Mains Practice Questions

Approach

• Briefly explain why Law and Ethics are used as tools to control human conduct in order to form a civilized social existence.
• Explain how Law can regulate human conduct
• Explain how Ethics can regulate human conduct
• Elaborate upon the difference in the two approaches by giving examples for the regulation that is brought by the Self and the one imposed by the legislation.
• Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behaviour. Ethics is a system of moral principles which is concerned with what is good for individuals and society.
• Ethics comes from people’s awareness of what is right and what is wrong while laws are written and approved by governments.
• Well being of every individual can be ensured in a civilised society. The full potential of an individual can be realised and can contribute to the larger benefit of the society.
• Human behaviour is regulated through Law and Ethics to ensure a well regulated social system.
• Laws can bring about mutual behaviour of individuals. Like laws, ethics too can bring out the socially desired behaviour in an individual. However, it depends on the voluntary obedience of an individual and society.

Examples

While the imposition of legislation against the Sati system in India by the British government resulted in the decline of incidents of Sati, it also faced resistance from the Indian society at the time. Hence, while laws can impose restrictions and punishments to shape human behaviour towards a positive change, obedience may or may not be voluntary for the individuals.

The significance of non-violence and honesty can be spread in society by the ethics followed by it. The use of non-violence in the struggle for Independence is an example here. It was taken up and was followed voluntarily by the people.