Concept of ethics
- dos & donts governing human action in social setting
- “aatmana Pratikulani Paresham na Samacharet”
- i.e. donot impose anything on others that you yourself don’t want to go through
- systematic study of human behaviour wrt right or wrong with ultimate aim of happiness
Characteristic attributes
- does not dictate single course of action however will provide or prescribe means to evaluate action wrt right or wrong
- every society has code of ethics to ensure peace, harmony, conformity, uniformity & check deviance
- ethics remains same within context but changes with context eg. time, culture, society
- ethics operates at multiple levels eg. organizational ethics, professional ethics, societal ethics
- man not only learns from ethics but also shapes it
- eg. socio religious examples, constitution makers, legislature, judiciary
- ethics maintained & sustained by sense of responsibility, not mere accountability to external agencies
- ethics abstract & donot have concrete manifestation; therefore many times ppl do not realize meaning & significance of ethics & digress from ethical behaviour
Quote
Constitution gives concrete manifestation to ideals such as unity in diversity, freedom of speech & expression, religious freedom etc.
- Ethics beneficial for both individual & society: helps establish good life
Essence of ethics
- ethics enabled u to make right choices
- essence in determining what is morally right/ wrong & guiding behaviour based on principle of fairness
- considering consequence of actions on individuals and society
- respecting rights & dignity of others
- striving to do good
Determinant of ethics
- right & wrong neither universal nor absolute
- no obj way to determine
- thus certain frameworks
Frameworks:
- God & religion
- Human intuition / Moral intuition
- Society & culture
- Agency & socialization
- Philosophy
- Leadership
- Constitution
Customary morality should not be the guide for modern day life. Constitutional morality should be the guide.
Ethicality of human action
- Nature of action: PRIMARY determinant
- Circumstances
- Intention
Consequence of ethics
- Individual
- source of happiness
- eg. blood donation
- person beyond lower order needs
- Lord Rama focused on virtues of compassion, kindness, responsbiilty
- ethical ppl always acknowledged eg. Sonu Sood during C-19
- overcoming crises of conscience
- Good governance
- care, justice, rationality
- abolition of Talak-eBiddat
- recc. of SC to treat sex workers, children w/ dignity
- equitable, inclusive development
- sustainable social order by socializing younger generation wrt ethical values