thing as a good spy?If a spy works for you they create negative feeling for which you will be held accountable. If they work for another power there job is to do you harm.
WITH THIS IN MIND HOW CAN THERE BE A GOOD SPY?
If there are no good spies, then all spies are effectively enemy spies.

Morality is in the eye of the beholder.

If you are the ruler of a country and you do good things, you feed the poor, you extend aid to other countries and always try and get along with others, are you not morally justified in spying on a neighbour who constantly provokes you? Think armed cross-boarder raids, verbal provocations and the such.

I suggest it highly moral to spy on said aggressive nation. Forewarning of a impending raid can save lives.

The said aggressive nations would spy on the nations spying on them. Also are they aggressive because they are being spied on? It could be said that spying is an aggressive act. Spying on an individual is illegal for a normal member of the public, because of it's moral reprehensibility. Why is it less moral if someone does it sanctioned by the state. Why is it more moral to spy on people on mass than individually.

reply to post by s12345


If I as a ruler of a benevolent country could save lives of my citizens by spying on my aggressive, war-mongering neighbour, i would.

I wouldnt think twice about it, and i would feel morally justified in doing so. The world is not black and white.

reply to post by s12345


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I see what you mean. But if a spy intercepts information for another power that is attempting to attack the innocent then in some ways that would be a good spy for preventing many death innocent losses. If the same spy reports back the intel and it causes another to be killed are harmed that is innocent then I understand how your thinking that the essence of the spy spreads negativity. So I guess its based on the intent. Spying to undermind another for political / financial gain can cause rippples but to support life and prevent death is helping. Its a complicated situation and I see, you wish to fully understand so no mistakes can be made..

NAMASTE*******

How about spies (intelligence agencies) sponsoring terrorism. It has been said by some, that this is moral if it protects that persons country. However this is the same argument that a person or foreign intelligence agency may make when sponsoring terrorists that attack you. This seems to me the type of local thinking that keep spies in work. As soon as a person thinks globally, it becomes clear that the primary objective of intelligence agencies is to survive (keep existing): so if a situation exists where their existence is a negative thing they will still strive to exist. Their true primary goal should be to cease to need to exist; with the intelligence organisations being a mechanism not an organisation. They would as a mechanism reboot when required. I cannot talk for all countries but it U.K.we do not have a recession department, so why the equivalent of a cold war one.