ShortNotes Ethics VyasIAS KING R QUEEN P

ETHICS NOTES PART-1 FOR CSIR ASO/SO EXAM BY VYASA IAS
Ethics Notes Part 1
Table of Content
1. Introduction
2. Sources of Ethics
3. Importance of Ethics in Human Life
4. Essence of Ethics
5. Determinants of Ethics
6. Analysis of Determinants of Ethics
7. Consequences of Ethics in Human Action
8. Fundamental Objectives of Ethics
9. Four Critical Principles of Ethics
10. Morality
11. Difference between Ethics and morality
Introduction
Ethics is a system of moral principles. They affect how people make decisions and lead their
lives. Ethics is concerned with what is good for individuals and society and is also described as
moral philosophy.
Ethics constitute the systematic enquiry into understanding the justification to act honestly when
they can be dishonest and get rewarded.
• Ethics is thus the philosophical study of morality-Motivation based on ideas of right and
wrong.
• It is a study of what are good and bad ends to pursue in life and what it is right and wrong to
do in the conduct of life.
• It is therefore, above all, a practical
discipline. Its primary aim is to determine
how one ought to live and what actions
one ought to do in the conduct of one's life.
Ethics cover the following dilemmas:

1. How to live a good life
2. Our rights and responsibilities
3. The language of right and wrong
4. Moral decisions-what is good and bad
Origin of Ethics
• Nicomachean Ethics of Aristotle: Ethics can be traced back to ancient Greek philosophy,
specifically Aristotle’s works. “Nicomachean Ethics,” by Aristotle, is a comprehensive
exploration of ethical theory and practice. •
• Aristotle delves into the nature of virtue, moral character, and the pursuit of a good life in
this work, laying the groundwork for ethical inquiry and providing invaluable insights into
the origins and study of ethics.
• Ethics is derived from the Greek word ethos and the Latin word mores, which mean
“custom,” “ways of behaviour,” or “human character.”
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Sources of Ethics
• Religious and Spiritual Beliefs
• Philosophical Ethics
• Cultural and Societal Norms
• Professional Codes of Ethics
• Ethical Principles and Theories
• Human Rights and International
Standards
Importance of Ethics in Human Life

• Provides a Moral Map
• Promoting Fairness and Justice
• Fostering Social Responsibility
• Help in Finding Solutions to Moral
Issues
• Ensures Individual and Social Good
• Upholding Professional Standards
• Building Trust and Relationships
• Resolves Moral Dilemmas
Essence of Ethics
The intrinsic quality of something that determines its
character is referred to as its essence. The essence of ethics
represents its characteristics, significance, benefits.
• Moral Principles and Values: At the heart of ethics

are moral principles and values. These principles,
which include 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. It aims to provide a framework for assessing the morality of human
behaviour, distinguishing between morally acceptable and morally unacceptable behaviours.
• Moral Responsibility: The concept of moral responsibility is recognized in ethics,
emphasising 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.

Determinants of Ethics
• 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).
• 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.
• Society: In any society, most people accept
standards that are, in fact, ethical. However,
ethics is not just doing whatever society
accepts. Standards of behaviour in society can
deviate from what is ethical. An entire society
can become ethically corrupt in toto or may be
unethical in certain aspects of social living.
Example: Nazi Germany was an example of a
morally corrupt society while sati was one
unethical practice in traditional India.
• Law: Law acts as a determinant of ethics by setting 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.
• Family and Teachers: A child’s family and teachers play a significant role in shaping his
attitude, behaviour and inculcating values. But sometimes, children can deviate from family
teachings owing to external influences laden with negative values.
• 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.
• Role models: Role models can also influence the ethical values of individuals by setting
certain standards of good behaviour or will in society. Example: Lal Bahadur Shastri’s
simplicity, honesty, integrity, and compassionate behaviour is revered to date. Gandhi,
Vivekananda, and Ambedkar acted as role models for the society. Politicians and
Bureaucrats may set high ethical standards of Integrity and Probity for the youth.

• 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:
Fairness, Justice, equality, nondiscrimination, and duty to protect the environment are some
ethical values provided in the Indian constitution which need to be imbibed by all members
of Indian society in general and the state in particular.
• Governance: The government creates laws and policies that incentivize one type of behaviour
while discouraging another type of behaviour. Such an incentive structure shapes people’s
ethical standards as well as their adherence to them. Example: The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
has influenced people’s ethical standards in favour of cleanliness and sanitation.
• Judiciary: The judiciary lays down ethical standards through various judgments,
pronouncements, and guidelines. Example: In the Sabarimala temple case, the Supreme
Court of India upheld the right to equality. Vishakha Guidelines of 1997 materialised as
legislation on the Prevention of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplaces ensuring
women’s safety and promoting gender parity.
Analysis of Determinants of Ethics

• Multiple determinants work at the same time: 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.
• 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. • Example: An individual’s thoughts and experiences may lead him to be an atheist,
whereas society may lead him to be religious.
Consequences of Ethics in Human Action

A) Consequences for Individual
• Source of Happiness: 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.
• A positive attitude
toward society: 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.
• 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
• 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.
• Provides a foundation for decision-making: 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.
B) Consequences for society

• Leads to harmony and peace: Ethical behaviour leads to reciprocation, which leads to a
peaceful and stable society.
• Ensures justice and inclusion: Ethical social behaviour leads to equality of status and
opportunity, fair treatment, and other benefits for all people, particularly the weak and
vulnerable. Injustices such as untouchability and gender discrimination result from a lack of
ethics.
• 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.
• Set a good example for future generations: 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.
• Motivates for reform: 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.
• Maintains People’s faith: 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.
Fundamental Objectives of Ethics

• Ethics is concerned with human behaviour—to understand whether such a behaviour is in
conformity with the standard ethical norm or not.
• It sets an ideal standard of moral conduct of behaviour.
• It is diagnostic in nature—it passes judgments on human behaviour.
• It is also prescriptive—it recommends ideal ethical behaviour that can be followed.
• It is analytical—it analyses overt human behaviour and conduct and passes judgment.

Four Critical Principles of Ethics

Ego-based Principle (Ethical or Psychological Egoism)
• Human actions are essentially ego-centric and selfish. Even when a man is making a
donation to an organization, his intention is to gain popularity which will feed his ego.
However, as Adam Smith observed, some consequences of human selfishness may bring
social welfare by satisfying human needs. However, there is a difference between selfishness
and self-centredness.
• While the latter is aimed at furthering personal ambition, it does not harm the interest of
others. Selfishness, on the other hand, is the achievement of gains at the cost of others.
• Thus, if a cake is bought for the members of a family consisting of three individuals, and half
of it is eaten by a person before distributing it to others, the person can be called selfish, as
he has reduced the share of others.
• But if a person buys a cake and does not share it with his friends, he is self-centered.
Rule-based Principle
• This principle believes that ethical action should be based on certain given rules of ethics. In
such a case, the consequences are not important, but the open action is crucial.
• For instance, the dictum: “always speak the truth” is important, whether its consequences
are good or bad.
End-based Principle
• This ethical principle is based on the notion of the consequence of actions. Thus, an action is
undertaken only when it produces some positive results or utility. This is often termed as
consequentialism or utilitarianism.
Care-based Principle
• It is revered as the golden rule in ethics. In this
rule, the action of an agent is based on care and
compassion. Thus, if an accident victim is lying on
the road, your involvement may bring less utility
as it will involve time and money to give him the
necessary medical care, and the consequences.
Morality
• Morality refers to the set of standards that enable
people to live cooperatively in groups. It’s what
societies determine to be “right” and “acceptable.”
Difference between Ethics and morality


ETHICS PART -2 BY VYASA IAS
Table of Content
1. Dimensions of Ethics
2. Descriptive Ethics
3. Meta Ethics
4. Normative Ethics/ Prescriptive Ethics
5. Applied Ethics
Dimensions of Ethics
Every day we come across several ethical and moral dilemmas in our daily life. Dealing with these moral issues is often
perplexing. How should we think through an ethical issue? Philosophers have developed different approaches to deal
with moral issues.
Descriptive Ethics
The study of people's moral beliefs is
known as descriptive ethics.
• It necessitates empirical
research. It provides us with a
general pattern or way of life of people in various communities.
• The history and evolution of ethics are studied in descriptive ethics. It keeps track of taboos, customs, and
conventions. Descriptive Ethics may be seen in Kohlberg’s idea of moral awareness.
• Descriptive ethics looks into people's ethical ideals or the actions that are prohibited in a society. Its goal is to
learn about people's values, which actions are right and wrong, and which moral agent characteristics are
virtuous.
• Descriptive ethics seeks to explain moral agents' actual choices in practice. It looks into the ethical codes
followed by various groups. It is an empirical study of people's moral.
• It is a value-free approach to ethics. It does not make judgments about the morality of the practices and beliefs
but simply describes the practices observed in the different groups or cultures.
Meta Ethics
• “Meta-ethics is the attempt to understand the metaphysical, epistemological, semantic, and psychological,
presuppositions and commitments of moral thought, talk, and practice.”
• Metaethics, as studied by scholars such as J.L. Mackie, investigates the nature and foundations of ethics itself.
• It looks into the meaning of moral language, the objectivity of moral claims, and the nature of moral truths.
• Metaethics seeks to comprehend the philosophical underpinnings of ethics and the concepts involved.
• Investigate the underlying principles of ethical values: The study of the origin and meaning of ethical concepts
is known as metaethics. 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?
• Focuses on the meaning of ethical terms: It focuses on the meaning of ethical terms rather than the applied
question of ‘what should be done in a specific situation?’ It is not concerned with whether an action is good or
bad, but rather with the goodness and badness of morality itself. It addresses issues such as “What do we mean
by “freedom” and “determinism”? •
• Meta-
ethical
philosophie
s include
Moral
nihilism,
moral
objectivis
m, moral
subjectivis
m, and
moral
relativism.
Branches of Meta-ethics
I. Ethical Cognitivism
• Ethical
Cognitivism is a
metaethical
theory
according to
which
(1) Moral
judgements can
express beliefs
and
(2) They are
truth-apt, which
means the
statements can be described as true or false.
• Psychological Cognitivism advocates that a moral statement is an utterance of our belief about a moral action.
• The view that moral statements can be true or false is known as Semantic Cognitivism. According to the
Semantic Cognitivists, our moral statements are made true or false based on how accurately they refer to the
specific moral aspect of the world.
• Ethical Cognitivists take the views of psychological cognitivism and semantic cognitivism together.
Ethical cognitivism includes moral realism, moral subjectivism and error theory.
A) Moral Realism
• Moral realism holds that the moral statements express a belief and these beliefs are regarded as mind-
independent facts of the world. We find two basic premises of moral realism, one is that moral facts exist and
second is that the moral facts exist independently of human mind
Moral realism is divided into two varieties: ethical naturalism and ethical non-naturalism.
i. Ethical Naturalism
• Ethical naturalism holds that there are objective and natural moral properties. They hold that we have
empirical knowledge of the moral truths.
ii. Ethical Non-Naturalism

• In ethical non-naturalism, moral properties are entirely different from the natural properties.
• G.E. Moore is the main contender of non-naturalism. According to Moore moral properties do not exist in the
outside world like natural properties and they are fundamentally simple non-natural properties
B) Moral Subjectivism
• Moral Subjectivism holds that there are no objective moral properties and it is, therefore, a form of moral anti-
realism.
• According to moral subjectivism moral statements are made true of false by the attitudes or conventions of the
people
Ethical subjectivism includes ideal observer theory and divine command theory
i. Ideal Observer Theory

• The ideal observer theory offers an account of the truth and falsity of moral judgments in terms of the approval
or disapproval of an ideal observer.
• An ideal observer is “a person who makes moral judgments without being influenced by the sort of
contaminating biases or prejudices that tend to arise from the occupation of some particular point of view”.
ii. Divine Command Theory

• Divine command theory holds that morality is dependent upon God. According to this theory moral facts are
determined by the commandments of God.
• Thus, a morally right action is the one which God commands. For divine command theorists, God exists outside
time and space.
C) Error Theory
• Error theory holds a view that ethical statements can be propositions, but that all ethical propositions are
false. It means that we are generally in error when we make any moral statement.
• The prominent proponent of error theory was J. L. Mackie. He advocates that our moral utterances are
expressions of those beliefs that have truth-value (Truth-apt belief; belief that can be classified either as true or
as false). But he rejects realist position that states that these utterances always correspond with the external
world.
II. Ethical Non-Cognitivism

• Ethical non-cognitivism is a metaethical view according to which ethical sentences do not express a belief or
proposition and thus, cannot be regarded as true or false.

• According to non-cognitivists, when people utter moral statements they are not expressing a state of mind, say
a belief, or cognition. Rather, they are expressing non-cognitive attitudes like desire, attitude or emotion.
• For example, “killing is wrong” is an expression of disapproval. Non-cognitivists claim that moral claims
(approval and disapproval of moral actions) cannot be regarded as true or false.
The theories which are included in ethical non-cognitivism are: emotivism, quasi realism and universal prescriptivism.
A) Emotivism
• Emotivism is a view that ethical sentences express only emotional expressions of one’s own attitudes.
• A. J. Ayer and C. L. Stevenson were the defenders of emotivism. According to Emotivism moral statement that
“murder is wrong” is simply an expression of emotion against the act of murdering.
• A. J. Ayer claims that moral statements have no factual meanings. Moral utterances or statements are not
proposition. That is why moral utterances cannot be classified as true or false. He states in “The Emotive Theory
of Ethics”.
B) Quasi Realism
• Quasi realism is a metaethical view with the claim that ethical utterances are the projection of emotional
attitudes or emotions as if emotions are real properties. They do not express propositions.
• This view is defended by Simon Blackburn. Simon holds that it may be possible that there is no ethical fact in
the world that correspond to ethical statements, but linguistically ethical statements behave as if they are
factual claims and that is why they can be appropriately regarded as true or false.
C) Universal Prescriptivism
• Universal Prescriptivism is a metaethical view which holds that ethical sentences work as imperatives and these
imperatives are universalised.
• R. M. Hare is a defender of this theory. He states that moral utterances express more than just emotional
approval and disapproval.
• Moral utterances express subjective prescription. They are prescriptive in nature. When someone utters a
moral judgement or statement, he or she wants the other to act in accordance with his or her moral judgement.
Normative Ethics/ Prescriptive Ethics
Normative ethics, which has been extensively studied by scholars such as John Stuart Mill, focuses on providing
guidelines for determining what is right and wrong.
• Its goal is to create ethical theories and principles that will aid individuals in making moral judgments and
decisions.
• The goal of normative ethics is to establish moral standards and assess the morality of human behaviour.
• Examines ethical theories: It is an examination of ethical theories that prescribe how people should act and
behave in society. If someone violates established standards, there are provisions for punishment as well as
justification for the same.
• 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. If someone violates established
standards, there are provisions for punishment as well as justification.
• Examines how basic moral standards are established: The central question in normative ethics is how basic
moral standards are established and justified.

The Golden Rule is an example of a normative theory that establishes a single principle against which we judge all
actions. Other normative theories focus on a set of foundational principles, or a set of good character traits
Normative ethical theories are classified into three main groups teleological, deontological and virtue ethics theories.
Teleological Ethics
• Teleology finds its etymology in the Greek word ‘telos’ which means “end” and logos, “science”.
• The teleological approach is also called “consequentialism”. It determines the moral worth of any action by
the consequences or outcomes of that action.
✓ An action is good if its consequences are good; an action is wrong if its consequences are bad.
✓ Hence, for judging an action morally, we have to consider its actual or likely results. Ethical egoism and
utilitarianism are teleological.
• Teleological moral theories locate moral goodness in the consequences of our behavior and not the behavior
itself.
✓ According to teleological (or consequentialist) moral theory, all rational human actions are teleological in
the sense that we reason about the means of achieving certain ends. Moral behavior, therefore, is goal-
directed.
• Example: From a teleological standpoint, stealing could not be judged inherently right or wrong independent of
the context and the foreseeable consequences. Suppose one is contemplating stealing a loaf of bread from the
neighborhood grocery store.
• Many moral theorists would argue that morality requires an analysis of my motives (or intent) that brought
about that behavior.
✓ However, from a teleological perspective, motives really have nothing to do with the rightness or wrongness
of the act. What really matters lies in the potential pains and pleasures associated with the short-term and
long-term consequences.
✓ If thief’s children were starving, and if stealing a loaf of bread would immediately prevent them from
starving, then the act might be called moral.
The classic example of teleological ethics is utilitarianism.
Utilitarianism as Teleological Ethics

Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that determines right from wrong by
focusing on outcomes. It is a form of consequentialism and Hedonism.
• Utilitarianism holds that the most ethical choice is the one that
will produce the “greatest good for the greatest number”. Each
person tends to maximize pleasure and minimize pain.
Merits of Utilitarianism
• Larger
interest of
Society: It emphasizes collective happiness.
• Distributed justice: Budget is a way of income
distribution based on utilitarianism, like taking higher tax from
the rich and using it for the welfare of the poor.
• Utilitarianism is easy to implement.

• It focuses on the democratic process for forward movement.
Demerits of Utilitarianism
• It gives primacy to the happiness of the majority over that of the minority.
• It ignores 'altruism' however, many people are involved in social service. As society is the cradle of man.
• It focuses on 'end' only while ignoring means, but Gandhiji said "means and end cannot be separated from each
other".
• It is materialistic in its orientation and has reduced human to animal level.
• Utilitarianism is pro-status quo. It is against social reforms because it validates popular opinion.
Deontology
• Duty-based system of ethics: Deontology is a dutybased 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.
• Uses rules to distinguish between right and wrong: 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.”
• Follow the rules and duties: Deontology is a simple concept to grasp. 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.
• Does not evaluate actions based on their
outcomes: Unlike consequentialism, which
evaluates actions based on their outcomes,
deontology does not necessitate weighing
the costs and benefits of a situation.
Subjectivity and uncertainty are avoided
because only set rules must be followed.
Merits of Deontological Theory

• It creates a higher level of responsibility.
• Morality is defined as a command of reason.
• It gives value to every person, unlike utilitarianism.
• It does not blindly follow the 'end' of the action but emphasizes 'means'.
• Kant's philosophy is rooted in modern concept of human rights
• 'Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah’ (Protect your duty, your duty will protect you).
Demerits of Deontological Theory

• Unintended actions that result in evil cause self-guilt.
• Deontology emphasizes duty' but what if there is conflict among duties as doctor, father, and citizen, whose
duty is superior? It does not answer that.
• Deontology is inherently rigid because rules cannot be bent or avoided.
• There is contextualism in the society as there are different moral laws in different societies.

Difference between Deontological and Teleological ethics
Deontological Ethics (Duty-Based) Teleological Ethics (Result-Oriented)

• Focus on moral duties, not consequences. • Focus on the consequences of actions.
• Morality of action is judged by means • Morality of Action is judged by ends
• Kant's categorical imperative represents it. • 'Maximum good for a greater number of people' maxim
represents it.
• Human beings are end in themselves • Human beings may be means to an end.
• Civil servants follow 'Code of Ethics' which is • Politicians follow this approach because their end is to
based on deontological ethics. get votes.
• 'Piracy' as a process is wrong because it • It may justify piracy because it will lead more
violates the 'right to property dissemination of information
• Minority opinion is also considered. • Minority opinion is not considered.
• Application: Deontological approach is • Application: Teleological approach is used by the courts
applied in the criminal justice system, which for the interpretation of any legislation, its purpose,
ensures that the punishment was direction or design.
proportionate and appropriate to the crime
committed
Virtue Ethics
• Aristotelian virtue ethics emphasises the development of virtuous character traits as the foundation of ethical
behaviour.
• It emphasises the importance of virtuous individuals in creating a flourishing society by emphasising the
development of qualities such as courage, justice, and temperance to guide moral decision-making.
• Plato believed that only philosophers should rule the world because they have knowledge received through the
intellectual perception of the soul.
Plato gave four categories of virtues –

✓ Wisdom/Prudence – Virtue of reason
✓ Fortitude/Valour – Virtue of courage
✓ Temperance – Virtue of self-control
✓ Justice – Virtue of fairness or righteousness.
• Character-based approach to ethics: It focuses on the development of good character traits, or virtues, as the
foundation for moral behaviour.
• Acquired through practice and habit: The more we practice being honest, just, courageous, and so on, the more
likely we are to become virtuous people.
• Not rules or principles: They are more like dispositions
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 to face danger with determination and resolve.
• Concerned with the good life: It is not only about doing
the right thing but also about living a meaningful and fulfilling
life.

Applied Ethics
Applied ethics refers to the practical application of moral and ethical theories in real life. It focuses on resolving 'moral
dilemmas on different issues using ethical principles like utilitarianism, deontological ethics, virtue ethics, case ethics
and altruism.
Normative Principles in Applied Ethics – These are the most widely utilised principles in the field of applied ethics. Here
are a few examples:
• Social benefit – recognise the extent to which activity has a positive impact on society.
• Personal benefit – recognise the amount to which activity has a positive impact on the individual in the issue.
• Principle of paternalism – assisting others in achieving their best interests when they are unable to do it
themselves.
• Principle of harm – do not cause harm to others.
• Principle of benevolence – help families in need.
• Principle of lawfulness – one should not break the law.
• Principle of honesty – do not deceive people
• Principle of justice – recognise a person’s right to due process, fair compensation for damage done and
equitable sharing of benefits.
• Principle of autonomy – recognises a person’s freedom over his activities or physical body.
• Rights – Recognise a person’s rights to life, information, privacy, freedom of speech and safety.
There are following areas of applied Ethics-

• Environmental Ethics: Issues like the Chipko Movement, environmental justice and debates on environment
development, sustainable development, polluter pay, precautionary principle reflect environmental ethics.
• Media Ethics: It includes the following issues: media trial, fake news, paid news, a sting operation,
sensationalism of news, live telecast of combat operations, leaking of sensitive information, etc.
• Biomedical Ethics: It includes the following issues: clinical trials, abortion, stem cell research, cloning, surrogacy,
euthanasia etc.
• Social Ethics: It includes the following issues-good samaritan laws, racism, untouchability, khap panchayat,
alcoholism, patriarchy etc.
• Sports Ethics: Issues such as inter- disciplinary conflict, divided loyalties, doping, fan syndrome, etc
• Sexual morality: It includes issues such as -prostitution, LGBT right, adultery, marital rape, extramarital affairs,
etc.
• Corporate Ethics: Responsibility, accountability, equality, fairness are major issues whose violation results in
scams, corruption, monopoly and oligarchy.
• Administrative Ethics: Administrative ethics are “The values and morals should be followed by a bureaucrat
during his public duty”. In brief they are: Integrity; Honesty; Strict adherence to code of conduct; Respecting
rules and regulations; Showing empathy and compassion towards down-trodden people; Non -discrimination;
Ensuring good governance.
Other Important Theories

• Egalitarianism Approach – (Approach to Fairness, Justice, and Equality)- Egalitarianism asserts that
all advantages and obligations should be divided using the following: “Every person should be assigned a
precisely equal share of society’s benefits and burdens.” Today, we utilise this concept to support affirmative
action, such as India’s reservation system for disadvantaged sectors of society.
• Altruism – It is good to live for others rather than for oneself.
• Asceticism – It entails abstaining from egoistic pleasures to pursue a spiritual aim.
• Egoism – The best action/decision is one that maximises one’s own good.
• Consequentialist Libertarianism – Liberty should be maximised.
• Hedonism – It states that the best action/decision is one that maximises pleasure.
• Intellectualism – The ideal action/decision advances knowledge the most.
• Welfarism – The ideal action/decision enhances economic well-being the most.
• Situation Ethics – The best action/decision is the one that results in the greatest amount of love.

ETHICS NOTES PART 3 BY VYASA IAS
Table of Content
1. Ethics in Private Relationships

2. Ethics in Public Relationship
3. Comparison of Ethics in Public and Private Relationship
4. Separation of Public and Private Relationships
5. Effect of Public Relationships on Private Relationships
6. Effect of Private Relationships on Public Relationships
7. Common Ethics in Public and Private Relationships
8. Balancing Public and Private Relationships
9. Difference between private and public relationships
10. Personal Vs Professional Ethics
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.
The following are some cardinal values in private relationships: •
• Trust: Trust is the foundation upon which your relationship can withstand the most difficult of times. In fact, you
cannot sustain a long-term relationship without trust. One of the causes of relationship breakdown is a lack of
trust. •
• Mutual respect: It is beneficial in remaining compassionate, committed, truthful, and honest. Strengthens the
relationship and treats each other fairly. •
• Law of Integrity: The law of integrity states that a person should not lie and keep his promises. •
• Law of Improvement: If a mistake is made, the person should try to improve on it.
• Gratitude: If anyone has helped, the person should remember that.
• Loyalty: Devotion to one’s partner and family members.
• Love: Loving everything, even if it has flaws.
• Fidelity: This is a key driver of marital relationships and the essence of marriage ethics. It refers to remaining
faithful to one’s life partner while avoiding sensual distractions or committing adultery.
• Confidentiality: In order to keep private relationships sacred, secrecy and privacy are essential.
• Accountability & Responsibility: In private relationships, one is bestowed with various responsibilities such as
responsibility towards a child, life partner, parents, and so on. This necessitates fulfilling one’s responsibility to
them as well as being accountable to them in the event of failure to do so.

• Tolerance and Acceptance: Tolerance is the ability to recognize and respect the values and differences of
others. Tolerance removes self-imposed barriers, allowing one to think more broadly and experience greater
inner peace.
Ethics in private relationships are generally directed by:

• Individual virtues: They are generally used to guide ethics in private relationships: Truthfulness and honesty are
important factors in determining ethics in private relationships. It reveals a person’s attitude and behaviour.
• Universal human values: The established standard for ethical behaviour is based on universal values.
• Religion: Religious and theist people accept Divine commands and follow them in their personal lives in order to
please God and gain salvation.
• Social norms: Some values are learned from environmental factors that influence humans, such as family, peer
groups, society
• Law of the land: Some ethical principles are governed by laws and constitutional values.
The Importance of Ethics in Private Relationships

• Leads to a good life: Allows individuals to sail smoothly through difficult times and live a good life.
• Right decision-making: Allows us to make sound decisions, especially when there is a conflict of interest.
• Character development: Is aided by adherence to good values such as honesty, integrity, equality, and so on.
• Ethical lessons for children: Ethical living in private relationships, particularly at home, influences children’s
behaviour and serves as their first ethics lesson.
• Acceptance in Public Life: Personal relationships with ethics make a person more acceptable in public life.
• More Tolerance for Imperfection: Because of mutual trust, love, and dependence, people used to have a high
index of tolerance for imperfection in private relationships.
Ethics in Public Relationship
Ethics in public relations refers to the ethical values or moral standards that an individual adheres to in his or her
professional interactions and business dealings. Power governs ethics in public relationships.
• Important values critical to the integrity of any profession: Advocacy, honesty, selflessness, expertise,
openness, accountability, fairness, and other core values are required to guide human actions and are critical to
the integrity of any profession
Any ethical framework must include the following components:

• Codifying ethical standards and practices.
• Disclosure of personal interests in order to avoid a conflict between public interest and personal gain.
• Establishin
g a system for
enforcing the
relevant codes.
•
Establishing
criteria for
qualifying and

disqualifying a public official from office
The Role of Ethics in Public Relationships
• Moral Compass for Resolving Conflicts of Interest: Creating a moral compass for navigating ethical quandaries
and resolving conflicts of interest. Personal life frequently has an impact on an individual’s work and role in
public spheres of life.
• Contributes to the humanization of public relations: Ethics in private relationships contributes to the
humanization of public relations and plays an important role in the formation of a person’s moral system. If
someone values honesty in his personal life, he is likely to be honest in his public life as well.
• Responsible advocacy and communications: Personal values are translated into responsible advocacy and
communications through responsible advocacy and communications.
• Social well-being: This Entails sustaining authority,
developing and enhancing public trust in the system, and
achieving societal well-being.
• Effective and balanced decision making: Aids in making more
fair and balanced decisions.
• Office/ institution/ organization credibility: Ethical public
relations requires maintaining transparency when dealing
with any information, sensitive or not. Blurring the lines
between fact and fiction can erode credibility and tarnish the
reputation of an office/ institution/organization.
• Trustworthy relationships with people: Through trust, an
organisation can build solid relationships with various stakeholders, which can be gained by always taking an
ethical approach. Following the Code of Ethics can aid in the development of much-needed trust between
organisations and the general public.
• Courtesy: This is extremely important in the official conduct of civil servants in India. This creates a sense of
belonging among the general public.
• Spirit of service: This is essential in order to serve the purpose of service. Civil servants are expected to go above
and beyond the call of duty in order to serve the public interest. This provides the individual with inner
satisfaction while also inspiring his colleagues to meet the service goals.
Civil servants’ morale has been deteriorating in recent years. Following are the prominent reasons:
• Lack of accountability and responsibility
• Sacrificing ethics, values, integrity, and spiritualism
• Social Acceptance: Society as a whole has begun to accept corrupt individuals
• Mega Administration, slow methodology, and decision-making delay
• Soft society, tolerant public opinion, and the nexus of politics, business, and bureaucracy
Efforts to correct this

• Increase transparency
• Whistleblower Protection Act: To protect appropriate ‘public interest disclosures’ of official wrongdoing.
• Ethical audit of integrity

• Disciplinary action should be taken
• Computerization and digitization
Nolan Committee: Seven Principles in Public Life
The Committee on Standards in Public Life in the United

Kingdom, also known as the Nolan Committee, has outlined the
seven principles of public life outlined below:
1. Selflessness: Public officials should make decisions solely in

the public interest. They should not do so in order to benefit
financially or otherwise for themselves, their family, or their friends.
2. Integrity: This is the practice of being truthful and adhering to moral and ethical principles in a consistent and
unwavering manner. Holders of public office should not place themselves under any financial or other obligation to
individuals or organisations outside of their official duties.
3. Objectivity: This refers to making decisions based on established facts and figures rather than personal bias or
opinion. Holders of public office should make meritbased decisions when carrying out public business, such as making
public appointments, awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards and benefits
4. Accountability: Holders of public office are accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit
to whatever scrutiny is appropriate for their office.
5. Honesty: “Being trustworthy, loyal, fair, and sincere” is what it means. An honest person is deceit-free, truthful, and
sincere, and does not lie. Holders of public office must declare any private interests related to their public duties and
take steps to resolve any conflicts that arise in a way that protects the public interest.
6. Leadership: Holders of public office should lead by example and promote and support these principles.
7. Openness: Holders of public office should be as open as possible about all the decisions and actions they take. They
should give reasons for their decisions and restrict information only when the wider public interest clearly demands it.
OECD and an Ethical Infrastructure

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) called for an ethical infrastructure referring to a range
of tools and processes for regulating or checking undesirable behaviour and providing incentives to encourage good
conduct of public officials.
OECD 8-point charter is as follows;
• Political commitment for ethical governance
• Creation of an Effective legal framework,
• Evolving an Efficient accountability mechanism,
• Need for evolving workable codes of conduct,
• Professional socialisation mechanisms (including training),
• Creation of supportive public service conditions,
• Need for a central ethics coordinating body,
• Need for an energetic civil society able to act as a watchdog
Comparison of Ethics in Public and Private Relationship

Separation of Public and Private Relationships
Reasons for separation:

• Both function in a different way: Private and public relationships are conducted in very different ways and thus
must be treated separately in order to behave appropriately in each context.
• Should not be influenced by each other’s problems: Neither public nor private relationships should be
influenced by the problems of the other. Private issues should not have an impact on public performance.
• Combining two results in complications: Combining the two types of relationships frequently results in
complications. The publicization of private relationships leads to nepotism and favouritism. The introduction of
public relationships into the private sphere jeopardises the sanctity, privacy, and intimacy of private life
• Different expectations from both spheres: As society judges people differently in their public and private
spheres, it is best to keep them separate
• Helps in the prevention of conflict of interest: Separating public and private relationships helps in the
prevention of conflicts of interest.
• Cannot be mixed to preserve the sanctity: Public relationships can be so complicated and intense that they
cannot be mixed with private relationships in order to preserve the sanctity of private life.
Problems and Challenges with Separation

• Not feasible: Because public and private relationships frequently overlap and mix, they cannot be kept separate
• Undesirable: A rigid separation of public and private relationships may be counter-productive. Both types of
relationships can benefit from one another.
• Not manageable: Individuals may experience confusion and mental stress if public and private relationships are
treated differently.
• Not separable: Because some values and ethics are shared by both public and private relationships, both types
of relationships necessitate similar behaviour.
Effect of Public Relationships on Private Relationships

Positive:
• Inspiration: Our public lives frequently serve as a lesson for our private lives, inspiring us to improve our
behavior
• Value: The harsh realities of public relationships (such as give and take and insensitivity) make us appreciate the
importance of our private relationships and the emotional support they provide.
• Humane: Private relationship ethics, such as love and care, can be used to make public relationships more
humane and compassionate.
Negative:
• Spillover: When people are preoccupied with the public, they continue to behave in the same manner in their
private space.
• Time management: Excessive involvement in public life frequently forces people to sacrifice time from their
private lives, which has a negative impact on their private relationships.
Effect of Private Relationships on Public Relationships
Positive:
• Interpersonal relationships: Private relationships teach people values like love, care, empathy, and so on, which
they can then replicate in their public relationships to improve their quality.
• Positive mood: People who have smooth and happy private relationships are more satisfied, which allows them
to behave better in public. This is the reasoning behind the adage “Happy wife, happy life.”
Negative:
• Stress: Tensions in private relationships with friends, family, spouses, and others cause stress and have a
negative impact on public behaviour. Healthy private relationships are a basic requirement that must be met in
order to have good public relationships
• Prejudice: Private relationships frequently permeate the public sphere.
Common Ethics in Public and Private Relationships
• Honesty: Both types of relationships expect truthful behaviour, without which trust and confidence are lost.
Marriage, for example, as well as superiorsubordinate relationships, necessitate loyalty
• Interpersonal factors: Both relationships are not mechanical, but rather involve interpersonal behaviour. As a
result, both require individuals to have basic sensitivity, empathy, care, and so on in order for both parties to
better understand each other
• Accountability: In both relationships, we are held accountable for our actions. To maintain trust and confidence,
we must answer for and account for our actions.
• Compassion: Helping others is a good deed that is desired in both public and private relationships.
Balancing Public and Private Relationships
• Act appropriately with due diligence

• Certain values work in both spheres

• There cannot be a watertight separation
• Use the continuum of both relationships
Difference between private and public relationships
Personal Vs Professional Ethics

ETHICS NOTES PART - 4 BY VYASA IAS
Table of Content
1. Values
2. Role of Family in Value Inculcation
3. Role of Educational Institutions in Value Inculcation
4. Role of Society
5. Human Values
6. Human Values - lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators
Values
Values are broad preferences regarding appropriate courses of action or outcomes. As a result, values reflect an
individual’s sense of right and wrong, or
what “ought” to be. It establishes a
crucial aspect of one’s self-concept and
operates as a person’s guiding principles.
• Sometimes individual beliefs are

referred to as values: Individual beliefs that motivate people to act in one way or another are referred to as
values. These values can be ethical/moral, religious, political, social, or aesthetic, among others.
• Predisposition to the values: People are generally predisposed to adopt the values with which they are raised.
People also believe that those values are “right” because they are the values of their culture.
• The usefulness of values in ethical decision-making: Ethical decision-making frequently entails weighing values
against one another and deciding which values to
elevate. Conflicts can arise when people’s values differ,
resulting in a clash of preferences and priorities.
• Values are learned and instilled: Values are not created
by nature. They are learned and instilled. The family, its
environment, and traditions all play an important role in
the development of values.
Different people may have a different set of values –

• Tribal cultural values which promote conservation of
environment and nature.
• Business class values include risk-taking behaviour, creativity and pragmatism
• Rural culture gives more importance to personal bonding than urban culture does.
Different Types of Values

There are following types of values-
• Individual Values - Honesty, integrity, courage.
• Social Values - Sympathy, coordination,cooperation
• Organizational Values - Service in medicine, truth in journalism, profit in business

• Academic Values - Debate, discussion, inquiry and questioning
• Physical Values - Running, swimming, exercise and yoga.
• Constitutional Values - Liberty, Equality, Fraternity, Sovereignty, Social Justice etc.
• Civic Values - Political awareness, nationalism etc.
• Environmental Values - Conservation of nature, sustainability, peaceful co-existence
Values can also be classified as:

• Terminal Values: related
to an ultimate goal or
end of a person.
• Instrumental Values:
related to means of
achieving the desired
outcome or an end
Features of Values
• Standard of morality - it
is essentially guiding
principle of life.
• Values are central to human personalities.
• Values are more
abstract in nature but
form the 'basis' of
behaviour.
• Values are relatively
stable and enduring, yet
any intense incident in
life can change the value
system.
• It could be 'Means' or
'End' both like 'honesty'
is end value and 'education is its means value.
• When 'core belief and emotions are combined, it become value Values
Different Types of Value System:

• We are having different types of value system based on where they are applicable according to the time and
space.
Indian values • Tolerance

• Atithi devo bhava
• Universal Brotherhood
• Non-Violence
• Vasudhaivaa kutumbakam
• Living with Nature etc
Western Values • Liberal
• Individualism
• Egalitarian society
• Materialism
• Privacy etc
Universal Values • Universalism
• Benevolence
• Compassion
• Empathy
• Self-Sustenance
• Sustainable Development
• Universal Brotherhood
• Service to Mother earth and Humanity
• Selflessness
Importance of Values
• Guides Human Behaviour: Values are the principles and fundamental convictions that serve as a general guide
to behaviour. Attitudes and behaviour are influenced by values.
• Driving Force in Ethical Decision-Making: Values are universally recognized as a driving force in ethical decision-
making. They serve as the foundation for their intentional activities and influence an individual’s choices.
• Internal Reference for Good Living: Personal values provide an internal reference for what is good, beneficial,
important, useful, beautiful, desirable, and constructive in life.
• Helps Differentiate between what is Right and Wrong: All values have effective, cognitive, and directional
aspects that guide us in deciding what is right and wrong.
• Promotes Peace and Stability: Human values are a tool for managing human relations and a tool for peace when
tensions are high. Values enable us to live in harmony with one another and to contribute to peace on a
personal level.
• Values Extend beyond Specific Actions and situations: Values extend beyond specific actions and situations.
Morality, Ethics, and Values

• Values include all ethics and morals. Not all values are ethical. For
instance, bravery.
• It is a value, but it is not ethical. Individuals who are not courageous
cannot be considered unethical.
• In our society, conservation is a value, but not ethics.
• In some countries, such as Japan, punctuality is valued alongside ethics.
Hard work is a value, but it is not an ethical value.
Role of Family in Value Inculcation

A family is a social institution with the bond of common belief, religion, customs, culture, language, and a way of life. It
carries on the heritage and traditions as legacies from the
earlier generation to the next generation.
• First School of Value Learning for Children: Values are

often obtained through cultural processes, particularly
diffusion and transmission or socialisation from parents
to children.
• Provide Emotional Support: Provide him with the
emotional support, care, and counselling he needs to
get him out of negative thoughts.
• Family Provides an Informal way of Learning: A child
develops implicitly love, compassion, selfsacrifice, and values of sharing and caring
• Role Model for Children: Parents and family members are role models for children, and they frequently follow
their acts and behaviours
• Constructive and Destructive roles: Family can play both a
beneficial and a detrimental role in instilling ideals in children.
• Change in values taught by parents: Another tendency we can see
is a shift in the values taught by parents. They prioritise
competition over cooperation, individualism over family and
collectivism, and consumerism above gratification and sacrifice.
• Divergence between family and individual values: Due to the
disintegration of traditional families, the necessity of parents
working, the technological explosion, and peer influence, the role
of the family as a first value provider has declined in recent years.
Furthermore, as a result of education, critical thinking, media, and
awareness, children may reject and deviate from family values.
Role of Educational Institutions in Value Inculcation
According to the National Education Policy, education is the most effective tool for instilling values in children. In the
first year of life, a school is a place where systematic learning takes place. School gives children the most opportunities
and exposure.
• In addition, a child is introduced for the first time in school to members of the community other than his family,
such as his peers, pupils, teachers, and other staff. This teaches the child how to regulate his behaviour in
society.
• Imparting a strong value system: The major task of
parents is to inculcate values in their children. However,
teachers and schools play an important role in this as
students spend more time in schools and institutions.
Students learn how to behave in society at schools and, later,
in colleges. The role of peer ground can’t be written off and

remains highly significant in value accumulation and value internalisation.
• Most effective agent for instilling human values: Education has the ability to generate strong and enduring
values. Education has always been based on a value system that promotes the growth of physical, intellectual,
moral, and spiritual life.
• Basic etiquettes and values: In the Japanese system, children are taught basic etiquettes and values during their
first four years in school.
The curriculum and textbooks also influence children’s

attitudes:
• French Revolution: Liberty, equality, fraternity.
• Modern History: Gandhi’s train to Pretoria -
Standing up to injustice.
• Constitutional ideals include democracy, secularism,
and human values such as truth, love, and
compassion.
• Literature: It teaches us about human nature and
the dominant social ideals of a certain era.
• Curiosity about science: This leads to questions
about religious orthodoxy and bad practices.
• Values of sportsmanship and team spirit: The opportunity to participate in numerous sports at a young age
helps pupils develop team spirit.
Holistic personality development – Education is critical to

overall growth
• Instilling compassion, honesty, and mutual
cohabitation among different cultures;
• Old age homes for imparting compassion and
selflessness.
• Museums and cultural centres to foster tolerance and secularism.
• Tree planting and street cleaning to instil environmental consciousness.
• Yoga helps to internalise your thinking. You’ll have more clarity of thought once your attention is focused.
• Diversity in unity, constitutional morality, and insights from philosophers like Gandhi.
Role of Society
The Society is at the centre of informal learning that ensures members’ inheritance. It embraces the child’s development
with love and a sense of possessiveness, teaching the child to value societal patterns and philosophy.
• Society Imparts Values through Social Tradition: Values of intimacy, language, love, equality, desires to live,
action, behaviour, morality, unity, attachment, and jealousy are all values carried through social tradition. These

are the evident characteristics that a child picks up from society. Through collaborative endeavour, society
eliminates the problems of social indifferences such as caste.
• Transmission of Culture through Society: Man exists in society in order to grow mentally and intellectually.
Society protects and transmits our culture to future generations. For example, the worship of the peepal tree
and the sacred Ganges river.
• Individual Discipline: It is cultivated by society via punishments and rewards. For example, the social boycott
was used against money lenders by peasants in the Deccan peasant revolt during the -British era in India.
• Man exists in society in order to grow mentally and intellectually.
• Nurtures Morality and Ethics: Society preserves and transmits our culture to future generations. Morality and
ethics are nurtured in individuals by society.
• Develops Tolerance and Sense of Nationalism: Tolerance and national integration are brought about through
society. Tolerance develops when one lives in a community with individuals of many castes, religions, and
regional backgrounds.
• Through collaborative endeavour, society eliminates the problems of social indifferences such as caste.
• Conformity is Instilled in Society: A person is compelled to imitate what his peers do. If they smoke, he will
smoke; if they live in nuclear families, he will feel the need to separate from his joint family, and so on.
• Nurtures the Behavioural Pattern Amongst New Members of Society: The youngsters encounter a variety of
behavioural patterns and develop common causes with peers; learn the importance of neighbourhood, unity in
diversity, service to man is service to God, cooperation, and virtues in-depth.
Human Values
Basic human values refer to those values which are at the core of being human. The values which are considered basic
inherent values in humans include truth, honesty, loyalty, love, peace, etc. because they bring out the fundamental
goodness of human beings and society at large.
Importance of Human Values

• Provides understanding of the attitudes, motivation and behaviours
• Influences our perception of the world around us
• Represents interpretation of “right and wrong”
• Provides a way to understand humans and organisation.
The five human values which are expected in all human beings, irrespective of whether they are employees or not in
whichever profession or service, are:
• Right Conduct – Contains values like self-help skills (modesty, self-reliance, hygiene etc.), social skills (good
behavior, good manners, environment awareness etc.), ethical skills (courage, efficiency, initiative, punctuality
etc.) and Ownership.
• Peace – Contains values like equality, focus, humility, optimism, patience, self-confidence, selfcontrol, self-
esteem etc.
• Truth – Contains values like accuracy, fairness, honesty, justice, quest for knowledge, determination etc.

• Peaceful co-existence – Contains values like psychological (benevolence, compassion, consideration, morality,
forgiveness etc.) and social (brotherhood, equality, perseverance, respect for others, environmental awareness
etc.)
• Discipline – Contains values like regulation, direction, order etc.
Human Values - lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators
We are fortunate to have many great leaders, reformers, and administrators who cherished noble values and ethics.
They not only lived an ethical life but also taught many human values.
Let’s have a quick look at the lessons from the lives of eminent persons.
• Mahatma Gandhi: What he valued – Simplicity, Minimalism, Satyagraha, Sarvodaya, Secularism, Ahimsa, Non-
Violence, Truth, Forgiveness, Self-Sufficiency, Dignity of labour etc.
• Jawaharlal Nehru: What he valued – democracy, institution building, consensus building, socialism, secularism,
self-determination, internationalism etc.
• Nelson Mandela: What he valued – service, dignity, self-belief, equality of the human race, freedom, fairness,
justice, etc.
• Abraham Lincoln: What he valued – humanism, equality of the human race, integrity, idealism, honesty,
freedom etc.
• Martin Luther King Jr: What he valued – self-belief, equality of the human race etc.
• Raja Rammohan Roy: What he valued – social equality, equality of the human race, women empowerment,
scientific thinking etc.
• Swami Vivekananda: What he valued – self-belief, equality of the human race, patriotism, compassion etc.
• B R Ambedkar: What he valued – self-belief, equality of the human race, radical thinking, compassion etc.
• Mother Teresa: What she valued – compassion, altruism, helpfulness, kindness, cleanliness, determination.
• Verghese Kurien: What he valued – self-belief, co-operative societies, entrepreneurship, innovation, farmer
welfare etc.
• M.S. Swaminathan: What he valued – sustainable development, green revolution, poverty alleviation, farmer
welfare etc.
• Sam Pitroda: What he valued – self-belief, dreaming big, entrepreneurship, policy making, innovation etc.
• E. Sreedharan: What he valued – punctuality, self-belief, integrity, high-quality standards etc.

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ETHICS NOTES PART-1 FOR CSIR ASO/SO EXAM BY VYASA IAS

Ethics Notes Part 1

Ethics cover the following dilemmas:

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Importance of Ethics in Human Life

• Moral Principles and Values: At the heart of ethics

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Analysis of Determinants of Ethics

Consequences of Ethics in Human Action

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B) Consequences for society

Fundamental Objectives of Ethics

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Four Critical Principles of Ethics

Difference between Ethics and morality

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Meta refers to the things

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ii. Ethical Non-Naturalism

i. Ideal Observer Theory

ii. Divine Command Theory

II. Ethical Non-Cognitivism

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Normative Ethics/ Prescriptive Ethics

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The classic example of teleological ethics is utilitarianism.

Utilitarianism as Teleological Ethics

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Merits of Deontological Theory

Demerits of Deontological Theory

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Difference between Deontological and Teleological ethics

Deontological Ethics (Duty-Based) Teleological Ethics (Result-Oriented)

Plato gave four categories of virtues –

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There are following areas of applied Ethics-

Other Important Theories

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1. Ethics in Private Relationships

Ethics in Private Relationships

It refers to the ethical values that a person adheres

The following are some cardinal values in private relationships: •

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Ethics in private relationships are generally directed by:

The Importance of Ethics in Private Relationships

Ethics in Public Relationship

Any ethical framework must include the following components:

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The Role of Ethics in Public Relationships

Efforts to correct this

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Nolan Committee: Seven Principles in Public Life

The Committee on Standards in Public Life in the United

1. Selflessness: Public officials should make decisions solely in

OECD and an Ethical Infrastructure

Comparison of Ethics in Public and Private Relationship

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