Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, Determinants and Consequences of Ethics in - Human

Actions; Dimensions of Ethics; Ethics - in Private and Public Relationships. Human Values -
Lessons from the Lives and Teachings of Great Leaders, Reformers and Administrators; Role
of Family Society and Educational Institutions in Inculcating Values.

Ethics and Human Interface

“Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have the right to do and what is right to do.” –Potter Stewart

ETHICS:- set of principles that guide human

action in a way acceptable by the society. Means
doing duty in such a way as is acceptable to the
society.

What is acceptable to society?

Any action that does justice, is good to society, is
done with no selfish gains to the doer is
acceptable to society.

Ethics is not enforced by state.

DEFINITIONS OF ETHICS FROM DIFFERENT SCHOLARS

Scholar Definition of Ethics

Aristotle “Ethics is the study of how individuals can live a good and virtuous life, and involves the
examination of moral character and virtues.”

Immanuel Kant “Ethics is the rational investigation of the principles and rules that guide human
behaviour, focusing on the inherent worth and dignity of rational beings.”

John Stuart Mills “Ethics is concerned with maximising overall happiness and well-being for the greatest number of
people through the principle of utility and the pursuit of pleasure.”

John Rawls “Ethics concerns principles of justice and fairness in social institutions, emphasising the need to
create a just society that maximises the welfare of the least advantaged.”

ORIGIN OF ETHICS

● The word "ethics" is derived from the Greek word "ethos" and the
Latin word "mores," both referring to "custom," "behavior," or
"character.”
● can be traced back to ancient Greek philosophy, notably through
Aristotle's works.
● Aristotle's "Nicomachean Ethics" is a foundational text exploring
ethical theory and moral practice.
● Aristotle examines how humans can achieve a good and fulfilling life
through virtuous living.

SOURCES OF ETHICS

● Religious and Spiritual Beliefs: provide ethical frameworks based on divine teachings, moral principles, and
religious scriptures, help believers determine what is right and wrong and establish moral values.
Example:- Hinduism aligned to respect for nature and elders in society.
● Philosophical Ethics: offers approaches to moral decision-making that are based on reasoning. based on rational
inquiry and philosophical reflection.
● Cultural and Societal Norms:- Shared values, customs, traditions, and social expectations all have an impact on
these norms, which establish accepted guidelines for moral behaviour.
Example, we are aware of the fact that vegetarianism was treated with high regard in the Brahminic era which isn’t
the case in Western societies.

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 ● Legal and Regulatory Frameworks: Define acceptable and unacceptable behaviour in a society. These laws and
regulations frequently reflect ethical principles and provide guidance and accountability.
Example, public displays of affection in India are not considered right by the law which is different from the Western
societies.
● Professional Codes of Ethics: outline professional responsibilities, conduct, and ethical standards. These codes
guide ethical decision-making within the context of a specific profession like medicine, law, engineering, and
journalism etc.
● Ethical Principles and Theories: provide systematic approaches to assessing ethical difficult situations and
decision-making.
● Human Rights and International Standards: Establish fundamental ethical principles regarding individuals’ inherent
dignity and rights. These ethical sources provide a global framework for promoting justice, equality, and human rights
respect.
Example, LGBTQ orientation is now a recognised part of human rights and, thus, isn’t now seen as an ethical issue
in most societies.
● Scientific Research and Empirical Evidence: help to inform ethical decision-making by providing information about
the potential consequences, benefits, and risks of various actions. Evidence-based approaches guide ethical
decisions in fields as diverse as medicine, technology, and environmental ethics.

THE IMPORTANCE OF ETHICS

● Provides a Moral Map: that we can use to navigate difficult issues.

● Promoting Fairness and Justice: Ethics ensures that people are treated fairly, regardless of their background or
characteristics. Ethical principles aid in the prevention of discrimination, exploitation, and power abuse.
Example, a civil servant believing in fairness and justice will always act impartially and never in an arbitrary manner.
● Fostering Social Responsibility: Individuals and organisations are encouraged by ethics to consider their impact on
society and the environment.
Example, Sachin Tendulkar denied advertisement opportunities for alcohol companies based on the social
responsibilities tied to his stature in India.
● Help in Finding Solutions to Moral Issues: Ethics does provide useful tools for thinking about moral issues. It does
not always provide the correct answer to moral problems, but it can help to clear up confusion and clarify issues.
Example, Gandhiji suggested going against the Shastras if it did sanction the inhuman practice of untouchability
based on ethical principles.
● Ensures Individual and Social Good: Ethics is an attempt to guide human behaviour and to assist man in leading a
good life by applying moral principles. It seeks both individual and social good, as well as the good of humanity as a
whole.
● Upholding Professional Standards:It directs professionals’ ethical behaviour while ensuring the well-being and
safety of clients, customers, or patients.
● Building Trust and Relationships:It lays the groundwork for dependability, honesty, and integrity, thereby
strengthening relationships and social cohesion.
● Resolves Moral Dilemmas: Ethical values such as honesty, trustworthiness, and responsibility lead us down a path
that helps us deal with ethical dilemmas more effectively.
Example, most great personalities like Buddha, Gandhiji, Ambedkar, Martin Luther King jr., etc all held some ethical
principles which guided them in difficult decisions in their public lives.
● Frees from Bias and Prejudice: Using moral principles and ethical values in our daily lives helps to deconstruct
false beliefs and attitudes, as well as avoid bias and prejudice.
● Effective Decision-Making: Ethics guides us in making decisions that are right, just, and inclusive of both personal
and societal interests.

CONSEQUENCES OF ABSENCE OF ETHICS

Immanuel Kant in his book “Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals” argues that without ethics, society would devolve
into chaos and moral anarchy.
The absence of ethics, according to Kant, would result in a breakdown of social harmony, resulting in conflicts, exploitation,

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 and a disregard for individual rights and well-being.

● Individual Level: Abuse, domestic violence, casteism, selfishness, cheating, unemphatic, bystander apathy, etc.
○ Example: I always see my neighbour Ramesh abusing his partner and making sexist remarks to her. The
lack of ethical behaviour is affecting their personal life.
● Social Level: Acceptance of corruption, the commodification of women, increased materialism, ends justify the
means Drug addiction, violence, communalism, gender crimes, and disrespect for women, the elderly, and the
disabled
○ Examples: Stalking and following girls, social boycotts, etc.
● Political Level: Criminalization of politics and politicisation of criminals, power abuse, power concentration,
defections, government instability, violence, communalism, use of money and muscle power, constitutional abuse,
and so on.
○ Examples: Campaigning on a communal agenda, bribing voters, using goons to create disturbances at
rallies or rioting, etc.
● Bureaucratic Level: Corruption, nepotism, a lack of trust, punishment postings, red tape, poor decisions, personal
gain, favouritism, a conflict of interest, abuse of power, neglect of public welfare, poor implementation of schemes
and welfare programs, etc.
○ Example: Asking for a bribe from a rule breaker or bribing traffic police instead of paying a penalty.
● International Level: Ceasefire violations, encroachment on border areas, cross-border terrorism, drug trafficking,
human trafficking, organised crime, tax havens, protectionism, vaccine nationalism, nuclearization, conflict war,
eroding international institutions’ legitimacy, etc.
○ Examples: Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian territories, Pakistan’s support for separatists in Jammu
Kashmir, etc.
● Environmental Level: Illegal deforestation, encroachment on natural water bodies, animal torchers, illegal mining
and depletion of natural resources, wildlife crime, etc.
○ Examples: Dumping industrial waste into rivers or other bodies of water for profit, illegally poaching and
trading threatened species, etc.

SCOPE OF ETHICS - study of moral principles, values, and the evaluation of human behaviour

“Ethics- A Very Short Introduction” by Simon Blackburn is a related book that delves into the scope of ethics. It gives a brief
overview of ethical theories, moral quandaries, and the practical application of ethics in everyday life.

● Includes all free human actions: It encompasses all references to free human acts (voluntary actions).
● Difference between actions of humans and human actions: performed by humans consciously, deliberately, and
with a goal in mind.
● Dealt with human actions: only deal with human actions in ethics. Except sleeping, walking etc.
● Linkage with other fields of knowledge: Ethics is fundamentally linked to all other fields of knowledge, including
sociology, political science, jurisprudence, law and legal study, psychology, anthropology, culture study, ecology and
environmental study, economics, religion, aesthetics, and other related fields.
● Concerns with the issues of all spheres: In the pursuit of the highest good, ethics is concerned with political,
sociological, cultural, psychical, economic, environmental, and religious issues. As a result, these issues have a new
place in the realm of ethics.
● Addresses emerging issues: As new technology emerges, the scope of ethics expands to address new emerging
issues such as artificial intelligence, social media and OTT content regulation, gene editing, etc.

THE NATURE OF ETHICS

● Ethics can be found in all human societies: Ethics emerges during the evolution of social, intelligent, long-lived
mammals with the ability to recognize one another and remember the past behaviour of others.
● Exclusively for human beings: Only humans have the ability to guide and regulate their own behaviour.
● Ethical standards change from society to society: what is considered ethical behaviour in one society may be
considered unethical in another.
○ Example: Abortion, is prohibited in the majority of Islamic countries. However, it is completely ethical in
many other countries. Further, ethics evolves with time, situation, understanding, and experience, among
other factors.
● Universal nature of Ethical principles: Some ethical principles are universal in nature; they prescribe obligations
and virtues for all members of society.
○ Example, truth as an ethical principle and virtue is almost universal in its acceptance beyond the
boundaries of individual societies.
● Ethics is scientific: it deals with the systematic explanation of right and wrong in the light of man’s highest good.
● Ethics is a normative science: As opposed to positive science, ethics is concerned with values. It assesses the
standards or norms by which we can determine whether human action is right or wrong.

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 ○ Example, ethics doesn’t just describe things like many scientific disciplines, rather it is concerned with
normative prescriptions and can suggest what to do in a particular situation.

ESSENCE OF ETHICS IN HUMAN ACTION

Human action :- conduct of an individual

Essence of ethics in human action implies that observance

of the principle of good v/s bad in the thought, conduct,
and behaviour of an individual .

A person who chooses the course of action that “is right”

and “does not cause harm to other” is said to have ethics
in his (human) action

● Moral Principles and Values: heart of ethics, includes honesty, fairness, compassion, empathy, love, humanism,
integrity, respect, etc, serve as the foundation for ethical behaviour and guide individuals in making morally correct
decisions.
● Right and Wrong: The fundamental distinction between right and wrong actions is addressed in ethics. Although the
determination of course of action as right or wrong is not easy, because the differentiation is not that of black and
white, but of grey.
It aims to provide a framework for assessing the morality of human behaviour, distinguishing between morally
acceptable and morally unacceptable behaviours.
Illustration to Understand
Example of wild life photographer , deer and cheetah
- One option is to adhere to professional code of conduct and take photo of same. But one may argue that saving life is
more important than adhere to professional code of conduct.
- If photographer save the life of deer, it will break the food chain; we will snatch the food from animal or contribute in
decline/ extinction of a species (= cheetah).
hence, decisions needs to be taken keeping above things in mind.

Example of newspaper reporter, criminal and a common man

- In this situation choice is straight, to save the common man. Because
- No-one has right to harm fellow member of society
- Killing is not approved by society
- It is not necessary for the survival of criminal as the person is not his food.

● Thus, from the above two examples, we can deduce that an action becomes ethical if
- it is mandated by Nature
- is approved by society as right, virtuous or appropriate.
- does not cause harm to anyone else
- does not cause harm to anyone not just immediately, but also in the long-run.

● Moral Responsibility: It emphasises that individuals have a duty to act in ethically responsible ways. It emphasises
individuals’ accountability for their actions and the consequences they may have on others.
● Ethical Decision-Making: The process of ethical decision-making in ethics entails assessing ethical quandaries,
considering various perspectives, and selecting the morally appropriate course of action. It gives people the tools and
approaches they need to navigate complex ethical situations.

Illustration to Understand
● Example of A civil servant (sevak), his flood hitted district and supplies
Supplies have to be given to other two districts also, Sevak discovers that supplies are short for his district. Here, Sevak has
two choices
1. Unload only the supplies meant for his district
2. Unload supplies meant for other districts also, to cater to the needs of his district.
Option II is ethical to the extent that,
- Sevak is obliged to meet the needs of the citizens of his district
- He is catering to the genuine needs of people
However, this option is not ethical to the extent that,
- Sevak is depriving the rights/entitlements of citizens of the neighbouring districts.
- He is helping his citizens, but only at the cost of adding to the pain to citizens of neighbouring districts.
But, this does not mean Option I is the best. There are ethical problems associated with that also.

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Option 1 is not ethical because
- Sevak is not adhering to his professional ethics of catering to the needs of the citizens of his district, to whom s/he is
custodian.
- As the saying goes, charity begins at home. Sevak has to first think of his/her own people, before thinking of others

Ethical answer has to be a balance between “catering to the needs of his/her people" and "not depriving the other people of
their rightful share."
A balanced ethical action could be to unload the supplies meant only for his district and to pitch for more supplies for his district
from both government and non-government sources, pending the exhaustion of the present supply.

● Individual and Collective Well-being: It recognizes the importance of ensuring individuals’ welfare, rights, and
dignity, as well as the broader impact on communities, societies, and the environment.
● Balancing Conflicting Interests: It demands that these interests be considered and fairly balanced in order to
determine the most ethically justifiable course of action.
● Ethical Development and Growth: It emphasises the significance of personal development, self-reflection, and
continuous learning in order to improve ethical decision-making and behaviour.
● Ethical Leadership: Ethics emphasises the role of ethical leadership in guiding individuals and
organisations. Ethical leaders uphold moral principles, set a good example, and inspire others to follow suit.

DETERMINANTS OF ETHICS

There are 3 circumstances

1. Person. 2. Place 3. Time

Determinants of ethics in Human action

Personality Family Peer group Episodic events Situation Professional Religion

codes

Culture Society Law and Family and Conscience Role model Constitution
judiciary teacher

a. Personality :- set of traits and behaviour of an individual. Traits possessed by an individual determine the extent of
ethics in one's personality.
ex- person with ‘integrity’, ‘civic sense’, ‘ helping nature’ etc.
- Person with ‘integrity':- won't jump traffic even not monitored, or from fear of challan
- Person with ‘civic sense':- won't honk unnecessary when passes near school
- Person with ‘ helping nature' :- help his wife during holidays in household

b. Family:- a group of two or more persons related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together.
Kid’s personality is largely influenced by family, as they spend the majority of time with. Being ethical is part of
personality and family plays a critical role here.
To illustrate
When kids are taken to the shop by parents and the shopkeeper by mistake returns extra money.
Opt 1:- pay back the excess promptly to shopkeeper
Opt 2:- Retain excess and silently leave the shop.
- If one choose opt 1, kid will realise that it is wrong to keep someone's money
- If one choose opt 2, kid will realise that it is ok to keep someone's money
such trait shall determine ethics as the kid grows into an adult.

Another example
If one is absent from the office and tell their child to lie if there is any call from his/her office
Then kid may think it is alright to lie, derelict from duty on false reasons.

c. Peer Group :- includes friends, classmates, and acquaintances more or less of the same age group or of the same
professional level.
Saying - Tell me who your friends are, I shall tell who you are
Factory for influence of peer group:-
- There is no age barrier. There is no generation gap. There is no compulsion to project oneself as being
'good', 'politically correct', 'virtuous'. This leads to exchange of ideas freely.
- The sheer amount of time spent with peer group.
Example
- Gandhi's childhood (started consuming alcohol, telling lies)
- If in a group of 5 friends, 4 agrees on any topic, 5th will also agree.

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d. Episodic events :- sometimes, one or two significant events in one's life change the ethics of a person.
- Influence of events or past influence sometimes changes nature from unethical to ethical.
Example :
- Suppose a doctor switches his / her phone at night and there is an emergency case in the hospital,
Because of her past action i.e. switching off the phone leads to death in that case, which can be saved if he/she
would be contacted.
This filled the doctor with a lot of guilt , which was ultimately ethical.
- Angulimala’s mindset was changed/ he was enlightened after conversation with Buddha
- Gandhiji's life was transformed by Satya harishchandra and shravana’s pitru bhakti play.

e. Situation:- relative position or combination of circumstances at a certain moment.

- Sometimes the personality traits are put to sleep mode,and the situation would decide the action.
Example
- Suppose a person who never jumped traffic light, is carrying life saving medicine or blood
- Suppose a person who use to jump traffic light is with his father
- Suppose you never scolded your child, but one day you come to know your son became drug addict
- Corrupt person usually not do corruption in presence of fundamentally correct person

f. Professional codes, Ethics codes, Customs etc. :- ethics in human actions is also determined by the professional
codes or customs to which a person is subject.
Example :
- If any office going person is warned that if he indulges in drink and drink cases, he will be fired. Than that person will
avoid this
- If a sleep addict person becomes a doctor than s/he may inculcate habit of treating person at nights.

g. Religion: Every religion in the world advocates ethical living and lays down ethical principles or standards.
Examples: Law of Karma in Hinduism, the Golden Rule in Christianity, Charity and Equality in Islam, etc. The source
of religion-based ethics is attributed to God. Ethics, however, cannot be confined to religion nor is it the same as
religion.
For instance, an atheist person can also be ethical (deriving his morality from conscience).

h. Culture: The manner in which a society lives, eats, drinks, wears, celebrates, and engages among its members,
setting certain standards are considered social norms that regulate the behaviour of an individual. Culture acts as a
prescription for correct and moral behaviour.
Example: I always say “Namaste” whenever I meet someone and touch the feet of elders. This is because of the
cultural impact on me as a person belonging to Indian society.

i. Society:- a group of people who live together in a community and share a common set of values, beliefs, and norms.
Example: Nazi Germany was an example of a morally corrupt society while sati was one unethical practice in
traditional India.

j. Law: sets legal standards and consequences for behaviours, thereby influencing individuals’ ethical
decision-making. It provides a framework that defines acceptable and unacceptable conduct within a society.
Example: Prevention of Corruption Act, establishes legal boundaries that align with ethical standards of honesty and
integrity.

k. Family and Teachers :- A child’s family and teachers play a significant role in shaping his attitude, behaviour and
inculcating values.

l. Conscience:Conscience is a person’s moral sense about right and wrong, viewed to be acting as a guide to one’s
behaviour. The products of conscience are moral intuitions, which are the feelings that some acts are right and others
are wrong.
Example: Gandhiji’s withdrawal from the Non-cooperation movement after the violence at Chauri Chaura incident
was based on his conscience.

m. Role models: Role models can also influence the ethical values of individuals by setting certain standards of good
behaviour or will in society.
Example:- Politicians and Bureaucrats may set high ethical standards of Integrity and Probity for the youth.

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 n. Constitution: Constitution provides broad principles that govern what kind of laws, and legislatures may be enacted
and what sort of actions administrators can take.
Example:- the practice of Sati is banned by legislation, the right to dignity and life was passed on to the widows who
were earlier considered as bad luck.

o. Governance:the application of moral principles to guide human conduct and achieve good governance.
William Gladstone: “It is the duty of the government to make it difficult for people to do wrong and easy for them to
do right,”
Example: The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has influenced people’s ethical standards in favour of cleanliness and
sanitation.

p. Judiciary: The judiciary lays down ethical standards through various judgments, pronouncements, and guidelines.
Example:- In the Sabarimala temple case, the SC of India upheld the right to equality.

Law and Ethics: Determinants of Human Conduct

● Law and ethics are two critical tools for regulating human behaviour and ensuring civilised social existence.
● Law Establishes minimum standards of conduct: must be followed in order to provide a framework for regulating
behaviour.
○ Enforced sanction through fines, imprisonment or other penalty
○ Example: The law makes murder, theft, and assault illegal. These are considered harmful to society, and
the law is intended to discourage people from engaging in them.
● Ethics provides a set of moral principles and values that guide individual behaviour, play a significant role in
shaping human behaviour.
Example: We always believe that lying, cheating, or stealing is wrong. Even if these actions are not
illegal, they are considered unethical.
● The approaches of law and ethics to controlling human behaviour differ. The threat of punishment is used by the
law to deter people from engaging in harmful behaviour. In contrast, ethics is more persuasive, appealing to people’s
sense of right and wrong.
● Law and ethics can collaborate to achieve the goal of controlling human behaviour.
Example: law and ethics can complement one another and contribute to a more civilised society.
● Other than law and ethics culture, religion, and personal beliefs also affects human behaviour
● Necessary to strike a balance between law and ethics: Too permissive ethics can lead to social chaos.
● A strong foundation in both law and ethics is the best way to achieve a civilised society. This will help to ensure that
people are acting in a legal and ethical manner.
Here is one example which shows that if Mr Ahuja is working in a big financial firm then how law and ethical
approaches control his behaviour differently:

Difference between Law and Ethics:

Analysis of Determinants of Ethics:

● Variation in Influence: Different determinants influence ethical standards to varying degrees.
Example: Some people’s marriage choices are influenced by personal factors, whereas others are influenced
by social norms.
● Possible Conflict: When determining ethical standards, various factors may come into conflict.

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Example: An individual’s thoughts and experiences may lead him to be an atheist, whereas society may lead him to be
religious.

A number of determinants are active

at the same time, and ethical
standards are the result of the
combined effects of various factors.
Example: The integrity of civil
servants in government is affected by
social, economic, political, cultural,
and
other factors.

CONSEQUENCES OF ETHICS
The consequences of ethics can have a profound impact on individuals and society.

- Trust: Ethicality in behaviour helps to build long- lasting relationships based on trust and respect which is
fundamental in the creation of a civilised society.
- Social harmony: Ethical behaviour imbibed in the collective conscience of society ensures the minimisation of
conflict and optimisation of harmony.
- Positive Reputation: Acting ethically can contribute to building a positive reputation, both personally and
professionally.
- For example, Tata’s business is known for its ethical practices, such as fair trade sourcing or
environmentally friendly manufacturing.
- Legal Compliance and Avoidance of Penalties: By acting ethically, individuals and organisations can avoid legal
complications and potential penalties.
- For instance, The Volkswagen Emissions Scandal - Volkswagen manipulated emission tests to appear
compliant with environmental regulations. This unethical behaviour resulted in severe legal and financial
consequences, including hefty fines, product recalls, and reputational damage.
- Ethical behaviour contributes to long-term sustainability and success. It builds a strong foundation of trust with
stakeholders This trust fosters loyalty, collaboration, and stakeholder support, which are critical for sustainable
growth.

INDIVIDUAL LEVEL
● Increases Credibility: People who are moral and upright are believed by others, and their words and deeds have
more weight than those of regular people.
Example: Leaders with integrity and honesty, have a greater influence on the public than leaders with a questionable
track record. Political parties solicit endorsements from well-known public figures
1. If one does not change his/ her business partner in any circumstances and complete the project with his
partner despite any problem, they are considered as ‘credible businessmen’. Even in the future, people
shall not think twice to do business with him.
2. If any officer who honestly discharges his duty and strictly work according to law/ rules, his credibility
amongst city dwellers goes up. And if there is any false corruption allegations against him, people would
not believe it and definitely come in support of him.
3. Any student who gets selected randomly as treasurer of school annual day committee
and discharged his responsibilities honestly. It is high chance that if there is election for the post of
Treasurer of students union, No surprise, he has been nominated and win too.

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 ● Builds conference in oneself :- The power of doing right things makes a person fearless. Being fearless gives
confidence. This confidence shall let a person execute and take decisions boldly. This enhances efficiency.
Example:-
○ 1. if any honest athlete has won the race with his ability, and became the accused for doping. S/he will face
enquiry boldly because s/he has not done any unethical act.
○ 2. If any ethically strong civil servant has to demolish a hotel belonging to a local neta, Local neta calls and
threatens that he will slap corruption charges on him if he demolishes the hotel. Since Civil servant has
always been ethical, he won't listen to the threat of neta and will confidential discharge his duty.

● Ethics builds social capital:- the benefit that accrue to a person because of the social relationship.
An ethical person’s behaviour is featured by trust, commitment and absence of foul play.
One's reputation helps not only him but also his children, friends, and relatives to earn job, clinch deals easily
Example:- Metro Man E. Sreedharan is a true personification of this. Every Metro corporation seeks to have him on
its board for one simple reason his presence shall convince financial agencies to fund the metro projects!!

● An ethical life is said to be the source of ultimate happiness rather than a life of wealth, pleasure, fame, and so on.
Such happiness leads to ultimate satisfaction and contentment, in which a person does not require anything more or
less.
Golden Mean of Aristotle: Aristotle claims that following the “Golden Mean” (middle path, moderation, etc.) leads to
happiness, which he refers to as “Eudaimonia.” Donating blood, for example, makes us feel good on the inside.

● An ethical person has a positive attitude toward society. This optimism contributes to the development of trust and
social capital.
● Improves individual acceptability and likeability: When a person exhibits ethical behaviour, he or she is accepted
into society and appreciated for his or her actions.
○ For instance, My Parents and relatives always value my cousin because, with his sheer hard work and
determination, he cleared the prestigious civil services exam.
● Increases Credibility: People who are moral and upright are believed by others, and their words and deeds have
more weight than those of regular people.
○ Example: Leaders with integrity and honesty, have a greater influence on the public than leaders with a
questionable track record.
● Helps in accomplishment: Ethical behaviour is not only morally required, but it is also practical. People who have
ethics and values are more likely to succeed in the long run.
 Example: Honest people like Kiran Bedi and TSR Subramaniam, have held high positions in government.
Professional ethics is an important factor in the advancement of lawyers, doctors, and other professionals.
● In today’s complex lives, ethics tells us what is the right thing to do when we are torn between two
equally good/bad alternatives. Ethics also provides a foundation for decision-makers to justify their actions.
● Example: Civil servants have a Code of Ethics to guide their decision-making.

ORGANISATIONAL LEVEL
● collection of individuals working for a common cause.
Adherence to Ethics ensures the smooth functioning of the organisation.
It also ensures that organisation sails through difficult times easily and lasts for infinity
● Brand Equity/Image of the organisation:- It refers to the value or trust people place in a product or organisation,
which can influence their decisions.
○ Stakeholder Perception: The value stakeholders assign to an organisation is based on their perception,
not necessarily the quality of the product or service.
○ Trustworthiness: If people think an organisation is trustworthy and valuable, it benefits the business of
that organisation.
○ Applicability: Although brand equity is usually discussed in business, it can apply to any organisation.
○ Example
India's Democracy Example: Despite early doubts about its success, India's democracy earned global
respect because of the free and fair elections conducted by the Election Commission of India (ECI).
UPSC Example: UPSC has also built strong brand equity due to its fair and impartial selection processes
for civil services.

● Employee - Employer Relationship

Ethical Organisations:
○ Recognize and value employee contributions
○ Pay employees fairly and on time.
○ Treat employees as partners.
○ Support employees in times of need.
Benefits: This creates a strong and satisfying employee-employer relationship, motivating employees to work
beyond their duties.
Prevents Conflict: Ethical treatment of employees prevents issues like strikes and lock-outs, leading to higher
productivity.

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 Example of Ethical Behaviour: If an employee is injured on the job, an ethical organisation would cover medical
expenses and offer a job to a family member, ensuring the family's financial security.
Employee Confidence: This type of support builds confidence and trust among all employees, benefiting the
organisation in the long term.
- Unethical Behavior Consequences:
1. Organizations that break laws (e.g., environmental or tax) create uncertainty among employees, as they
fear the company might shut down.
2. Biased treatment and nepotism can lead to favoritism, create employee divisions, and damage
organizational culture.
● Stakeholders relationship : Stakeholders are individuals or organizations that are affected by or can affect an
organisation. This includes those who deal directly with the organization.
AMUL's Stakeholders:
- Farmers supplying milk
- Members and workers of milk cooperative societies.
- Drivers and transport workers handling milk tankers.
- Employees of AMUL.
- Distribution agents for AMUL products.
- Advertising agencies, etc.
Ethical Organization: An ethical organization considers and protects the interests of all its stakeholders, not just its
own. This helps build trust and loyalty among stakeholders.
Support in Crisis: Ethical behavior ensures that stakeholders are willing to support the organization, even in difficult
times.
- Example: During demonetization, ethical shopkeepers who had paid their wholesalers on time got goods
on credit when cash was scarce.
Fair Selection Process: A government organization that conducts fair, unbiased selection of procurement agencies
attracts more competition. This results in better quality products at lower prices.
Consequences of Unfairness: If a government organization favors certain agencies, good agencies may lose
interest and not participate, leading to lower quality and higher prices.

Consequences for society

● Absence of greed and consequent equitable resource distribution
a fundamental tenet of ethics is that one should not cause harm to other; not disturb the interest of others.
If because of greed one steal the resource of other, it will give rise to tension b/w resource - loser and resource -
appropriator
This destroy societal peace and harmony also.
- Example:- ground water distribution b/w industrial plant and a village
options before founder of industrial plant
opt1 :- draw water from large tank situated in a faraway place, will be quite expensive but not unviable.
Opt 2 :- dig borewell in industrial plant, it is cheaper but will affect ground water level for village
Consequences
- If one go ethical, then option 1 will be opted
- If Unethical, then option 2 will be opted. But in long run it will create hardship for the the villagers with time this get
converted in anger. And will results in clash (this is lose lose situation).
- Example:- Govt. Announcement to allot house site by lottery to poor families.
A family with two married son live with aged parents, have following options
Opt 1 :- Both son apply for the house sites. Parents shall stay in either of their house
Opt 2 :- Both Both the sons and parents separately apply for house sites
Consequences
If the family is ethical, they choose Option I.
If the family is not ethical, they turn to greed and choose Option II.
Then, if they apply for three sites and all three of them get sites, they may have deprived a poor genuine family from
getting a house site. Also, it is likely that elderly parents are made to stay alone, being deprived of love and care of
their sons.

● Less tension, More peaceful

Fair distribution of resources can reduce tensions and foster peace.
Unethical practices lead to greed and the concentration of wealth in a few hands.
This wealth concentration sparks conflict between the rich and the poor, disturbing peace and causing unrest.
Example -
- French Revolution: Sharp inequalities in France between the rich (Royalty and Nobles) and the poor
(Third Estate) led to widespread revolt and the execution of the monarchy.
- Modern Revolutions: Revolutions in countries like Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, and Syria stemmed from
unethical dictatorships, leading to demands for democracy and social justice.

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 ● Equality and Justice
Ethical Regimes Promote Ethics and Justice: A government following ethical principles ensures fairness and justice
in administration.
This is mostly done through
✓ provision of rights,
✓ provision of freedom
✓ provision of independent justice delivery system
✓ equality of opportunity
Such regime don't favour any section of society it:-
Equality of Opportunity: Ensures equal opportunities for all citizens.
No Favouritism: It treats all sections of society equally without bias.
Grievance Redressal: Creates systems for citizens to address grievances, even against the government.
Fair Recruitment: Jobs are given based on merit.
Compensation and Rehabilitation: Provides timely compensation and rehabilitation for those affected by government
actions, like land acquisition.
● Equitable and inclusive development: In the economic sphere, ethics is critical. Ethics ensures equal opportunity,
equitable resource distribution, and social mobility.
Scams, meltdowns, and labour exploitation are all the results of unethical behaviour.
● Society’s ethics set a good example for children and youth. They observe, learn, and develop values that ensure
ethical behaviour. This results in a stable social order.
When young boys see women being respected in the home, they respect women in their social lives as well.
● Create environment consciousness: In today’s world, the environment and climate are critical concerns.
Environmental ethics can ensure that human civilization is clean, green, and sustainable, which is critical for survival
and development.
 Example: Simple behaviours such as not wasting water, electricity, or fuel can go a long way toward saving the
environment.
● Ethics of care, justice, and reason, among other things, motivate societies to reform and bring about change. In
this way, ethics contribute to a healthier society.
 Example, in nineteenth-century India, liberal humanistic ethics reformed society and reduced social ills such as
sati, restrictions on widow remarriage, polygamy, and so on.
● Religion and tradition are highly valued all over the world. Ethical behaviour is prescribed by all religions and is thus
valued by people. It also maintains people’s faith in a supreme authority (such as God) and thus the social order.
● Leads to a healthy society: Ethical behaviour leads to the right kind of behaviour by individuals, which is
reciprocated by others, resulting in a well-functioning society in which no one is harmed
Example: Adherence to traffic rules by all individuals will result in safe and efficient transportation, which will benefit
society as a whole.

● DIMENSIONS OF ETHICS
There are 4 branches of ethics and they deal with the following types of questions:

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 1. Descriptive Ethics :- by David Hume It involves studying and analysing existing moral beliefs, practices, and
behaviours in a culture or society.
It does not prescribe how people should behave but instead focuses on understanding how they actually behave
Descriptive ethics examines:
- Values (what is considered good or bad).
- Actions that are deemed right or wrong.
- Traits of individuals that are viewed as virtuous or unethical.
- Societal rewards or punishments through laws and politics.

Example - Attitudes Toward Homosexuality in India

- Initially, Indian culture accepted homosexuality.
- British colonial rule introduced laws criminalizing it.
- Recently, there’s a shift towards increasing acceptanceand support for LGBTQ+ rights, especially among
younger and urban populations.

Purpose of Descriptive Ethics: It helps in understanding how societal moral beliefs and values change over time, as seen in the
evolving views on homosexuality in India.

2. Meta-Ethics:- (J.L. Mackie, investigates the nature and foundations of ethics itself.)
The study of the origin and meaning of ethical concepts is known as meta-ethics.
It examines where our ethical principles originate and what they imply. It attempts to investigate the underlying
principles of ethical values.

- Meta refers to the things themselves. As a result, meta-ethics is ethics about ethics or the evaluation of ethics itself.
● For example,
- What is the wrong action?
- Why is stealing morally wrong?
- Why is charity moral?

3. Normative Ethics:- focuses on providing guidelines for determining what is right and wrong. Studied by John Stuart
Mill.
Its goal is to
- create ethical theories and principles that will aid individuals in making moral judgments and decisions.
- establish moral standards and assess the morality of human behaviour.
- It is an examination of ethical theories that prescribe how people should act and behave in society.
- Examines standards of actions: It looks into standards for the rightness and wrongness of actions and is more
concerned with ‘who ought one to be’ than with the ethics of a specific issue.
- The central question in normative ethics is how basic moral standards are established and justified
- If someone violates established standards, there are provisions for punishment as well as justification.

● The most common normative ethical theories are utilitarianism, deontology, and consequentialis

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Theories of Normative Ethics

● Utilitarianism
Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that emphasises outcomes in determining what is right and wrong. This is a form of
consequentialism
As per utilitarianism, the most ethical choice is the one that produces the greatest good for the greatest number of
people.
Example: Terrorists are sentenced to death. According to utilitarian theory, killing terrorists is an ethical act because
it saves the lives of numerous innocent people, maintains peace in society, and aids in the development of the
country.
Killing another person is unethical in almost all religions and is a fundamental value that our families and even
schools teach us.

Limitations
- Happiness and well-being are impossible to quantify, compare, or measure. It does not take into account
feelings and emotions, culture, or justice.
- it can sometimes ignore the rights and well-being of smaller groups, like LGBTQ communities.
- Example This is a key criticism of utilitarianism—it may overlook the rights of minority groups in
favor of what benefits the larger population.

- One limitation of utilitarianism is that it creates a black-and-white moral construct. There are no shades of
grey in utilitarian ethics—either something is wrong or it is right.
- Utilitarianism also cannot predict with certainty whether the consequences of our actions will be good or
bad—the outcomes of our actions occur in the future.

● Deontology :- Deontology is a duty-based system of ethics that holds that some acts are intrinsically right or wrong
regardless of their consequences and that moral agents have duties to obey moral commands or rules regardless of
their consequences.
Deontology is an ethical theory that uses rules to determine what is right and wrong.
- Immanuel Kant is frequently associated with deontology. Kant believed that ethical actions must adhere to
universal moral laws such as “Do not lie.” “Don’t steal anything”. “Do not deceive.”
It simply requires that people follow the rules and perform their duties. This approach corresponds to our natural
intuition about what is and isn’t ethical.
Unlike consequentialism, which evaluates actions based on their outcomes, deontology does not necessitat weighing
the costs and benefits of a situation. Subjectivity and uncertainty are avoided because only set rules must be
followed.
- Example: According to the deontological approach, a civil servant must follow the given rules and
regulations without regard for the consequences.

Limitations
- Following deontology rigidly can produce results that many people find unacceptable.
- There is an hacker who can stop the nuclear missile that is about to be launched, by hacking the system
software. But This rule should not be broken, according to deontology. However, by letting the missile
launch, thousands of people will die.
- Human inclinations, emotions, and consequences, according to this theory, have no place. Emotional intelligence
(empathy) is required in some situations to bring harmony or achieve a greater good.
- It may have unfavourable consequences for the majority of people.
- You should not lie even if it saves millions of people’s lives.
- Some argue that by ignoring the consequences of actions, Deontology missed an important aspect of ethical
decision-making.

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Real Life example to show the difference between descriptive, normative, and meta-ethics
Me and my friends (Prince and Prakhar) were discussing ethics in day-to-day life. We went on to discuss ‘whether it is morally
acceptable to lie to protect someone’s feelings’.
My arguments were based on Descriptive Ethics:- I shared my personal experience and belief that lying is wrong. I once lied
to my parents about money, and they scolded me a lot for it.
This descriptive conversation shows how different people have various views and attitudes towards lying.
Prince’s arguments based on Normative Ethics:- As the conversation went on, Prince talked about different moral ideas to
figure out if lying to protect someone's feelings is right or wrong. He looked at ethical theories like deontology and
consequentialism and discussed values like honesty, empathy, and the possible outcomes of lying. His goal was to find a
common understanding of whether lying is morally acceptable in this situation.
Prakhar’s arguments are based on Meta-Ethics:- He explored how we make moral judgments and the basis of ethical
beliefs. He asked questions like whether moral values are objective or subjective, how cultural differences affect moral beliefs,
and whether there are universal ethical rules. These deeper questions help us better understand the foundation of our moral
views and the nature of ethics.

Threshold Deontology
One possible answer to this problem is threshold deontology. It means we should always follow moral rules, except in
emergency situations, where we can switch to thinking about the consequences of our actions to decide what to do.

Virtue Ethics
● Aristotelian virtue ethics focuses on building good character traits as the basis for behaving ethically. It highlights how
good people help create a successful society by developing traits like courage, fairness, and self-control to make
moral decisions.
● It focuses on the development of good character traits, or virtues (good behaviour), as the foundation for moral
behaviour.
● The more we practise being honest, just, courageous, and so on, the more likely we are to become virtuous people.
● They are more like dispositions (nature) or tendencies to act in certain ways.
For example, the virtue of courage is not a rule that says “Always do what is dangerous.” It is a disposition (nature)
to face danger with determination and resolve.
● It is not only about doing the right thing but also about living a meaningful and fulfilling life.

Virtue and vice

- A virtue is a good quality in how a person thinks, feels, and acts in different parts of life. A vice, on the
other hand, is a bad quality in how a person thinks, feels, and acts.

- Virtues are not just simple habits but are deep parts of a person's character, showing who they really
are. A virtue makes a person good, while a vice makes a person bad.

- Examples of virtues are telling the truth, being honest, and working hard. Examples of vices are
stealing, cheating, and committing fraud.

4. Applied Ethics

Administrative Ethics
● Transparency: The administration must not only follow transparency laws but also voluntarily disclose all information
to the public in order to prevent corruption and fraudulent decisions and to provide the public with an accurate picture
of the government.
- Woodrow Wilson was correct when he said, “Corruption thrives in secret places and avoids public places.”
● Integrity: Integrity is frequently referred to as the “value of values”. It requires administrators to stand firm and
persistently up for civil service values.
Nothing else matters if there is integrity. Nothing else matters if there is no integrity.
- Example: Civil servants like Ashok Khemka and Sanjiv Chaturvedi set a good example for present and
future civil servants.

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 ● Objectivity: Civil servants must make decisions based solely on facts and logic, with no undue influence from bias or
prejudice.
- Example: A civil servant’s advice to political bosses should be based on facts, analysis, and rational logic
rather than personal beliefs.
● Compassion: In a developing country where poverty and hunger are widespread, civil servants must be
compassionate to the weaker sections in order to meet their needs.
- Example: If a needy beneficiary named Ramesh under a scheme does not have valid documents, a public
servant should not simply reject the application but should make efforts to obtain the necessary documents
and provide him with the benefits he is entitled to.
● Commitment to public service: Governance in a democracy involves many challenges and pressures, so civil
servants must be completely committed to serving the people despite the challenges. Such dedication ensures that
civil servants remain motivated over the course of their long careers.
- Example: The district’s police department’s dedication is demonstrated by the district’s recent UN Award
for community policing.
● Impartiality: Civil servants must treat everyone equally, regardless of religion, class, caste, or other factors. This is
critical for the rule of law and maintaining people’s trust in democracy.
- Articles 14 and 15 of the Indian Constitution guarantee the right to equality for all Indian citizens.

Scholars Opinion
- In his book "The Responsible Administrator: An Approach to Ethics for the Administrative Role," Terry L.
Cooper highlights how important it is for public administrators to act ethically.
- Cooper argues that when making decisions, administrators should follow principles like accountability,
transparency, and fairness.
- He also stresses that administrators need to balance the needs of different people, protect the public's
best interests, and use their power responsibly.
- Cooper’s work focuses on the need for ethical actions in administration and gives ideas on how to
encourage ethical behaviour in public service.

Feminist Ethics:- Feminist ethics is the study and critique of traditional ethical theories from a gendered perspective. It
emphasises the importance of gender equality and challenges male-dominated ethical frameworks.
Feminist ethics encompasses multiple dimensions, including:
- Care Ethics: Scholars like Carol Gilligan and Nel Noddings developed care ethics, which focuses on the importance
of care, empathy, and relationships in making ethical decisions, especially in roles like caregivers.
- Gender Justice: Feminist ethics points out the unfairness and biases against women in traditional ethical ideas. It
calls for gender perspectives to be included in ethics, addressing issues like reproductive rights, violence against
women, and gender discrimination.
- Intersectionality: Feminist ethics understands that gender combines with other identities like race, class, and
sexuality. Scholars like Kimberlé Crenshaw highlight how different systems of privilege and oppression overlap and
influence ethical decisions.
- Ethics of Autonomy and Agency: Feminist ethics supports recognizing women's independence and ability to make
decisions. It rejects controlling attitudes and promotes women’s right to make choices about their own lives.
- Feminist Critique: Feminist ethics looks critically at traditional ethical ideas for their gender biases. Scholars like
Virginia Held and Alison Jaggar argue that including feminist views can expand the moral conversation, challenge
power structures, and change social norms.
Feminist ethics aims to create a fairer ethical system that includes the experiences of women and marginalised groups. It
challenges traditional ideas about morality, focuses on care and relationships, and pushes for gender equality and justice. It
works to make ethics more fair by examining power, gender, and social inequality.

Bioethics
The Bioethics domain examines ethical issues in human biology and biotechnology. While modern science has advanced to the
point where it can alter human biology, bioethics establish certain ethical guidelines for how and why such scientific knowledge
should be used.
Issues:-
● Privacy: Biomedical research and data collection must respect individuals’ privacy because they deal with private,
sensitive medical information about them.
- Example, A person with a chronic life-threatening disease, may not want to reveal this to another person

● Bio-piracy:- Bio-piracy is when wealthy countries and their scientists collect biological resources (like DNA, plants,
and tissues) from developing countries, especially in tropical areas with more biodiversity, for commercial purposes.
Bio-piracy is when a wealthy country uses biological resources from a poorer country to make profit without sharing
the benefits. It is expected that developed countries should not use these resources without sharing the gains with
the countries they come from.
- The Nagoya Protocol, part of the Convention on Biological Diversity, requires countries that agree to it to
ensure that access to biological resources and the sharing of benefits are done fairly for the good of
biotechnology and all people.

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 ● Abortion:- Abortion is a highly debated topic regarding its ethics. People who support the pro-life view believe that
human life is sacred and that parents should not have the right to end it. They argue that life begins at conception,
and aborting a foetus is like committing murder.
- Pro-choice supporters argue that parents should have the complete right to decide and plan for
parenthood, which includes the option to abort an unwanted child. As society has progressed, India’s
abortion laws have also become more flexible.
- Abortion, on the other hand, remains illegal in India.

● Exorcism:- Exorcism raises ethical issues in bioethics because it is used to treat people who might be experiencing
mental health or neurological problems.
- It connects with bioethics when there are concerns about a person's autonomy, informed consent, possible harm, and
the need for medical treatments based on evidence, especially for psychological or psychiatric issues that might be
wrongly seen as possession or spiritual problems.

Medical Ethics
● End-of-life care:- includes measures like life support to keep a person alive when they are brain-dead or have no
chance of recovery.
- Different societies have different ethical norms regarding when to introduce and when to withdraw life support.
- Some countries prefer to keep the patient alive, while others prefer to remove it when survival is unlikely so that the
facility can be used for other promising patients.
● Informed consent means that patients should receive all the information about a medical procedure before agreeing
to it.
- For instance, taking kidneys from patients without their permission is obviously unethical.
● Attachment with the patient:Medical ethics suggests that doctors should not form emotional attachments to
patients, as they need to treat them objectively. This helps doctors remain focused and brave. However, some believe
that having a certain level of compassion and care for patients is essential.
● Euthanasia:- the practice of ending the life of a patient to limit the patient's suffering
- In this regard, the Supreme Court of India permitted passive euthanasia in the Aruna Shanbaug case
in 2011, and it recently permitted an ‘advance directive’ or ‘living will’ for terminally ill patients.
● Prescription: Doctors must ensure that they prescribe the most accessible, affordable, and effective medicines to
their patients, i.e. generic drugs rather than expensive patented drugs
- Example: The Government of India, runs the Jan Aushadhi Yojana to increase the supply of generic
medicines.
● Patient identity:- Medical ethics require doctors to treat all patients with honesty and commitment, regardless of their
identity or background, even if the patient is a criminal. The Hippocratic oath, which doctors take, establishes this
ethical standard.

Media Ethics
● Independence:-Media outlets (print, electronic, or digital) must be politically neutral and independent of the
government. The independence of the media not only promotes free speech and expression but also encourages
debate and dissent in democratic societies.
- Example:- Currently, in the United States, certain media outlets are showing courage and determination to question
the Trump administration’s policies, despite direct criticism and denigration by the President himself.
● Objectivity: Media personnel’s reports should be based on facts rather than personal bias or prejudice. The media
must report all information from all points of view. It must also give due consideration to all points of view as well as
facts.
- Example: The Government of India recently barred Qatar government-owned news channel Al-Jazeera from
operating in Jammu and Kashmir due to its biased coverage.
● Sensationalism:- The role of the media in a democracy is to provide people with information in its purest form so
that they can make informed decisions. The media must avoid sensationalising and scandalising news for the sake of
marketing, as this causes tensions, heightened emotions, and so on.
● Editorial independence:- The editorial and news reporting segments, on the other hand, must be kept separate
from the commercial segments, such as advertisements.
- Example: Governments may coerce newspapers to refrain from publishing criticism of the government in exchange
for government commercial advertisements.
 However, an independent editorial department can double-check that.
● Ownership::- Media organizations should avoid being owned by a small group of powerful people, like politicians or
businessmen. Ownership of the media should be spread out to ensure fairness and prevent bias.
● Responsibility and sensitivity: When covering news, particularly live coverage, media professionals must ensure
that their coverage does not jeopardise the larger public interest.
- Example:- When reporting on issues such as riots and rapes, the media must exercise basic sensitivity and avoid
hurting the emotions or dignity of any individual or community.
● Honesty:- It is important that information is shared with the public fully and accurately. No information should be
hidden, even if it goes against the interests of the media outlet.

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 ● Accountability: The media should be held accountable for its mistakes and take appropriate action to right the
wrongs.
- Example, news programs must acknowledge errors in their reporting while also presenting the correct information.
● Methods of obtaining information: Proper methods of obtaining information should be used while maintaining
privacy, dignity, and trust, among other things. Methods such as sting operations should be used only when they are
clearly in the public interest, and there should be clear guidelines in place.
Environmental Ethics

● Ensure sustainability:- We should use the environment and its resources in a way that ensures future generations
and marginalized people have enough to meet their basic needs. We need to save natural resources and avoid
overconsumption. As Gandhiji said, there is enough for everyone’s needs, but not for anyone’s greed.
- Example: The story of Kamala Sohonie, the first Indian woman to receive a Ph.D. in science. Sohonie was a scientist
who worked on developing environmentally friendly pesticides. She believed that humans had a responsibility to
protect the environment and worked to develop sustainable pest control solutions.
● Compensation for environmental loss: Although basic economic and domestic activities consume resources and
pollute the environment, they are necessary for development. Those who degrade the environment, whether for
legitimate or unjust reasons, must take compensatory measures.
- Example :-compensatory afforestation, for which the Government of India recently passed legislation.
● Conservation of biodiversity:- We must do everything we can to reduce or stop environmental pollution. This is
important for protecting nature and for the survival of living beings who depend on natural resources.
- Example:- Chipko movement in the 1970s
● Equal access to natural resources: All living beings have equal access to Mother Nature. As a result, we must
ensure that nature is used for the benefit of all, rather than just a select few.
● Right to life and existence of natural creatures:Every living being has the right to life and existence. Humans are
not meant to consume or exploit other living beings. The earth belongs to all living things, not just humans.
- Example: This concept even extends to non-living environmental entities. The Uttarakhand High Court recently
granted the Ganga the status of a living person, along with all the rights and obligations that entails.
● Mother nature: Environmentalists believe that ‘nature knows best’. We must treat it with respect or it will lash out in
order to restore the balance.
- Floods, cyclones, and landslides, for example, are viewed as natural methods of restoring natural order.

Scholars Opinion
Holmes Rolston III, a philosopher focused on the environment, talks about how ethics affect the environment in his book
Environmental Ethics. He highlights the importance of making ethical choices to solve environmental problems and protect
the planet for future generations. He says, "The Earth may survive, but how humans live on it depends on whether we act
ethically toward the environment, both as individuals and as a society."

Ethics in Business
● Transparency: Businesses must be open in their operations and share all information with their stakeholders. This is
also required for the market to function properly.
● Conflicts of interest: Business professionals must act objectively and fairly regardless of personal interests or
obligations. They must make decisions only in the best interests of the company.
- Example, ICICI CEO Chanda Kochhar was sanctioned for a conflict of interest in lending to entities related to her
husband. Individuals must fully disclose any conflicts of interest that arise.
● Integrity: Complete adherence to moral principles is required for the long-term health of any business.
Organisational and public interests must take precedence over private interests.
- Example :-Recent scams such as PMC Bank and PNB Bank are the result of individuals’ lack of integrity.

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 ● Environmental sustainability: Industries must operate in a way that does not degrade the environment beyond
repair and recovery. They must also reduce the harm by implementing measures such as energy efficiency, effluent
treatment plants, rooftop solar energy, and so on.
● Social responsibility: Because businesses make profits, they have a moral obligation to contribute a reasonable
portion of their profits to the welfare of the society around them.
- Example:- Gandhi Ji put forth the “concept of trusteeship”,in which wealthy people hold the resources of the people
in trust and must use them for the greater public good.
● Worker rights: Because industries rely on labour to generate output and profits, they are obligated to provide basic
rights and facilities to workers in order for them to work in humane conditions. Furthermore, good employee benefits
such as pay, recognition, and so on boost worker motivation and productivity.
- Example:-The Indian government has introduced a Code on Wages Bill to rationalise and raise minimum wages in
order to protect workers’ right to a fair wage.
● Accountability: Because they use large amounts of public money and resources, businesses, particularly large
corporations, must hold themselves accountable to their stakeholders.
- Companies must ensure regular annual reports, audits, and Annual General Meetings (AGMs) to ensure business
honesty and fairness.
● Gender equality: In a patriarchal society, businesses must act as torchbearers and set examples for gender equality
and justice by implementing policies such as equal work for equal pay, maternity leave, anti-sexual harassment
bodies, and so on

Scholars Opinion
Scholars also point out how ethics affects a company's success. In his book Ethics and the Conduct of Business,
John R. Boatright looks at how ethical behavior impacts business. He argues that companies that focus on ethics
earn trust, improve their reputation, and gain an advantage over competitors. Boatright says, "Ethics can benefit
businesses by helping them avoid legal issues, build customer loyalty, and create better relationships with
employees, customers, and suppliers."

Artificial Intelligence Ethics

According to the European Commission, the ethics of AI deals with the ethical questions around the design, creation, and use
of AI, such as issues like facial recognition bias and other prejudices.
● Guidelines for Trustworthy AI from the European Commission:

- Human Agency and Oversight: AI should help create a fair and democratic society by supporting people's ability to
make choices.
- Transparency: AI should be understandable and clear about how it works and what it does.
- Diversity, Non-discrimination, and Fairness: AI should avoid unfair biases, be accessible to everyone, and include
diverse voices in its development and use.
- Accountability: Those responsible for AI systems must ensure fairness and take responsibility for its outcomes.

Cyber Ethics
● Following the law: Internet users must obey the law and not engage in illegal activities like hacking, fraud, stalking,
or harassment.
● Intellectual Property Rights (IPR): Online content is often protected by copyright, and users must respect these
rights to support web innovation and authenticity.
● Privacy: Even with technology like mass surveillance and spyware, users must respect each other's privacy. Online
platforms must get informed consent before collecting personal information.
● Free and open Internet: Governments, service providers, and others should work together to ensure everyone can
access the Internet without barriers. Net neutrality supports this goal.
● Respect for others online: Users should act respectfully and politely to create a safe online environment. Issues like
trolling, abuse, and shaming show why this is important.
● Public decency: Since the internet is public, users should ensure their content is suitable for all, including children.
Offensive material like pornography or violence should be avoided.
● Honesty and Sincerity: In the age of social media, users and platforms should share only true and complete
information. Spreading fake news or rumours damages trust in the internet.

Application of Ethics in Refugee Crisis

● Principle of non-refoulement: This principle stops a country from sending refugees back to a place where they
might face harm. However, some democratic countries still refuse refugees and send them back.
● National vs Global Responsibility: Countries often deny asylum due to limited resources, security risks, and the
need to care for their own citizens first. But as part of the global community, they sometimes fail in their duty to help
refugees. They focus on protecting their own citizens (utilitarian view) and ignore the moral duty to help
(deontological view).
● Violation of Human Rights: Turning away refugees violates their basic human rights to life, freedom, and the
chance to reach their potential.

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 ● Kant's Categorical Imperative: Rejecting people in need goes against Kant’s principle, as this cannot be applied as
a universal rule. Some countries have used refugees for political purposes, like during the 2021 Belarus-EU border
crisis, treating people as tools rather than respecting their dignity. This also goes against Gandhiji’s idea of protecting
the weakest.
● Accidents of Birth: Most refugees suffer because they were born in certain places (like Syria or Afghanistan) or into
persecuted groups (like the Rohingyas or Ahmadiyas). Denying them safety violates basic ethics.
● Historical Responsibility: Western countries are partly responsible for many refugee crises, due to colonial actions,
wars, and policies. They should take responsibility for their past actions.
● Society’s Ethical Standards: Treating refugees poorly damages societal values like empathy, care, and
compassion, setting a bad example for the future.

Action Agent Theory

● An ethical framework that emphasises the role of the agent or individual in moral decision-making and evaluation is
Action-Agent Theory, also known as agent-based ethics.
- This approach looks at the person's character, intentions, and virtues when judging if an action is moral or not. By
including personal virtues and traits, it gives a more complete view of what is ethically right or wrong.
- Aristotle, Alasdair MacIntyre, and Rosalind Hursthouse are among the scholars who have contributed to the
development and exploration of Action-Agent Theory.
● Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics is the base for Action-Agent Theory. In his book Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle said that
moral virtues are essential for ethical behavior.
- Aristotle suggested that people should work to build good character traits like courage, justice, and self-control. For
him, a morally good action is one done by a person with these virtues.
● Rosalind Hursthouse influenced Action-Agent Theory through her work on virtue ethics, especially in her book On
Virtue Ethics.
- Hursthouse highlighted that character traits and virtues are important for making ethical choices. She suggested that
virtuous people have certain traits that help them make morally right decisions.
● Emphasis on moral judgement: The emphasis in Action-Agent Theory is not solely on the outcomes of an action
(as in consequentialist ethics) or on adherence to universal moral principles (as in deontological ethics).
- Instead, moral judgement is based on the character and intentions of the agent performing the action.
- This approach recognizes that ethical actions emerge from individuals’ moral character and the virtues they embody.

● Assess the morality of action: When assessing the morality of an action, Action-Agent Theory considers factors
such as personal motivations, intentions, moral reasoning, and the cultivation of virtuous traits.
- It recognizes that an action can be morally praised or condemned based on the virtues or vices displayed by the
agent.
- This framework understands that moral decisions are complex and depend on the situation, giving a more detailed
view of ethics.
Action-Agent Theory adds depth to ethics by focusing on the individual's role in moral actions, highlighting the importance of
character and virtues in guiding ethical behavior. Thinkers like Aristotle, Alasdair MacIntyre, and Rosalind Hursthouse helped
develop this framework, offering insights into the role of the person making the moral choice.

Teleological Ethics
Teleology is a philosophy that states that the consequences of one’s action are the ultimate judge of the rightness or
wrongfulness of the conduct.
● Teleological ethics, also known as consequentialist ethics, is an ethical framework that evaluates the moral worth of
actions based on their consequences or outcomes. It emphasises the notion that the goodness or value of an action
determines its morality.
- Jeremy Bentham, John Stuart Mill, and consequentialist theories such as utilitarianism have all contributed to the
development and exploration of teleological ethics.
● Jeremy Bentham and Utilitarianism: An influential philosopher, Jeremy Bentham, is regarded as one of the
founders of utilitarianism, a prominent form of teleological ethics.
- Bentham proposed that actions be judged according to their ability to maximise overall happiness or utility.
● John Stuart Mill and Rule Utilitarianism: Building on Bentham’s utilitarianism, John Stuart Mill advanced
teleological ethics with his concept of rule utilitarianism.
- Mill contended that actions should be guided by broad principles that, when followed, tend to maximise overall
happiness. Rather than focusing on the happiness or utility of each individual action,
- Mill emphasised the importance of adhering to rules that promote the greatest happiness in the long run.
● Act Utilitarianism and Rule Utilitarianism
- Teleological ethics is divided into two parts,
1. Act Utilitarianism: It evaluates the morality of individual actions based on their immediate consequences. It takes
into account the specific circumstances of each situation and seeks to maximise overall utility in that particular
instance.
2. Rule Utilitarianism: It emphasises adhering to general rules that, when consistently applied, tend to produce the
greatest overall utility or happiness.

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 ● Teleological ethics evaluates actions based on their outcomes: . It emphasises maximising overall well-being or
happiness as the ultimate goal of ethical behaviour. In teleological ethics, ethical evaluation is frequently based on
the principle of utility or some other criterion of goodness.
● Criticism of theory: Critics of teleological ethics express concerns about the difficulty of predicting consequences,
potential conflicts of interest, and the possibility of sacrificing individual rights or minority interests for the greater
good.

Example Based on Deontological and Teleological Theories

Let us suppose a man kick’s a dog sleeping roadside. The dog cries and runs away. Moments later, a car comes
speeding along the road so fast that it would certainly have killed the dog if it had still been lying there.
Deontological perspective says, the man’s action was bad since it is cruel to kick dogs but according to the
teleological perspective, his action was good, since it saved the dog’s life.

Teleological ethics, especially utilitarianism, has greatly influenced ethical discussions on topics like social justice,
policy-making, and balancing personal and group interests. Thinkers like Bentham and Mill have contributed a lot to
understanding teleological ethics and its role in ethical decisions.

Means Vs Ends Debate

The means vs. ends debate in ethics is a question of whether the ends justify the means. In other words, is it ethical to use
unethical means to achieve a good end?This is a complex question with no easy answer, and there are many different
perspectives on it.
● Means-ends distinction is a central concept in ethics: It refers to the idea that the way we achieve our goals is
just as important as the goals themselves.
- There are two main ethical theories that deal with the means-ends distinction:-
- Consequentialism: This theory judges the morality of an action based on its [Link] the
consequences are good, then the action is considered moral, even if the means used to achieve those
consequences were bad.
- Deontology: This theory judges the morality of an action based on the duty or obligation to act in a certain
way. The means used to achieve an end are not as important as the fact that the action was performed out
of a sense of duty.
● The means-ends distinction is often debated in the context of political and military actions: For example,
some people believe that it is justified to use torture to extract information from a terrorist suspect, even if torture is
considered a morally bad act.
● The means-ends distinction is also relevant to personal ethics: For example, some people believe that it is
justified to lie to a friend in order to protect their feelings, even if lying is considered to be a morally bad act.
● There is no easy answer to whether the ends justify the means: It is a complex issue that depends on the
specific circumstances of each case.
● Some people believe that the ends never justify the means: They believe that it is always wrong to use bad
means to achieve good ends.
● Other people believe that the ends sometimes justify the means: They believe that it is sometimes necessary to
use bad means to achieve good ends if the good ends are sufficiently important.
● The means-ends distinction is a complex and challenging issue: There is no easy answer, and each case must
be considered on its own merits.

Historical Examples of the Means vs. Ends Debate

The Mahabharata: The Mahabharata is an ancient Indian epic depicting a tremendous conflict between two
families of cousins. This raises the question of whether using unethical means to attain a good end is ever
appropriate.
Vietnam War (1954-1975): The United States utilised Agent Orange, a chemical weapon. Although Agent Orange
was known to cause birth deformities and other health problems, the United States continued to deploy it in the

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 belief that it would help them win the war.
The Suffragette Movement: The core idea is that the suffragette movement used various, sometimes disruptive,
methods to fight for women’s voting rights, which raised questions about the ethics of their tactics.

# CHALLENGES TO ETHICS
● Data Breach: Cases where personal data is leaked raise concerns about how well people's information is protected.
● Manipulation and Targeted Advertising: When companies collect data to show ads tailored to individuals, it raises
questions about whether people fully agree to this, whether it affects their freedom, and if it leads them to make
choices they otherwise wouldn’t.
● Situation Ethics: This approach to ethics fits with existentialist thinking, which denies any fixed human nature or
universal essence.
● Moral Relativism & Moral Objectivism: Moral relativism is the belief that there are no universal moral rules. In
contrast, moral objectivism says that certain actions are always right or wrong for everyone.
● Moral Subjectivism: This idea says that what’s right for one person might not be right for others. Morality is seen as
a personal choice, and one person’s beliefs about right and wrong can’t be judged by others.
● Cultural and Ethical Subjectivism: Different cultures or even groups within the same culture can have different
views on what's morally right. For example, polygamy might be accepted in one culture but strongly disapproved of in
another. Similarly, in India, some people support widow remarriage while others oppose it.
● Ethical Egoism: This belief holds that people should act in ways that benefit themselves. It's related to hedonism,
which is the idea of maximising happiness and minimizing pain.
● The Doctrine of Determinism: This view suggests that people's choices and actions are controlled by outside
forces, meaning they don’t have true free will. They can’t really choose between right and wrong, so they aren’t fully
responsible for their actions.
● Surveillance and Government Intrusion: As governments and police increase their surveillance, people worry
about privacy invasion and misuse of power. Finding the right balance between security and privacy is challenging,
especially with things like mass surveillance and facial recognition.
● Artificial Intelligence and Algorithmic Bias: When AI and algorithms are used to make important decisions like
hiring, loan approvals, or in the justice system, it raises ethical concerns. If these systems aren't built to be fair and
inclusive, they can carry forward biases and create discrimination, worsening social inequalities.

ETHICS IN PRIVATE AND PUBLIC RELATIONSHIPS

Thoughts of Gandhiji
Human beings are social animals. So, we interact with each other and when we interact with each other we establish some
relations. Gandhi said, “For achieving a non-violent and truthful society, it is important to have good relationships”.

Ethics In Private Relationships

It refers to the ethical values that a person adheres to values in his or her personal life when dealing with various relationships
such as family relationships, friendship, and so on

1. Ethics in dealing with self

Swami Vivekananda once said, talk to yourself once in a day...... Otherwise you may miss meeting an excellent
person in the world.
A person's ethical journey begins with one's thoughts.

● The first tenet of ethical thinking is thinking well, not ill, of others
Our opinions start in our thoughts. The way we think about someone shapes our opinion of them. So, it's important to
think positively about others, at least until we have clear evidence that they're truly bad.

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 - Thinking I'll of other is bad because of following reasons:-

Bad thoughts about others disturb our peace. Negative thinking harms us more, especially if we’re not sure it’s true.
1. We don’t always know if our thoughts are accurate, so judging others can be more harmful than helpful.
2. Everyone has their own opinions and personality; it’s not our place to decide if they're right or wrong.
3. What seems wrong to us may make sense to someone else based on their situation. So, it’s better to keep a positive view of
others.
4. Thinking well helps one to develop good formal and informal relationships.

Example, Suppose one of your friends comes late to class regularly. Rather than thinking that s/he is lazy and not punctual, it is
better to think that s/he stays in a neighbouring village and s/he has to come by walking after dropping off a sibling to school.

Advantages of this thinking:-

1. When you see them, you don’t have negative thoughts.
2. If you work with them, your assumptions won’t stop you from being productive.
3. You avoid judging them without proof, which is a mistake many make.
4. This approach helps you build a good friendship—they may have valuable life lessons to share.

● Consistency between words and action

It’s essential to be truthful in both words and actions. If you break promises for short-term gain, you might benefit now but lose
in the long run.
The stories of Harishchandra and the Kannada cow, Punyakoti, show this well. Punyakoti promised a tiger she’d return after
feeding her calf, and kept her word, which moved the tiger deeply.
This honesty shows why we shouldn’t make false promises. For example, if you’re a vegetable vendor and can’t supply the full
amount needed, it’s better to be upfront so others can plan accordingly. False promises risk ruining the plans of others.

● Be what you project yourself to be

If a person wouldn’t do something in front of others, they shouldn’t do it alone either. For example, if someone is too ashamed
to smoke around loved ones, they shouldn’t smoke in private.
Many people act good around others but go back to bad habits when no one’s watching. The problem here is pretending to be
someone different.
The message is: be true to who you are, and don’t pretend to be something you’re not.

● DO before you tell other to do, BE before you tell others “to-be”
A key part of personal ethics is to practise what you preach. It’s not right to tell others to do things that you don’t do yourself.
For example, a mother took her son to Gandhiji, asking him to tell her son not to eat jaggery. Gandhiji told her to come back in a
week because he, too, was eating jaggery and wanted to stop first before advising others.
Similarly, when Kasturba Gandhi was told to avoid salt for health reasons, Gandhiji also gave up salt for six months, even
though he didn’t need to.
This honest approach is very different from leaders today, who often don’t follow their own advice. For instance, some Kannada
activists who promote Kannada-medium schools send their own children to English-medium schools.

2. Ethics in one's marital life

A person's private life largely involves their relationship with their spouse, who has a deep influence on them. The spouse is the
closest person to them, and how they treat their spouse often shapes how they treat others.

Ethics in one's marital life maybe captured in following points:

1. Understand that your spouse is unique and different from you.

2. Don’t try to control or impose your will on them.
3. Value their opinions in family decisions.
4. Share household finances fairly; if they aren’t earning, still give them money to use independently.
5. Avoid being possessive.
6. Show and practice loyalty toward them without doubt.
7. Respect your spouse’s friends and let them keep those relationships.
8. Marriage shouldn’t stop anyone from pursuing their interests and hobbies; support them in doing so.
9. There shouldn’t be competition between spouses; celebrate each other's achievements like a proud parent.
10. Even if you disagree, stand by each other in front of others.
11. If your spouse is acting unethically, it’s your duty to help correct them.
12. Support your spouse unconditionally in their achievements. For example, when Narayan Murthy was starting his career in
the U.S., his wife Sudha Murthy kept their son’s serious illness a secret so it wouldn’t distract him.
13 Care about your spouse's health and avoid habits that could harm both of you. If a doctor advises your spouse to eat
something healthy, like bitter gourd, you should join them in eating it, even if you dislike it. This way, they won't feel tempted to
eat unhealthy food while trying to recover.
14. Remember your spouse’s birthday and other important days.

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15. Help share the household chores, especially for men. In Indian society, there’s a belief that chores are a woman’s
responsibility, but many women work outside the home. Men should assist with chores, as women often have a lot on their
plates.
16. Each person should maintain their own identity after marriage. A wife shouldn’t feel obligated to add her husband’s name to
hers if she doesn’t want to.
17. Never publicly abuse or disrespect your spouse, even after separation. Respecting your spouse’s conduct and character is
crucial. For example, Rob Kardashian disrespected Blac Chyna by sharing nude photos and body-shaming her after their
breakup, which was unethical.
18. Marital rape means forcing sexual intercourse on a spouse against their will. In a patriarchal society, men may wrongly
believe they have the right to demand sex from their wives. However, everyone has the right to choose whether or not to
engage in sexual activity. A true ethical man respects his wife’s choice and never forces her for sex.

These are the above areas in which a person needs to exhibit ethics in his/her dealing with his/her spouse.

3. Ethics in dealing with one's Children

Parents are a child’s first friends, guides, and role models. Children learn by observing their parents and often go to them with
questions. This shapes the child’s attitudes and opinions, allowing parents to build ethics in their child’s character.

1. Parents should teach children not to be greedy, as greed leads to many problems. They can show them how to live within
their means and respect others’ belongings. For example, if a child takes another’s chocolate, parents should explain why that’s
wrong, using gentle discipline if needed.
2. Parents shouldn’t expose children to their own unethical actions, like lying or hiding. If a parent avoids paying a debt and lies
about it, a child may learn that lying is acceptable.
3. If a child points out a parent’s mistake, parents should stay calm, admit the mistake, and thank the child. This teaches the
child that admitting faults is a positive thing and encourages them to be honest when they make mistakes in the future.
[Link] a child sees an elder making a mistake, parents face a challenge. They need to support the child’s sense of right and
wrong while also teaching them to respect elders to prevent arrogance.
For example, I once saw a teacher cheating during an exam, which I found deeply wrong. I went home and angrily criticized
the teacher. My father listened calmly and told me that while the teacher’s act was wrong, my reaction—disrespecting the
teacher—was also wrong. He explained that mistakes should be opposed respectfully. His words helped me oppose cheating
without losing respect for elders.
5. Parents should treat all children equally. Each child is unique, even if they don’t excel academically, like in the movie Taare
Zameen Par.
6. Parents should set an ethical example. For instance, my father, who works at a bank, once refused a bribe in front of me.
Though I was too young to understand fully, I noticed he didn’t take someone else’s money, which taught me a valuable lesson
about honesty.
[Link] are free to take any side. However, just remember the following:
➤ It is person specific. Someone may respond positively to words, but someone may need sword to respond.
➤Whatever is done should not create a permanent ill will in the mind of a child.
➤Child should not commit the mistake again.
➤ Child should get reformed because of a punishing act.
8. Parents shouldn’t stop others (like grandparents, uncles, or teachers) from punishing children when needed, as this helps
children learn respect for elders.
9. Parents should teach children to respect the opposite gender from an early age. Early gender sensitization can help reduce
issues like sexual assault and domestic violence later on.
10. Children should regularly meet family and relatives to develop a sense of community. City-raised kids should visit their
family in villages to stay connected to their roots.

4. Ethics in dealing with one's friends

Margaret Walker's quote, "Friends and good manners take you to places where money cannot go," highlights how friends
shape our personalities. Friends play a big role in forming our ethical views, as they are often the ones we trust with things we
might not share with anyone else—not even parents or a spouse. True friends often understand us deeply, even our inner
thoughts.

Ethics while dealing with friends manifests in the following way:-

1. Trust is the foundation of true friendship. An example is the friendship between Duryodhana and Karna. Once, when Karna
accidentally broke Duryodhana’s wife’s necklace, Duryodhana chose to trust him and calmly helped pick up the pearls. This
trust later led Karna to stay loyal to Duryodhana, even when Krishna invited him to join the Pandavas.
2. Friends greatly influence our habits. Often, friends introduce each other to things like drinking or motivate each other to stick
with positive habits, like going to the gym. For example, one friend may push the other to keep up with gym routines, even
when they're feeling lazy.
3. Support only your friend’s ethical actions, as helping in wrongdoings is unethical.
4. Offer emotional and financial support when a friend is in crisis. Friends often share problems, like breakups or marital issues,
that they may not discuss with family. In such times, friends are crucial for support.
5. Respect your friend’s family, treating their parents and siblings like your own.

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 The following are some cardinal values in private relationships:
1. Trust: Trust is essential for a strong relationship. Without it, relationships often fail, especially in tough times.
2. Mutual Respect: Respect helps maintain compassion, commitment, truthfulness, and fairness in the relationship.
3. Law of Integrity: Always be honest and keep your promises.
4. Law of Improvement: If you make a mistake, work on improving yourself.
5. Gratitude: Remember and appreciate those who help you.
6. Loyalty: Stay devoted to your partner and family.
7. Love: Love means accepting everything, including imperfections.
8. Fidelity: Fidelity is being faithful to your partner and not being tempted by others.
9. Confidentiality: Keeping private matters secret is important to maintain the trust in relationships.
- I don’t share my friends' or colleagues' secrets without their permission. I know that revealing their private information
can cause problems in our relationships. I respect their privacy and keep their trust, just like I want my privacy
respected. By keeping their secrets, I show that I value our trust, which helps our relationships grow stronger.
10. Accountability & Responsibility: In private relationships, we have responsibilities to our children, partners, and parents.
We must fulfill these duties and be accountable if we fail to do so.
11. Tolerance and Acceptance: Tolerance means recognizing and respecting others' values and differences. It helps us break
down barriers in our minds, allowing us to think more openly and find greater inner peace.
- Tolerance and acceptance help reduce conflict and promote harmony in society. This is especially important in a
diverse country like India, which has many religions, cultures, and beliefs.

Ethics in private relationships are generally directed by:

● Individual virtues: These are qualities like truthfulness and honesty that help in building ethics in personal
relationships. They show a person’s attitude and behavior.
● Universal human values: These are standard values that guide ethical behavior for everyone.
For example, respecting elders is a common value that shapes personal relationships.
● Religion: Religious people follow divine instructions to please God and attain salvation.
For example, Christians use the Ten Commandments as a guide in their interactions with family, neighbors, and
society.
● Social norms: We learn certain values from our surroundings, like family, friends, and society.
Example: Parents teach us how to respect and interact with family elders.
● Law of the land: Some ethical rules are set by laws and the constitution.
Example: It is our duty, as per the Indian Constitution, to respect women’s dignity.

The Importance of Ethics in Private Relationships

● Leads to a good life: Helps people handle tough times and live well.
● Right decision-making: Helps us make good choices, especially in conflicts.
● Character development: Builds qualities like honesty, integrity, and equality.
● Ethical lessons for children: Living ethically at home teaches children their first lessons in values.
● Acceptance in public life: Ethical behaviour in personal relationships makes a person more respected publicly.
● More tolerance for imperfection: With trust and love, people become more accepting of each other's flaws in close
relationships.

Ethics In Public Relationship

Public life refers to the collection of a person's relationship interaction and dealing with society at large.
It encompasses one's dealing with anyone who is not personally related to him/her
Ethics in public life includes,
- Dealing with everyone fairly and equally
- Abstaining from doing anything that creates trouble to public

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 1. Ethics in the lives of Public Figure

Public figures: Celebrities are watched closely, set trends, and influence people, often followed blindly.
Ethics in their lives: They should promote good values, live as role models, and follow the behaviors expected in society.
- Example: Dr. Raj Kumar, a Kannada cinema legend, avoided smoking and drinking roles, and supported a milk
brand to help farmers, a legacy continued by his son. Sachin Tendulkar turned down huge offers to endorse alcohol
and cigarettes.
Negative influence: Celebrities involved in scandals or irresponsible acts, like drunk driving, send the wrong message. Even
though they deserve privacy, they should aim to uphold high ethical standards due to their influence.

2. Ethics in the lives of those who hold public office / those who head some organizations

Public office: These are roles that serve the public and are usually funded by public money. This includes government
employees, elected leaders, and officials in public companies.

Ethics in their life is manifested as below:-

a. Placing Public interest over and above Private interest

Public interest vs. private interest: Public interest is about what benefits society, while private interest is focused on personal
or family gain.
Insider trading: This is when company insiders use private information to make money unfairly. For example, if a company’s
top managers know about a profitable acquisition before it’s public, they might buy shares early, causing prices to rise after the
news breaks. They then sell for a big profit, prioritizing private gain over public trust.
Harshad Mehta scam: In the 1990s, Harshad Mehta, a stockbroker, misused bank funds meant for government securities by
investing them in stocks to inflate prices. Banks would give him money to buy shares, but he delayed transferring shares back,
keeping large amounts of bank money in his control.
How it affected people: This pumped up stock prices artificially, attracting people to invest their savings. When Mehta sold his
shares, the market crashed, and many people lost their money.

Here, Bank managers and Mehta prioritized personal gain over the interests of the public and depositors.

b. Prompt Custody of funds of people

Public office responsibilities: People in public offices manage public funds, which they should:
- Use only for the intended purpose
- Pay to the right people on time
- Use any returns from these funds for the intended purpose as well
Example: If a college principal delays refunding student fees to earn interest for personal use, it is a misuse of public funds, as
the money should have gone to students on time.

c. Regulatory Compliance

Leadership responsibilities: Leaders of organizations must ensure their company follows all regulations, whether specific to
their industry or general.
Example: Suppose Mr. X runs a pharmaceutical company, he must adhere to hygiene and data protection rules, even if it
raises costs.
Ethical compliance: Compliance should be genuine, not just on paper. Some leaders look for loopholes in regulations to save
money, like a shoe manufacturer billing each shoe separately to pay less tax. Ethical leaders do not exploit such loopholes

3. Ethics of Regulator

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Regulator: A regulator is an organization that oversees public activities to ensure safety and fairness.
Need for regulation: Some organizations might harm the public's health or well-being for profit or due to ignorance. Therefore,
regulations are necessary to prevent such harmful activities and protect the public.

a. Ethical dimensions for functioning of Regulator

The main connection between regulation and ethics occurs when rules are created. Regulation should be

● Non-discriminatory regulations: Rules should treat all organizations equally.

- Example: If both public sector units (PSUs) and private companies operate in the same industry, they should follow
the same quality standards. For instance, if PSUs can certify their own products, private companies should also be
allowed to do the same instead of needing an outside audit.

● Equitable regulation: Rules should ensure fair benefits for both current and future generations.
- Example: If a regulator oversees fishing in a river where local communities depend on it for their livelihoods, they
must find a balance. They can't completely ban fishing to protect the environment, as that would harm the fishermen.
At the same time, they can't allow unlimited fishing, which would deplete fish stocks. The regulator should set limits
that allow fishing without harming the environment.

● Sympathetic to weaker sections: Regulations should protect the interests of vulnerable groups.
- Example: If a regulator oversees stone quarrying, the rules should support quarry workers by ensuring safe working
conditions, providing social security, and offering medical facilities at the site.

b. Ethics in execution of regulation

A regulation without enforcement is not really a regulation.
This enforcement is mostly done through:-
✓ inspections,
✓ seeking reports,
✓ imposing penal actions
✓ acting like an ombudsman - receiving complaints
Ethical enforcement: Inspections should be fair and consistent across all units, checking them against regulation standards.
Example: As a Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) regulating sand mining, you must act against illegal miners equally, regardless
of their political connections. An ethical SDM should take strict action against all illegal miners, whether they support local
leaders or not, without giving in to pressure to favor or target any group.

c. Regulatory overreach
Over-regulation: Regulatory agencies sometimes impose too many rules in the name of promoting competition.
Example: The EU fined Google for showing its own products at the top of search results, arguing that it hurt competition in the
search engine market. However, this was seen as an effort to limit American companies' dominance in Europe.
Change in laws: The replacement of the MRTP Act of 1969 with the Competition Act of 2002 was aimed at preventing
excessive regulation while still promoting fair competition.

4. Ethics in the public life of common man

Public life isn’t just for celebrities or officials; it includes anyone who interacts with people outside their personal circle. So, any
interaction with someone not personally connected falls under public life.

a. Impact on others' health

Impact of personal habits on public health: One person’s actions can affect others' health. For example, littering, open
defecation, and poor hygiene in hotels can spread diseases. An auto driver using kerosene in fuel or smoking in public harms
others' health by polluting the air.

b. Impact on the pleasant experience of fellow citizens

Since everyone’s actions affect others, behaviour is ethical as long as it doesn’t cause unnecessary discomfort to others.

Examples: Leaving a public urinal unflushed, making loud noise with a bike, taking up a public bench by lying down, scribbling
on walls, or dirtying public spaces are all unethical actions because they create unpleasantness for others.

Example: In a public relations campaign for a healthcare company, the PR professional

- Follows ethical values and moral rules during the campaign.
- Make sure all messages are honest, clear, and open.
- Respects patients' and clients' privacy and keeps their information confidential.
- Avoids any situations that might cause conflicts of interest or harm the campaign’s trustworthiness.
- Interacts with everyone involved in a fair and respectful way.
- Aims to build a good and ethical reputation for the healthcare company.

● Important values critical to the integrity of any profession

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Key values like support, honesty, selflessness, skill, openness, responsibility, and fairness are needed to guide people’s actions
and are essential for maintaining trust in any profession.

● Any ethical framework must include the following components

- Setting clear ethical rules and guidelines
- Sharing personal interests to avoid conflicts between public good and personal benefit
- Creating a system to enforce these rules.
- Setting rules for when a public official can or cannot hold office.

Sir M Visvesvaraya
He invited all of his relatives to dinner before accepting the position of Dewan of Mysore. He stated unequivocally that he
would accept the prestigious position on the condition that none of them approach him for favours. These days, such things
are unheard of. He is said to have had two sets of candles. One was purchased privately and used for personal purposes,
while the other was provided by the government and was only used for official purposes.

Madhu Mohanty
In 2005, Mohanty was instrumental in the rescue of the crew of the ill-fated Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
cryogenic engine test vehicle. The vehicle had exploded during a test, and Mohanty led the team that rescued the three
scientists who were on board. This incident showed Mohanty's commitment to safety and his willingness to put others before
himself.

● The Role of Ethics In Public Relationships

- Moral Compass: Helps in resolving conflicts of interest by guiding ethical decisions, as personal life often influences
public roles.
- Humanising Public Relations: Personal ethics, like honesty, improve public interactions and shape one’s moral
values.
- Responsible Advocacy: Personal values drive responsible communication and advocacy
- Social Well-being: Builds public trust, authority, and aims for the overall good of society.
- Fair Decision-Making: Supports balanced and fair choices.
- Credibility: Transparency in public relations maintains an organisation’s reputation and trustworthiness.
- Trustworthy Relationships: Ethical behaviour builds strong, trust-based connections with the public and
stakeholders.
- Courtesy: Being polite and respectful is very important for civil servants in India. It makes the public feel connected
and valued
- Example: Prashanth Nair (IAS) gained the nickname “Collector Bro” for his friendly way of interacting with
people.
- Spirit of Service: Civil servants should be dedicated to helping others, often going beyond their basic duties to serve
the public. This gives them personal satisfaction and motivates their colleagues to work towards service goals.

Civil servants’ morale has been deteriorating in recent years. Following are the prominent reasons:
- Lack of Accountability: Many people are quick to take credit when things go well, but no one wants to take
responsibility when things go wrong.
- Sacrificing Values: Ethics, integrity, and spirituality are often given up for material success and wealth.
- Social Acceptance of Corruption: Society now often accepts corrupt individuals, and the silence of good people
can be more harmful than the actions of those who are corrupt. Families, schools, and institutions are failing to teach
strong values.
- Slow Decision-Making: As departments and institutions expand, it creates confusion and slows down
decision-making processes.
- Soft Society and Tolerant Public: The public often does not strongly oppose wrongdoing, allowing decision-makers
more freedom to continue unethical behaviour in the future.

● Efforts to correct this

- Increase Transparency: Create laws that require civil servants to explain their official decisions.
- Whistleblower Protection Act: Protect people who report wrongdoing in the public interest.
- Ethical Audit: Check for threats to integrity in important processes and ensure there are good ways to handle
complaints.
- Disciplinary Action: Violating the Code of Ethics should lead to penalties under disciplinary rules.

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 - Computerization and Digitization: Reduce unnecessary steps so that people don’t have to depend on bureaucrats
for their work.

Nolan Committee: Seven Principles In Public Life

1. Selflessness: Public officials should make decisions only for the good of the public, not for their own gain or that of
their family and friends.
- Example: Lal Bahadur Shastri, when he was Prime Minister, never took a vacation and died with only a few rupees
and some personal items, showing that he always put the country first.
2. Integrity: This means being honest and following moral and ethical principles consistently. Public officials should not
owe favors or be financially dependent on anyone outside their official duties.
- Example: U. Sagyam, a civil servant from Tamil Nadu, was transferred about 20 times in his 20 years of service but
is known for fighting corruption everywhere he worked. He was the first IAS officer to declare his assets.
- Mahatma Gandhi and Abraham Lincoln were both leaders known for their honesty and remained true to their values
in tough times, like Lincoln's dedication to ending slavery and Gandhi's commitment to nonviolence.
3. Objectivity: This means making decisions based on facts and evidence rather than personal feelings or opinions.
Public officials should make fair, merit-based choices when handling public business, like hiring or awarding
contracts.
- Example: Sam Manekshaw, a key figure in India's 1971 victory over Pakistan, told Prime Minister Indira Gandhi
honestly that the Indian Army wasn't ready for war and asked for a few months to prepare. She agreed, and
Manekshaw led India to a quick and successful military victory.
4. Accountability: Public officials must answer to the public for their decisions and actions and should be open to
appropriate scrutiny.
- Example: Lal Bahadur Shastri, when he was Railway Minister, resigned in August 1956 after a major train accident
that killed 112 people, taking moral responsibility. Although Prime Minister Nehru tried to convince him to stay,
Shastri's choice set a strong example for public servants to be accountable to the public.
5. Honesty: This means being trustworthy, loyal, fair, and sincere. Honest people do not lie and must disclose any
personal interests that relate to their public duties, addressing any conflicts to protect the public interest.
- Example: An honest civil servant should be transparent about their work and assets, admit their mistakes, and work
to fix them instead of hiding or blaming others.
6. Leadership: Public officials should set a good example and support these principles.
- Example: Indira Gandhi refused to remove her Sikh bodyguards after Operation Blue Star, even though many urged
her to do so, because she believed it would create division in the community.
7. Openness: Public officials should be as transparent as possible about their decisions and actions, explaining their
choices and only withholding information when absolutely necessary for the public good.
- Example: Vinod Rai, a former Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), made his office a strong advocate for
transparency by exposing the 2G scam.

OECD and an Ethical Infrastructure

The OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) suggested building an "ethical infrastructure" to help
regulate bad behavior and encourage good conduct among public officials. Their 8-point charter includes:

1. Political Commitment: Leaders must be dedicated to ethical governance.

2. Effective Legal Framework: Establish strong laws to support ethical behavior.
3. Accountability Mechanism: Develop systems to hold officials responsible for their actions.
4. Workable Codes of Conduct: Create clear and practical guidelines for behavior.
5. Professional Socialization: Provide training to help officials understand ethical standards.
6. Supportive Public Service Conditions: Create a work environment that encourages ethical behavior.
7. Central Ethics Coordinating Body: Set up a main organization to oversee ethics across public services.
8. Active Civil Society: Encourage a strong civil society that can monitor and hold officials accountable.

Comparison of Ethics in Public and Private Relationship

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Separation of Public and Private Relationships
Reasons for separation

1. Different ways of functioning: Private and public relationships work in different ways. To act appropriately in each,
we need to treat them separately.
2. No influence from each other's problems: Issues in private life shouldn't affect public duties, and public issues
shouldn't impact personal life.
- For example, people expect public servants to do their jobs well, even if they have personal problems. Similarly,
difficulties at work shouldn't affect someone's behaviour at home, like a police officer staying professional at work
without bringing stress home.
3. Mixing the two causes problems: Mixing private and public relationships often creates issues. Making private
relationships public can lead to favouritism and bias. Bringing public issues into private life can harm the privacy and
closeness of personal relationships.
- Example: In the Mahabharata, problems started because Dhritrashtra mixed his public and private roles. He wanted
his son to be king even though his son wasn’t fit for it. His personal feelings for his son affected his decisions as a
ruler.
4. Different expectations: Society sees people differently in public and private life, so it’s best to keep them separate.
- Example: Mahatma Gandhi is respected as the "Father of the Nation," but people don’t judge him based on his
difficult relationship with his son.
5. Prevents conflicts of interest: Keeping public and private relationships separate helps avoid conflicts of interest.
- Example: Former CBI chief Ranjit Sinha met someone accused in a case at his home because of personal
connections, which made people question his fairness. This could have been avoided by keeping his private and
public life separate.
6. Preserves the privacy of private life: Public life can be intense, so it’s important to keep it separate from private life
to protect personal privacy.
- Example: Politicians often keep their personal lives private because their public lives are constantly watched and
criticised.

Problems and Challenges with Separation

1. Not practical: Public and private relationships often mix, so they can't always be kept apart.
- Example: The President of the United States and his wife, the First Lady, have an important public role together. In
the U.S., people openly discuss the families and marriages of politicians.
2. May not be helpful: Strictly separating public and private relationships could be unhelpful because both can support
each other.
- Example: Support from family and friends can help someone do well in their job. Work friends can keep people
motivated and happy.
3. Hard to manage: Treating public and private relationships differently can cause confusion and stress.
- Example: A police officer who is tough at work but kind at home might feel confused or hypocritical.
4. Not fully separable: Some values, like honesty and politeness, are needed in both public and private life, so similar
behavior is expected in both.
- Example: Being honest and polite is important both at home and at work.

Effect of Public Relationships on Private Relationships

Positive:
1. Learning from public life: Our experiences in public life can help us improve our personal behavior.
- Example: Learning about gender equality at work can encourage husbands to be more respectful to their wives.
2. Appreciating personal relationships: Challenges in public life, like competition, make us value the support we get
from family and friends.
- Example: If colleagues act dishonestly, it can remind someone of the honesty of their family and friends.
3. Bringing kindness to public roles: The love and care we show in private life can make us kinder and more caring
in public roles.

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 - Example: A caring District Collector is likely to be compassionate toward the needy in their official role.

Negative:
1. Spillover effect: When people focus too much on public life, they may act the same way in their personal life.
- Example: Criminals or people with anti-social behavior often act harshly even at home.
2. Time management: Being too involved in public life can take away time from personal life, harming private
relationships.

Effect of Private Relationships on Public Relationships

Positive:
1. Interpersonal relationships: Private relationships teach values like love, care, and empathy, which people can use
to improve their public relationships.
- Example: Psychologists like Douglas McGregor found that managers who show trust and respect motivate their team
more.
2. Positive mood: Having happy and smooth personal relationships makes people feel more satisfied, helping them
behave better in public.
- Example: This is reflected in the saying, "Happy wife, happy life."

Negative:
1. Stress: Problems in personal relationships with family or friends cause stress and can negatively affect how we act in
public. Good private relationships are important for positive public interactions.
- Example: Companies offer holiday packages for employees and their families to help maintain a healthy family life.
2. Prejudice: Private relationships can influence our views in public settings.
- Example: If a friend from a certain community behaves a certain way, we might form a judgment about the whole
community.

Common Ethics in Public and Private Relationships

1. Honesty: Both public and private relationships need honesty. Without it, trust is lost. Loyalty is essential in
relationships like marriage or boss-employee connections.
- Example: Being honest in public relationships builds credibility, while honesty in private relationships builds trust and
closeness.
2. Interpersonal factors: Both types of relationships require empathy, care, and understanding, not just mechanical
actions.
- Example: Many companies now offer sensitivity training to improve how employees relate to each other.
3. Accountability: We are responsible for our actions in both public and private relationships, which helps maintain
trust.
- Example: People are expected to explain their financial choices at home and work.
4. Compassion: Helping others is valuable in both public and private relationships.
- Example: People help not only their family members but also colleagues, neighbors, and others.

Balancing Public and Private Relationships

1. Act with care and respect: Relationships are important, so we should act properly in each. Public and private
relationships may need different approaches to keep things smooth.
2. Some values apply to both: Although public and private relationships are often treated separately, certain values,
like respect and honesty, are needed in both.
3. No strict separation: Public and private relationships shouldn’t be seen as completely separate. Balancing them
requires wisdom and flexibility.
4. See them as connected: We should understand how public and private relationships interact and support each
other. It’s helpful to view them as connected, with shared values, rather than as completely separate.

MORALS
● Derived from the Latin word moralis, meaning “traditional customs”
● Morals are personal beliefs about what is right and wrong. Unlike ethics, which are social rules, morals are standards
of behavior that guide an individual personally
● A person's morals develop from their experiences, character, conscience, and other influences.
- For example, in some societies, homosexuality might be seen as wrong, but an individual could personally
believe it is morally acceptable.

Moral ideas and concepts:

● Individualistic: Morals are personal and come from each person's conscience, upbringing, and personality.
- For example, one person might see eating non-vegetarian food as morally wrong, while another might not.
● Moral Attitudes: These are views people form based on their morals. People often see issues as right or wrong
based on their moral beliefs.

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 - For instance, a person with conservative views may support right-wing policies more.
● Variation in Morality: Morality differs from person to person and society to society.
- For example, opinions on capital punishment vary widely, from abolishing it completely to keeping it only for
the most serious cases.
● Dynamism: Even though morals are generally stable, they can change with new information or experiences.
- For example, drug abuse used to be seen as a crime, but now, with more awareness, people view it as a
health issue that needs treatment.

Differences Between Ethics & Morals:

Attributes Ethics Morals

Origin Greek word “ethos” meaning “character”. The Latin word “Mos” means “custom”.

Nature Rules of conduct are guidelines for Principles or habits guide us on what is right or wrong
behaviour that are accepted by a specific behaviour. Morals tell us what to do or not to do, but
group, culture, or type of action. ultimately, morality is a personal sense of right and wrong.

Source Social system – External Individual – Internal

Flexibility Ethics rely on society to define them. Morals are usually steady, but they can change if a person’s
They usually stay the same within a beliefs shift. For example, opinions on topics like
specific group or setting but can change homosexuality or cross-cousin marriage vary from person to
in different situations. Ethics are often person.
universal values, like truth, kindness, and
non-violence.

Acceptance Ethics are guided by professional and Morality connects with cultural norms.
legal rules specific to a certain time and
place.

In recent times, there have been some cases of moral erosion of civil servants:

Reasons for Moral Erosion Effort to Correct it

● Lack of Accountability: When things go well, ● Increase Transparency: Create laws that require
many people want credit, but when things go civil servants to explain their decisions.
wrong, no one wants to take responsibility. ● Whistle-blower Protection: Protect people who
● Sacrificing Ethics and Integrity: People often report wrongdoing by officials.
give up ethics, values, and spirituality for material ● Research and Studies: Public relations
gain and worldly success. professionals should study research and best
● Social Acceptance of Corruption: Society tends practices to handle ethical issues well.
to accept corruption. The silence of good people ● Ethics Audits: Check for risks to honesty in
is more harmful than the wrong actions of a few. important processes, with effective ways to handle
● Large Administration and Delays: Departments complaints.
and institutions are growing, which creates ● Punish Ethics Violations: Breaking the code of
confusion and delays in decision-making. ethics should lead to penalties under disciplinary
● Tolerance for Wrongdoing: The public often rules.
tolerates wrongdoing, allowing decision-makers ● Computerization and Digitization: Reduce
more freedom to continue such actions without reliance on bureaucrats by digitising processes.
facing consequences. ● Install CCTV: Cameras create awareness/ fear
that actions are being monitored.

Constitutional Morality
This means staying true to the core values of the constitution.
● Inclusive and Democratic Process: It supports a political system where both individual and group interests are
respected.
● Key Elements in Indian Context: Important values include the rule of law, equality, social justice, national unity,
secularism, personal freedom, and freedom of speech.
- Examples: The Supreme Court used constitutional morality to allow women of all ages to enter the
Sabarimala temple and to strike down Section 377, which criminalised homosexuality.

HUMAN VALUES
values are the choices or actions a person believes are right. They shape a person's sense of right and wrong and act as
guiding principles in their life.

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values are what a person or society prefers. For an individual, values are personal preferences, which may not always be
ethical. But when society prefers something, it often gains an ethical aspect, because it reflects what the society as a whole
sees as right. However, there are exceptions: if society values things that cause harm or are unfair, these acts may not be
ethical, even if they are accepted as societal values.

for a value to be considered ethical, it must meet two conditions:

- society must approve it
- it should not cause harm to anyone.

values can be understood with examples.

If a person values money, then money becomes important to them, but it’s (a-ethical) neutral, meaning it’s neither ethical nor
unethical.
If someone values selfishness and believes in putting their own interests above others, even if it harms others, this is also a
personal value but is considered unethical.

if society agrees that money is important, then money becomes an ethical value because it’s accepted by society and doesn’t
harm anyone. But selfishness, even if accepted by society, isn’t ethical because it can harm others.
So, at a personal level, it’s important to:
- Choose the right values.
- Let go of wrong values.
At a societal level, it’s important to:
- Look down on people with wrong values.
- Respect people with the right values.

● Sometimes individual beliefs are referred to as values:-Individual beliefs that drive people’s actions are called
values. These values can be ethical, religious, political, social, or related to beauty.
● Predisposition to the values:-People usually adopt values from their upbringing and often see them as “right”
because they come from their culture.
● The usefulness of values in ethical decision-making:-In ethical decision-making, people often have to choose
between values, which can lead to conflicts if values clash.
● Values are learned and instilled:-Values aren’t natural; they are taught and shaped by family, surroundings, and
traditions.

Example
Mohan values kindness and understanding. Manjuli values personal freedom. Suman values protecting the environment.
Darwish values learning and curiosity. Each person represents different human values: compassion, freedom, conservation,
and knowledge.

Different Types of Values

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 ● Terminal and Instrumental Values: Terminal values are ultimate goals like happiness or salvation of themselves.
Instrumental values are the steps to reach these goals.
- Example: In Indian culture, dharma (duty) and artha (wealth) help achieve moksha (salvation).
● Relative and Absolute Values: Relative values vary among people and cultures, like materialism. Absolute values
are universal, like nonviolence and equality.
● Protected Values: These are values someone won’t give up, no matter the benefits.
- Example: Refusing to harm others, even if it saves more lives.
● Personal Values: Values chosen individually, not based on social ties.
- Example: Cleanliness, politeness, honesty.
● Community Values: Values shared by a whole community.
- Example: Respecting elders.
● Intrinsic and Extrinsic Values: Intrinsic values are valued on their own, like peace and love. Extrinsic values are
valued as a means to achieve something else, like wealth used for prosperity.
- Example: A religious book is valued for its teachings (intrinsic) and for leading to higher goals like moksha.
● Moral values: These promote good actions, like honesty and empathy
● Immoral values: These promote harmful actions, like greed and lust.
● Amoral values: These are neutral and not related to right or wrong, like beauty and fitness.

Constitutional Values
Justice, Liberty, Equality, Fraternity, Non-discrimination, Secularism, Tolerance, Compassion towards weaker sections etc.

Importance of Values
● Guides Human Behavior: Values are principles that help guide how people act and influence their attitudes.
● Driving Force in Ethical Decision-Making: Values are important in making ethical choices and shape the decisions
people make.
● Internal Reference for Good Living: Personal values help people know what is good, important, and useful in life.
● Helps Differentiate between Right and Wrong: Values help us decide what is right and wrong by guiding our
thoughts and actions.
● Promotes Peace and Stability: Human values help manage relationships and promote peace, especially during
conflicts, allowing us to live together harmoniously.
● Values Extend beyond Specific Actions and Situations: Values are not limited to one action or situation; they
apply broadly to many areas of life.
- For example, obedience and honesty are important in all these areas. This makes values broader than
norms and attitudes, which focus on specific actions or situations.
● Serve as Standards or Criteria: Values help people judge actions, policies, people, and events. When making
decisions, people consider what is good or bad based on how those choices affect their important values.

Morality, Ethics, and Values

Values include ethics and morals, but not all values are ethical. For example, bravery is a value, but it isn't necessarily
ethical; someone who isn't brave isn't considered unethical.

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In our society, conservation is a value but not an ethical one.
In some countries, like Japan, punctuality is both valued and seen as ethical. Hard work is a value, but it's not an ethical value.

Examples of Morality
A young boy in Kerala found Rs. 1 lakh in his school bag and returned it. He learned from his parents to always return what
isn’t his. This shows his honesty and strong moral values. His actions remind us that doing the right thing can make a
difference.
In the Bollywood movie "Lagaan," the characters show morality by standing up against oppression. Led by Bhuvan (played
by Aamir Khan), they fight against unfair taxes from the British. They show fairness, honesty, and integrity, inspiring others to
stand up for their rights.

How to remain ethical when the entire system is corrupt

● Maintain Personal Integrity: Practice honesty yourself before telling others to be honest. Be truthful because you
believe in it, not just out of fear.
● Know Your Job Well: Understand the laws and rules better than your team so you can guide them effectively.
● Courage: Be brave enough to share your honest opinions with your managers and confidently make decisions.
● Divide and Rule: Support honest people and ignore those who are dishonest. Publicly acknowledge good work by
employees.
● Be an Inspiration for Others: Lead by example and inspire others by being the change you want to see.
● Be Compassionate: Be kind to your team and help them during tough times, showing emotional understanding.
● Follow the Law: Don’t take shortcuts to get things done faster. Breaking the law can damage your reputation and
credibility for life.
● Be a Leader: Take responsibility and don’t shift blame onto others.
● Suffer for the Principles You Hold: Being honest can come with challenges. Be ready for changes, but remember
that a clear conscience is worth it.

Role of Civil servant in building values

A civil servant's role in building values in society is often ignored. Role in building good values in society in the following ways :-
A civil servant's main job is to enforce the law. Usually, the law punishes bad behaviour. So, a civil servant has the power to
create a sense of fear in people. This fear can lead people to avoid bad actions over time.
For example, imagine a society that values respect for women. This value is made into a law that punishes anyone who
disrespects women. An IPS officer can notice such acts and arrest those who break this law without being lenient. This can
create fear, making people less likely to repeat such behaviour.
Strict rules on cleanliness in Singapore, like banning spitting in public, are enforced by civil servants. This has made cleanliness
a personal value for everyone.
- A civil servant often plays an indirect role in making laws. They usually prepare the first draft of a bill. The legislature
then discusses it to make it a law. This way, a civil servant can design bills to support good values and discourage
bad ones.
- A civil servant, as a role model, can inspire others to follow good values by setting an example, like showing
punctuality.
- A civil servant attends many public events. They can choose to visit schools to inspire young people to adopt good
values. They can also set up moral classes for children.
- A civil servant can help improve child protection homes and jails by providing counselling to inmates to instil good
values and reduce repeat offences. Ms. Kiran Bedi's work in transforming Tihar Jail is a notable example.
- Many wrongdoers feel sorry for their actions and want to change, but society often doesn't accept them, making it
hard for them to find jobs. This can lead them back to bad behavior. A civil servant can help these individuals find
work and start fresh. For instance, when naxalites surrender, civil servants should help them live with dignity to
prevent them from returning to their old ways.
- A civil servant can have a large following on social media. They should share stories about people who live by good
values and post interesting examples of how these values make a difference. This helps create a positive
environment for promoting noble values.
- Civil servants as incharge of Culture and Language can promote literature that teaches good values. By using
creative methods, they can spread this literature and help instill positive values in society.

Role of Family In Value Inculcation

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Family is where a child spends most of their time, especially at a young age. This age is important for shaping the child's
personality. It carries on the heritage and traditions as legacies from the earlier generation to the next generation.

Quotes
“There is nothing called a self-made man. We are made up of thousands of others”. –George Mathew Adams

a. Exposure to entertainment
Entertainment media, like movies, songs, cartoons, and shows, play an important role in teaching values to kids, but people
often overlook this. Since these forms of media are fun and creative, they hold a child’s attention for a long time and leave a
strong impact. This is why family members need to be careful about what kids watch. They should discourage kids from media
that teach negative values and instead encourage those that promote good values.
For example, kids who watch WWE fights might start liking fights and violence, rather than peace. So, parents should introduce
children to positive stories like Panchatantra, Aesop’s fables, or Akbar-Birbal tales. It’s also important to show them movies that
promote family harmony, friendship, and strong family bonds.
Books like the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and those about inspiring figures like Swami Vivekananda and Gandhiji should be
easily available to kids. For example, watching a play on truth (Satya Harischandra drama) changed Gandhiji’s life and helped
shape him into the Mahatma. Abdul Kalam also shared that religious discussions at his home taught him respect for all
religions.

b. Moral Stories by Grandparents

In joint families, parents are often busy with work, so grandparents play a key role in raising children. Kids ask grandparents to
tell stories, which helps shape their values.
Barack Obama, who was raised by his grandparents, shared that they made him feel he was part of something bigger than
himself.

c. Role of Pampering
Good values are built by learning to control one's desires and choosing what is right, even if it's difficult. This self-control does
not come naturally and needs to be taught. When parents pamper kids by giving them everything they want, kids may start to
expect all their desires to be fulfilled, which can lead to selfishness and negative values. So, to teach good values, parents
should avoid pampering.

d. Mingling with downtrodden people

Allowing kids to play with peers from all backgrounds helps them understand others' lives. When kids see others with less
money, they may feel content and lose any sense of greed. This can also build compassion, while avoiding feelings of
superiority or pride.

e. Self-help
Families should encourage children to do things for themselves. This teaches them to respect all types of work and to value
every person, no matter their job.
When kids help with tasks like cleaning at home, they learn to respect others, including street workers, and do not look down on
them. These habits also help make them humble.

First School of Value Learning for Children

1. Family as the First Teacher: Families, especially parents and grandparents, are the first teachers of values like
honesty and truth. They share moral stories from holy books like the Mahabharata and Ramayana, which help kids
learn important lessons.
2. Emotional Support: Families provide emotional support and care to help children overcome negative thoughts.

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 3. Informal Learning: Children learn love, compassion, and sharing through everyday experiences, like sharing lunch
with friends or toys with siblings.
4. Role Models: Parents and family members set examples for children. If they show respect for others, children are
likely to do the same. However, if they display negative behaviors, such as violence or disrespect, children may adopt
those values.
5. Constructive and Destructive Roles: Families can have both positive and negative influences. For example,
helping others shows respect, while teaching harmful ideas about social roles can lead to negative behaviors.
6. Change in values taught by parents: Parents are increasingly teaching values that emphasize competition,
individualism, and consumerism rather than cooperation, family, and sacrifice.
7. Divergence Between Family and Individual Values: Traditional families are breaking down, and with both parents
working and the influence of technology and peers, families are losing their role as the main source of values for
children. Education and media also encourage children to think critically, which may lead them to reject family values.

Examples of the Role of Family in Value Inculcation

- In the hypothetical example, Mr. X and Mrs. X teach their children about gender equality by treating their son and
daughter equally and encouraging them to speak up and follow their dreams. Because of this, the kids promote
gender fairness among friends and at school.
- In the real-life example, a family in Mumbai started donating clothes to those in need every Diwali. Their children
continued this tradition as they grew up, learning the value of giving back to society.

Role of Educational Institutions In Value Inculcation

Since students spend many hours at school, schools play an important role in teaching them moral values. It’s also the school's
responsibility to help build good character in children.

a. Discipline – Families often find it hard to teach discipline strictly because of their love for the kids. But schools don’t
face this emotional barrier and can use punishment to correct wrong behavior.
b. Punctuality – Schools teach students to be on time because they must arrive on time each day. Sadly, as students
grow older, they sometimes think being late or skipping class is "cool," and this can undo the habit of punctuality that
schools tried to build.
c. Equality – Schools bring children from different backgrounds together, helping them learn that everyone is equal.
Unlike society, classrooms don’t allow divisions based on caste, class, or gender. Initiatives like the midday meal
scheme encourage kids from all castes to eat together, which was rare in the past. Uniforms also play a role in
promoting equality, as all students—regardless of wealth or caste—wear the same outfit.
d. Sensitization towards weaker sections – Schools allow students to make friends with people from different
backgrounds, including weaker sections of society. This helps students from well-off families understand the struggles
of less privileged people, creating compassion. The story of Krishna and Kuchela shows how friendship can make
someone aware of others' hardships. In the past, elite schools often excluded children from poorer families, but now,

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 the Right to Education Act reserves 25% of seats for economically weaker students in all schools, promoting
inclusivity.
e. Wall Writings – Schools often put up quotes from great people and proverbs on walls. This was once common only
in private schools, but now government schools do it too, thanks to Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. These quotes help
students remember important values by seeing them often. They also remind teachers to show good values, like
being on time, so they set a positive example for students.
f. Role of Teachers – Children see teachers as role models, just like family members, and learn values from them.
Teachers should show good ethics and values, as kids often copy them. For example, if a teacher regularly visits a
temple, it teaches students the value of devotion. Teachers also tell stories to teach values, and some state
governments now require a weekly moral education class.
g. Miscellaneous
- Exams – The way exams are conducted affects values. Unfortunately, some schools allow cheating, which
harms students' honesty and integrity, as seen in cases like the 10th class exams in Bihar.
- Competitions – Competitions in school teach students to respect their opponents.
- Group Activities – Group work builds team spirit and helps students learn to work well with others.
- Cleanliness Activities – Programs like Swachh Bharat and Shramdan promote cleanliness and the value of
helping maintain a clean environment.

- Inculcating Values – Parents, teachers, and schools all help children learn values. Since students spend a lot of
time at school, it’s an important place for learning how to act in society. Friends also play a big role in shaping values.
- Role of Education in Values – Education is a powerful way to build lasting values that help people grow physically,
mentally, morally, and spiritually.
- Basic etiquettes and values – In Japan, schools focus on teaching basic manners and values during a child's first
four years in school.
- In some places, children learn to clean their toilets properly and avoid using plastic in classrooms, like in
the Netherlands. They are also taught in natural environments during their early years to help them develop
a positive attitude toward nature.

● The curriculum and textbooks also influence children’s attitudes:

- French Revolution: Liberty, equality, fraternity.
- Gandhi’s Train to Pretoria – Gandhi's experience on a train in Pretoria showed his resistance to injustice.
- Constitutional Ideals – Important ideas in the constitution include democracy, secularism, and human
values like truth, love, and compassion.
- Literature – Literature helps us understand human nature and the social ideals of different times.
- Curiosity about Science – A curiosity about science leads people to question religious rules and harmful
practices.
- Sportsmanship and Team Spirit – Participating in sports from a young age helps students develop
teamwork and sportsmanship.

● Holistic personality development: Education is critical to overall growth:

- Compassion and Honesty – Teaching compassion, honesty, and coexistence among different cultures is
important.
- Old Age Homes – Visiting old age homes helps people learn compassion and selflessness.
- Museums and Cultural Centers – These places promote tolerance and secularism.
- Environmental Activities – Activities like tree planting and street cleaning help raise awareness about the
environment.
- Yoga – Practicing yoga improves focus and clarity of thought.
- Diversity and Morality – Emphasizing unity in diversity, understanding constitutional morality, and learning
from philosophers like Gandhi are essential for a healthy society.

Role of Society
Society plays a key role in informal learning, helping children grow with love and care. It teaches them to appreciate social
values and ways of life.

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 - Values from Social Tradition – Society teaches children values like love, equality, and morality through traditions.
These are important traits that children learn from their surroundings. Society also works together to overcome issues
like caste discrimination. For example, in Indian culture, touching the feet of elders shows respect.
- Transmission of Culture – Society helps people grow mentally and intellectually by passing down culture to future
generations, like the worship of the peepal tree and the Ganges river.
- Individual Discipline – Society teaches discipline through rewards and punishments. For example, during the
Deccan peasant revolt, peasants boycotted money lenders to enforce social norms.
- Nurturing Morality and Ethics – Society preserves culture and teaches morality and ethics to individuals.
- Tolerance and Nationalism – Living in diverse communities fosters tolerance and national unity.
- Eliminating Social Differences – Society works together to reduce issues like caste discrimination.
- Conformity – People often imitate their peers' behavior, whether it’s smoking or choosing to live in smaller families.
- Behavioral Patterns – Young people learn important values from their peers, such as cooperation, unity in diversity,
and the idea that helping others is important.

With fast industrialization and rational thinking, important values like aesthetics, community, emotions, and spirituality are
declining. This decline is worsened by materialism and global capitalism. Therefore, we need to rethink how schools, society,
and teachers instill values because there is a growing neglect of these values and a need to bring them back into people's lives.

Role of society
- Constructive Role of Society: Society can play an important role in the development of an individual’s
personality. By widely upholding ethical values it can encourage individuals to be ethical.
- Destructive Role of Society: Similarly, society may play a deciding role in developing a crime as a subcultural
phenomenon. If it does not disapprove of the unethical behaviours/acts, it may lower the standards of ethics in
society and it may result in an increase in criminal activities.

Examples of the Role of Society in Value Inculcation

The Indian movie "Taare Zameen Par" shows how society helps instill values. It follows Ishaan, played by Darsheel Safary,
as society recognizes his unique qualities and supports him. This support fosters empathy, acceptance, and understanding,
helping him learn discipline and grow as a person. The film highlights the positive impact of society on individual
transformation.

Recommendations for Value Education

- Value-Based Education – Education should include teaching values throughout the learning process. It should help
shape a person’s character and provide guidance for living correctly. Schools should focus on basic human principles
to support this development.
- Deconstructing Wrong Values – Schools and teachers should not only teach good values but also help students
recognize and reject harmful beliefs, such as gender bias, hostility, communalism, or casteism.
- Teachers as Role Models – Since students spend a lot of time in school, teachers act as important role models,
similar to parents. They can instill moral values in students by demonstrating those values themselves. Teachers
should not only share knowledge but also help shape students’ characters.
- Playful Learning – Teachers can use active games in the classroom to teach values like fair play, honesty, courage,
and cooperation. Interacting with classmates from different backgrounds helps students learn respect and love.
- Holistic Approach – When taking actions to reach goals, those actions should be assessed based on universal
values that society accepts. These actions should not harm nature or life. Value education guides students toward
promoting happiness and goodwill for everyone.
- Technology and Value Education – Technology can be used for both positive and negative purposes, so value
education is essential. It prepares future technologists to understand the good and bad effects of technology.

Reasons For Erosion of Values

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 - Materialism – In the twenty-first century, there has been a decline in personal, societal, national, moral, ethical, and
spiritual values. The focus on material gain and increasing commercialization is weakening these important values.
- Lack of Social Cohesion – Issues like self-interest, terrorism, and the pursuit of worldly pleasures have led to a
breakdown in social unity and stability. As a result, values are slowly being damaged and lost.
- Moral Degradation – Increasing cynicism, a disconnect between rights and responsibilities, materialism, moral
decline, and violence have negatively affected people's understanding of ethics.
- Failure of Religious Leaders – The rise of fundamentalism among major religions shows that religious leaders are
struggling to manage ongoing and emerging crises.
- Breakdown of Traditional Families – Traditional families used to provide moral education and guidance, but issues
like divorce, single-parent families, and blended families have weakened this structure, making it harder for children
to learn ethical values.
- Lack of Role Models – In the past, children learned ethical values from parents, teachers, and role models, but
today, there is a shortage of clear role models, making it challenging for young people to develop strong ethical
values.

Conclusion (Values)
Values and value education are important concerns for parents, teachers, and society. Values are guiding principles that shape
our views, behaviors, and attitudes, and they are essential for the growth of society and nations. Important values like truth,
love, non-violence, honesty, punctuality, integrity, self-discipline, equality, courage, cleanliness, democracy, and self-reliance
should be taught to young people. These values are vital for personal development and for the well-being of humanity as a
whole.

KEY TERMS OF ETHICS & THEIR MEANINGS

- Ethical AI Governance – Creating ethical rules and guidelines for developing and using AI technologies is important
to ensure responsible practices.
- Ethical Consumerism – More consumers are thinking about the ethics behind their purchases, considering factors
like fair trade, sustainable sourcing, and corporate social responsibility.
- AI Ethics – With the rise of AI in many areas, it’s important to consider the ethical issues related to its development
and impact.
- Moral Cognition – This refers to how people make moral decisions, involving reasoning, understanding others'
views, and empathy. It is shaped by social and cultural backgrounds and personal experiences.
- Moral Muteness – This is when people stay silent about unethical behavior they see. They might do this out of fear,
wanting to fit in, or doubting their own moral judgement.
- Algorithmic Bias – There are concerns about bias in algorithms and AI systems that can lead to unfair treatment of
certain groups and reinforce existing inequalities.
- Privacy vs. Security – There is an ongoing debate about individual privacy rights and the need for stronger security
measures, especially regarding surveillance and national security, which creates ethical dilemmas.
- Moral Myopia – This is when people can't see ethical issues clearly because they are too focused on their own
immediate goals, which can lead to unethical actions like cheating or lying. The term was introduced by Minette
Drumwright and Patrick Murphy in 1992.
- Cognitive Bias – This refers to systematic thinking errors that affect how people process information, leading to
irrational decisions and judgments.
- Bounded Ethicality – This concept suggests that people's ability to make ethical choices is limited by various factors
like biases, social pressures, and organizational norms, causing even ethical individuals to make unethical decisions
at times.
- Conformity Bias – This is the tendency to change one’s beliefs or behavior to fit in with others, which can lead
people to go along with the crowd, even if they disagree with it.
- Ethical Fading – This term, introduced by Ann Tenbrunsel and David Messick in 1999, describes how people may
make decisions without considering their ethical implications, often due to self-deception.
- Role Morality – This concept suggests that individuals may have different moral standards based on their social
roles. For example, a doctor might act differently when treating a patient than when interacting with colleagues
because of the expectations tied to each role.
- Workplace Ethics – This includes important issues like fair labor practices, diversity and inclusion, and ethical
leadership, as organizations work to create ethical work environments and address social challenges.
- Moral Absolutism – This is the belief that there are universal moral standards that apply to everyone, meaning some
actions are always considered right or wrong, regardless of the situation.

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