Ethics
- Ethics correspond to the Greek word “ethos” which means character,habit, way of behaviour, etc
- Ethics is a set of principles that guide human actions in a way acceptable by the society.
- ie, Ethics is the standard of “good and bad” distinguished by a certain community or social setting.
- Ethics is seen from the perspective of society
- Ethics is also called “moral philosophy”
- Examples of ethics include the ideals of honesty, integrity, respect, loyalty etc.
- A doctor maintaining confidentiality about his/her patient’s medical condition (Professional Ethics) is said to be Ethical.
- “Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have the right to do and what is right to do”-Potter Stewart
- “Without ethics, man has no future. This is to say, mankind without them cannot be itself. Ethics determine choices and actions and suggest difficult priorities” – John Berger
Morality
- Morals or Morality originated from the Latin word Mos which means “custom”.
- Morality is the standards of right and wrong of individuals.
- Morality is seen from the perspective of an individual.
- Examples of morals include things such as not lying, being generous, being patient etc
- Helping a stranger who is in need without expecting anything in return is said to be an act of morality.
- “To educate a person in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society”-Theodore Roosevelt
- “About morals, I know only that what is moral is what you feel good after, and what is immoral is what you feel bad after.” – Ernest Hemingway
Ethics and Morality
- Generally, the terms ethics and morality are used interchangeably.
- While both ethics and morality deal with distinguishing between “good and bad” or “right and wrong”, ethics tend to be defined by external societal standards, while morality is more personal and individualistic.
Can a person be moral but not ethical?
- It is possible for people to be moral but not ethical. A person can follow his/her personal moral code without adhering to a more society held ethical standards.
- Eg: Raja Ram Mohan Roy, a social reformer , opposed the practice of Sati, which was considered ethical in his community. Despite societal backlash, he advocated for its abolition, adhering to his personal moral code over the prevailing community ethics.
Can a person be ethical but not moral?
- It is possible for a person to follow ethical principles without necessarily adhering to their own personal moral code.
- Eg:A criminal lawyer’s personal morals might tell him/her that defending a guilty person is wrong. However, ethically, as a lawyer, they are bound by their professional code of conduct to provide the best defense possible for their client. In this case, the lawyer is acting ethically (following professional ethics), but not morally (not pursuing personal beliefs).
Consequences of Ethics
- Provides credibility to an individual
- Builds confidence in oneself
- Ethics builds social capital
- An ethical society proliferates Equality and Justice
- Adherence of Ethics within an organization would ensure Brand Equity.
Ethics in Public Administration
- An ethical administrator accepts responsibility and would be willing to be held accountable for his/ her actions.
- An administrator will make decisions and implement them in a transparent manner.
- By ethically formulating and executing policies and decisions, an officer can ensure Justice.
Reference:
- ETHICS, INTEGRITY AND APTITUDE by G Subba Rao IAS and P N Roy Chowdhury IAS
- Lexicon
- https://www.britannica.com/story/whats-the-difference-between-morality-and-ethics
- Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude by DK Balaji IAS
Previous Year Question
It is believed that adherence to ethics in human actions would ensure the smooth functioning of an organization/system. If so, what does ethics seek to promote in human life? How do ethical values assist in the resolution of conflicts faced by him in his day-to-day functioning? (Answer in 150 words) 10 Marks