Mains Practice Questions

Introduction

Ethics refers to the principles that guide individuals behavior and decision-making, determining what is right or wrong. It encompasses various dimensions such as normative ethics, meta-ethics, teleology, deontology, and applied ethics, all of which provide frameworks for evaluating actions and fostering responsible behavior in professional settings.

Body

Key Dimensions of Ethics:

• Normative Ethics: Focuses on establishing standards for right and wrong behavior, offering guidelines for moral conduct.
  • E.g: The CAG of India adheres to ethical standards by conducting unbiased audits of government spending, ensuring that public funds are used effectively.
• Deontology: Emphasises following moral duties and rules, regardless of the consequences.
  • E.g.: Civil servants uphold the Model Code of Conduct(MCC) during elections to ensure a fair and free election process, even under political pressure.
• Meta-Ethics: Explores the nature, origin, and meaning of ethical principles such as debates on whether morality is subjective or universal, and discussions about global human rights.
  • E.g.: A meta-ethical debate could be whether the right to freedom of speech is a universal human right (universalism) or whether its importance varies across cultures (cultural relativism).
• Teleology: Assesses the morality of actions based on their outcomes, focusing on the consequences.
  • E.g: A policymaker considering the greater good when implementing welfare reforms.
• Applied Ethics: Applies ethical principles to real-world issues, including business, medical, and environmental ethics.
  • E.g.: Companies adopting Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to ensure ethical business practices.

Ethical Decision-Making in Professional Setting:

• Balancing Outcomes and Duties: Teleology and deontology help professionals balance the consequences of their actions with their moral duties.
  • An administrator ensuring public welfare is prioritized while also upholding legal regulations when implementing welfare programs.
• Setting Ethical Standards: Normative ethics provides the framework for professionals to establish and adhere to ethical standards in their practice.
  • A civil servant maintains transparency and accountability in governance in decision-making and resource allocation.
• Application in Complex Scenarios: Applied ethics guides professionals in resolving ethical dilemmas in specialized fields like medicine, law, or business.
  • E.g: The Declaration of Helsinki outlines ethical principles for medical research, ensuring the protection of human subjects and the integrity of the research process.

Challenges in Ethical Decision-Making In Professional Setting:

• Conflicting Stakeholder Interests: Striking a balance between competing interests, such as cutting costs while maintaining employee welfare.
• Global Cultural Variations: The presence of different ethical standards across regions, which complicates maintaining uniform ethical practices in multinational corporations.
• Transparency vs. Confidentiality: The challenge of ensuring transparency, which can sometimes conflict with the need for confidentiality or expose organizations to public scrutiny.
• Cost of Compliance: Implementing ethical practices, such as adhering to ESG standards (Environmental, Social, and Governance), can be expensive, particularly for smaller businesses with limited resources.

Conclusion

As Potter Stewart aptly stated, “Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do.” This highlights the importance of establishing transparent codes of conduct within professions. By adhering to such principles, professionals can ensure their decisions are not only legally sound but also morally responsible.