GENERAL STUDIES - IV

MODULE – 1
ETHICS AND HUMAN INTERFACE
SYLLABUS: Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences
of Ethics in – human actions; dimensions of ethics; - ethics in private and public
relations.
Every action or word that is performed or said by us, has a thought process behind
it. While thoughts generally are formed from our intelligence, there are certain
factors which govern this intelligence gathering.
ETHICS- Ethics is a set of guiding moral principles that govern a person’s behavior
or conduct. It focuses on questions about what is right or wrong, fair or unfair,
caring or uncaring, good or bad, responsible or irresponsible and the like. It is
concerned with how we should live our lives. It includes
 Principles (fundamental truth that forms the foundation)
 Norms (rules)
 Standards (preset quality)
In practice, ethics seeks to resolve questions of human morality. Ethics looks at
the future; it is concerned with the goodness and rightness of man's doing and
making. It looks at the past for the sake of the future. It assesses the moral
possibilities which are projected and portrayed in the social give-and-take.
Some ethical principles are: Truthfulness, Honesty, Loyalty, Respect, Fairness and
Integrity.
IMPORTANCE OF ETHICS
Ethics has two perspectives. First, ethics refers to well-founded standards of
right and wrong that prescribe what humans ought to do, usually in terms of
rights, obligations, benefits to society, fairness, or specific virtues. Ethics, for
example, refers to those standards that impose the reasonable obligations to
refrain from stealing, murder, assault, slander, and fraud. Ethical standards also
include those that enjoin virtues of honesty, compassion, and loyalty. And, ethical
standards include standards relating to rights, such as the right to life, the right to
freedom from injury, and the right to privacy. Such standards are adequate
standards of ethics because they are supported by consistent and well-founded
reasons.
Secondly, ethics refers to the study and development of one's ethical standards.
As mentioned above, feelings, laws, and social norms can deviate from what is
ethical. So, it is necessary to constantly examine one's standards to ensure that they
are reasonable and well-founded. Ethics also means, then, the continuous effort
of studying our own moral beliefs and our moral conduct, and striving to ensure
that we, and the institutions we help to shape, live up to standards that are
reasonable and solidly-based.

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Further ethics also leads to:
1. SELF REALIZATION
It helps a person to critically evaluate his /her actions, choices and decisions. It
assists a person in knowing what he/she really is and what is best for him/her.
It helps a person to decide what he/she should do for the attainment of the best.
This way it deepens the reflection of ultimate question of life.
2. IMPROVES THINKING, PERSPECTIVE AND JUDGMENTS
It improves our thinking about specific moral issues. It helps us to decide what
should be correct course of actions and what should be avoided. This way
improves our perspective and makes it more reflective and better throughout. This
way one can clarify moral position in making judgment.
3. SHARPEN OUR GENERAL THINKING PROCESSES
It trains our mind to think more logically and reasonably. This way one can handle
moral issues with greater clarity.
ESSENCE OF ETHICS IN HUMAN ACTIONS
Essence essentially deals with the fundamental quality of action, it deals with the
nature and scope of ethics. Ethics is a value based science. It is concerned with
what ought to be done rather than what is the case.
Ethics is theoretical and practical. It is theoretical in as much as it provides the
fundamental principles on the basis of which moral judgments are arrived at. It
is practical in as much as it is concerned about an end to be gained, and the
means of attaining it.
Ethics is not merely a set of ‘codes’. Ethics certainly deals with moral codes yet
one cannot identity ethics to moral codes. Ethics is not primarily to restrict one’s
behaviour, rather to help one to find what is good and how to get it.
However, the concept of right or wrong varies with time, place and situation. They
evolve over a period of time and cannot be applied uniformly as they are
relative concepts. Behaviour that is considered unethical by one society or a
generation may be quite accepting to another.
The principle of ethics emphasizes the fact that unlike in the traditional society
where the description of ethics depended only on the culture of the then society
with strong family structures, the description, scope and coverage of ethics in the
present-day knowledge society is ever transient and keeps changing with
changing techno-socio-economic environment. In simple words, this concept just
meant that a practice that could be considered as unethical in a particular situation
or environment could as well be considered as ethical practice in a different
context in tune with people’s comforts and/or convenience.
DETERMINANTS OF ETHICS IN HUMAN ACTIONS
These are the factors that either determine or create ethics in human actions. The
ethics determining factors are the object of the action, the circumstances in which
the action was performed and the end or purpose of the act.

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INHERENT QUALITY OF HUMAN ACTION
The object distinguishes the act from every other act. The object can be
something good, bad or indifferent—that is, neither good nor bad. The following
principles apply to the object of every action.
1. An action whose object is bad by its very nature will remain bad and nothing
can improve it— neither circumstances, or purpose, or intention. A lie, defined
as speaking contrary to what is in the speaker’s mind, remains a lie despite the
purpose or circumstance involved. Purpose and circumstance do not make it
anything except a lie.
2. An action that is good may become bad because of circumstances or
purpose. For example, telling the truth is a good act. By telling the truth, when
silence would suffice, to destroy another person's good name or character
makes the good act of telling the truth a morally bad act because of the
speaker's purpose or intention.
3. An action that is indifferent (neither good nor bad) may become good or bad
because of circumstances or purpose. Walking may be an indifferent act. But
walking into a store to steal becomes a morally evil action because of the
purpose.
CIRCUMSTANCES OF A HUMAN ACTION
Circumstances are those qualities that make an abstract act concrete and
individual. Circumstances include such things as the act being done at a particular
time, in a particular place, by a particular agent, in a particular manner. Moral
circumstances are the criteria for assessing the goodness or badness of a human
action. Moral circumstances may increase the goodness or badness of a human
action. To strike another person in self-defence is one thing; to strike another
without any provocation or justification is another matter.
Moral circumstances are specifying when they make an indifferent act become
good or bad, or when they give a new kind of goodness or badness to an action.
For example, taking money from a box is an indifferent act. If the money belongs
to the taker, the act is all right. But if the money belongs to another person, it is an
evil, immoral act.
THE END OR PURPOSE OF A HUMAN ACTION
The end of a human action is the purpose the person had in mind while doing the
act. It is the intention. People can have only one purpose or have a variety of
purposes in doing a particular act. We can deduce certain principles based on the
purpose in mind when performing the act.
1. An action that is indifferent because of its object may become good or bad
because of the purpose. For example, jogging in itself is an indifferent act. When
done to maintain good health, it becomes a good act. When done to arrive at a
place where the person commits theft or murder, it becomes an immoral action.
2. An action that is good because of its object may become better or less good or
even bad because of the purpose. For example, to give a donation to a
homeless person is a good action. If you give the donation just to get rid of the
person, it is still a good action, but not as good as in the first case. If you give the

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 donation to lure the homeless person into doing something evil or immoral for
you, the donation becomes an immoral act.
3. An action that is evil by its object may become more wrong or perhaps less
wrong, but never good by its purpose. For instance, telling a lie is morally
wrong. But telling a lie to defame another person is more wrong. Telling a lie "to
get out of trouble" or to protect the interests of another person is still lying and still
wrong, but less wrong because of the purpose. A good end does not justify a
bad means.
CONSEQUENCES OF ETHICS IN HUMAN ACTIONS
The consequences are the effects caused by an action and the quality of these
consequences depend on how much good they contain. Motives are the causes
and the consequences are the effect.

PERSONAL LEVEL SOCIAL LEVEL

Discipline Social order

Self defense Tolerance

Majority v/s
CONSEQUENCES OF minority
ETHICS IN HUMAN
ACTIONS Improve social
capital

PROFESSIONAL
LEVEL GENERAL

Means v/s ends Equal treatment

Double effect of actions Sustainable

decision
Environment v/s development
Professional
harmony

DIMENSIONS OF ETHICS
_____________is a system of moral principles that apply values and judgements
to the practice of_____________.
Eg-Medical ethics is a system of moral principles that apply values and judgements
to the practice of medicine.
DIMENSIONS COMPONENTS HOW TO INCULCATE/ENSURE THE
COMPONENTS
MEDIA -Truthfulness -bring a code of ethics to avoid
-avoiding conflicts of interest sensationalism, paid news
-social responsibility -an independent ombudsmen to

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 -authenticity of photographs, check authenticity
digital content -responsiveness from citizens
MEDICAL -autonomy -curriculum based on ethics
-justice -proper ethical oversight by the
-beneficence regulator
-non-maleficence
ENVIRONMENTAL -sustainability -community based programmes
-preservation -building awareness and consensus
-conservation
SPORTS -fairness -education
-integrity -on personal level-abide by rules
-responsibility -sports syllabus should be treated
-respect on par with normal curriculum
-avoiding conflicts of interests -a common code of ethics
BIOETHICS -informed consent -educate students on life sciences
-bodily integrity -use gender friendly teaching aids
-dignity
-ability to make
reasonable decisions
-authenticity
CORPORATE -economy -Stricter governance and regulations
-efficiency -part of curriculum
-effectiveness
-social responsibility
CYBER -privacy -strong cyber security laws
-security -increase awareness among people
-non-discriminatory
MILITARY -courage -provide good leader figures
-commitment -provide ethical training
-loyalty -effective judicial scrutiny
-discipline
-service before self
POLITICAL -rule of law -increase transparency mechanism
-accountability -stronger whistle blower protection
-limitation of power -promote study of civics
-effectiveness
-solidarity
MARKETING -truthfulness -responsible celebrity endorsement
-better consumer awareness
-stronger regulations

PERSONAL Vs PROFESSIONAL ETHICS

Basically, ethics are your sense of right and wrong. Your morals and values that
define how you are as a person are your personal ethics. On the contrary, how
you behave and conform to the rules in a professional setting are your
professional ethics. Still, the two types of ethics are not limited to how they are
defined. A professional environment may always demand some personal ethics too.
Personal ethics refer to a person’s personal or self-created values and codes of
conduct. From the very beginning, these ethics are instilled in an individual, with
a large part having been played by their parents, friends and family. Common
examples may include honesty, openness, commitment, unbiased behavior and

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sense of responsibility. What a person develops regarding fairness or learns
during childhood remains with him all through his life and is reflected by his actions
and words. No matter if he is talking to a friend or his relatives or an elderly, his
ethics would be clear from what he says and how he says it. A person’s personal
ethics are revealed in a professional situation through his behavior.
Professional ethics are those values and principles that are introduced to an
individual in a professional organization. Each employee is meant to strictly
follow these principles. They do not have a choice. Also, this approach is
imperative in professional settings as it brings a sense of discipline in people as
well as helps maintain decorum in offices. Some examples may include
confidentiality, fairness, transparency and proficiency. These ethics make
employees responsible.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL ETHICS
The ethics that you adhere to in your personal life and those that you comply with
in your professional life are different in certain aspects. Without certain ethics,
human beings would be incomplete and shallow. Thus, they have different
systems of ethics in different places.
The biggest difference between personal and professional codes of conduct is
perhaps the strictness with which people conform to them. The values that you
define for yourself are up to you to be followed or not to be followed. However, those
defined in a company or by a profession must be followed by you, since breach of
these principles or rules may harm your reputation and status. But if you do not
adhere to your personal ethics, it might hardly make a difference, depending on the
circumstances. Even then, you must keep in mind that violation of your own rules
may harm others around you.

LAW AND ETHICS

In simple terms, the law may be understood as the systematic set of universally
accepted rules and regulation created by an appropriate authority such as
government, which may be regional, national, international, etc. It is used to govern
the action and behaviour of the members and can be enforced, by imposing
penalties.
Many times the term law is juxtaposed with the term ethics, but there is a difference,
as ethics are the principles that guide a person or society, created to decide what
is good or bad, right or wrong, in a given situation. It regulates a person’s
behaviour or conduct and helps an individual in living a good life, by applying the
moral rules and guidelines.
BASIS FOR COMPARISON LAW ETHICS
Meaning The law refers to a systematic Ethics is a branch of moral
body of rules that governs the philosophy that guides
whole society and the actions people about the basic
of its individual members. human conduct.
What is it? Set of rules and regulations Set of guidelines

Governed By Government Individual, Legal and

Professional norms
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Expression Expressed and published in They are abstract.
writing.
Violation of law is not There is no punishment for
permissible which may result violation of ethics.
Violation in punishment like
imprisonment or fine or both.
Objective Law is created with an intent to Ethics are made to help
maintain social order and people to decide what is
peace in the society and right or wrong and how to
provide protection to all the act.
citizens.
Binding Law has a legal binding. Ethics do not have a binding
nature.
Law and ethics are different in a manner that what a person must do and what a
person should do. The former is universally accepted while the latter is ideal
human conduct, agreed upon by most of the people. Although, both the law and
ethics are made in alignment so that they do not contradict each other. Both go
side by side, as they provide how to act in a particular manner. Every person is
equal in the eyes of law and ethics, i.e. nobody is superior or inferior. Further,
these two allows a person to think freely and choose.
ETHICS IN PRIVATE AND PUBLIC RELATIONSHIPS
ETHICS IN PRIVATE RELATIONSHIP
An individual’s private relationship such as marriage, family, kinship, friendship
differ from his/her public relationship such as relationship of politicians and
bureaucrats with people at large, teacher-student relation, colleague’s relations
and a doctor’s relationship with his patients. Private relationships are more
intimate relationships than public relationships.

ATTRIBUTES OF PRIVATE RELATIONSHIP

1. Private relationships are often given or inherited.
2. They are relatively permanent.
3. More tolerance for imperfections.
4. Expectations of loyalty, love, affection from one's partner.
Ethics in private relationship are generally directed by individual virtues, universal
human values, religion, social norms and law of land. Therefore, they comprise
limited influencing factor. It makes for action that one can defend publicly and
comfortably. These actions are those that not only own one but also the community
can live with. Ethics in private relationship are also checked by private religious
law. Individual, familial and community obligations have long been written into
law and supported by serious sanctions from ancient time to today’s inheritance,
divorce, marriage and other law. In India, along with moral codes, religious
institutions and constitutional provisions governs ethical issues in private
relationship.
ETHICS IN PUBLIC RELATIONSHIPS:
Public relationships are more instrumental such as organizational colleagues,
politicians, strangers, and other outside of one’s relatively narrow circle of
intimacy.

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CHARACTERISTICS OF PUBLIC RELATIONSHIP
1. In public, there are people who are different from dealing person.
2. Public relationships are likely to be instrumental.
3. Engagements due to work or benefit.
4. Expectation for respect.
5. Accountability vis a vis what person says and person does.
Public Relation is a management function that engages monitoring and
evaluating public attitudes and maintaining mutual relations and understanding
between an organization and its public. Public could include shareholders,
government, consumers, employees and the media. It is the action of getting
along with people we constantly come in touch with. Public relation officers
guarantee internal unity in the company by maintaining a clear communications
network between the management and personnel. Its major objective is to improve
channels of communication and to establish new ways of setting up a two-way
flow of information and understanding.
Ethics in public relationship are governed by power. They comprise contradictory
values and influence ethical decisions in public relationships. It is well recognized
that major fact of professional survival is personal integrity such as, follow the
sincere and moral standard. Integrity is also important because it is necessary to
build self-confidence. It is significant to follow ethical standard in public setting to
sustain authority, develop confidence among people about the system, and to
accomplish social wellbeing of society. There are 12 areas of ethical claim on
public officials. These are as under:
1. Constitution
2. Law
3. Nation
4. Country or people
5. Democracy
6. Organization-Bureaucratic norms
7. Profession and professionalism
8. Family and friends
9. Self, middle range collectivizes, such as class, race, union, interest group,
and church.
10. Public interest and general welfare
11. Humanity
12. Religion or God
To summarize, ethics are vital for society to maintain harmony. In private
relationships, ethics are confined to close relations such as family. Ethics in Public
relations is the practice to manage the spread of information between an
individual and an organization. Public relations may include an organization or
individual gaining exposure to their audiences using topics of public interest and
news items that do not require direct payment. The main goal of public relations is to
inform the public, beneficiaries, personnel and other stakeholders and
ultimately persuade them to maintain a certain view about the organization, its
leadership, products, or political decisions. It includes planning communications

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campaigns, writing news releases and other content for news, working with the
press, organizing interviews for company, spokespeople and website.

PREVIOUS YEARS’ QUESTIONS (MAINS)

1. Explain how ethics contributes to social and human well-being.(150 words)
(2016)
2. Law and ethics are considered to be the two tools for controlling human conduct
so as to make it conducive to civilized social existence.
(a) Discuss how they achieve this objective.
(b)Giving examples, show how the two differ in their approaches. (150 words)
(2016)
3. Differentiate between the following: (50 words) (2015)
(1) Law and Ethics
(2) Ethical management and Management of ethics
(3) Personal ethics and Professional ethics
4. What in meant by ‘environmental ethics’? Why is it important to study? Discuss
any one environmental issue from the viewpoint of environmental ethics. (150
words) (2015)
5. “A mere compliance with law is not enough, the public servant also have to have
a well-developed sensibility to ethical issues for effective discharge of duties”. Do
you agree? Explain with the help of two examples where (i) an act is ethically
right, but not legally and (ii) an act is legally right, but not ethically. (150 words)
(2015)
6. “Human being should always be treated as ‘ends’ in themselves and never as
merely ‘means’”. Explain the meaning and significance of the statement, giving
its implications in the modern techno-economic society. (150 words) 10 (2014)
7. It is often said that ‘politics’ and ‘ethics’ do not go together. What is your opinion
in this regard? Justify your answer with illustrations. (150 words) (2013)

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