Ethics Batch-2

Answer Hints: Test No.3 www.iasscore.in

ETHICS, INTEGRITY AND APTITUDE

1. What do you mean by environmental ethics? How can industries contribute to promote the
idea of environmental ethics?
Thinking line:
Equilibrium is maintained in natural ecosystems between different components through
various processes including assimilation and recycling. But over exploitation of resources by
growing human population has upset the natural balance.

E
The role of ethics becomes important as it helps to assess strengths and weaknesses of
developmental activities such as deforestation, building a dam, mining, draining a wetland,
OR
etc.
Hence Environmental ethics considers the ethical relationship between human beings and
natural environment.
Industries can promote the idea of environmental ethics by initiating conservation processes
under the corporate social responsibility.
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They can initiate projects towards sustainable development and social welfare programmes
such as, increasing green covers, introduction of more sophisticated technology to reduce
Greenhouse Gases emission.
An effective CSR strategy should articulate: who it wishes to address i.e. the target group;
where it wishes to work i.e. the geography and what sectors or issues it wishes to address.
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Further the indiscriminate extraction of natural resources is frequently a destructive activity

that damages the ecosystem and causes problems for people living nearby and downstream
from mining operations. The industries should adopt sustainable technologies alongwith
proper guidelines at the field level to reduce the unsustainable practices.
For example Energy development is an integral part of economic development but the
energy resources such as coal and fuel generates green house gases which in turn lead to
climate change. Hence merger of environmental ethics with business ethics can create a
sustainable development.
2. 'Emotions are not hurdles but are facilitators and help to become a very beautiful person'.
Elaborate.
Thinking line:
Emotions are composed of a subjective component (how we experience the emotion), a
physiological component (how our bodies react to the emotion), and an expressive component
(how we behave in response to the emotion).
Emotions are generally flash of feelings and are generally treated as negative and obstacle
to the personality development. But emotions act as tools to understand ones self and ones
need.
13 Oct,Ethics,
Hints: 2015 Integrity and Aptitude [1]
 Emotions serve an adaptive role in our lives by motivating us to act quickly and take actions
that will maximize our chances for survival and success. Emotions also help us make decisions
without bias.
Emotions are perhaps the greatest potential source of uniting all members of the human
species.
Hence management of emotions are critical to mental health, academic achievement, and
good social relationships. It helps in personality development.
3. If you refuse to accept anything but the best of life, you very often get it. Do you agree with
the essence of the statement? If yes, then what action of your will take you to achieve it?
Thinking line:
The Essence of self-esteem is compassion for yourself. All over the world today, there is an
awakening to the importance of self-esteem. People with positive self-esteem often strive for
the best.

E
To achieve best in the life one need to have attitude for building self esteem which includes:
a) Be your own best friend;
OR
b) Let go of the past;
c) Set goals for the life; and
d) Visualize you successful behavior, etc.
SC

Attitude for building self esteem demand two things: selfefficacy and self-respect.
Selfefficacy means confidence in the function of our mind, confidence in ability to think, to
choose and decide.
Selfrespect means assurance of our value, affirmative attitude toward our life and to be
happy.
GS

4. Freedom without responsibility becomes license, and responsibility without freedom, a

burden. Comment.
Thinking line:
Freedom is the absence of external constraints as well as the existence of conditions in which
people can develop their talents.
People like freedom because it gives them a sense of mastery over things and people. They
dislike responsibility because it constrains them from satisfying their desires. Yet they do not
understand the relationship between freedom and responsibility. The two go hand-in-hand.
Everyone wants to be free, but there are times when we are terrified by the responsibility
that freedom brings.
Gandhiji equated freedom with self-rule because he wished to build into the concept of
freedom the notion of obligation to others as well as to oneself.
The notion of self-rule implies the voluntary internalization of obligation to others, i.e. a
responsible attitude towards society and oneself.
Freedom is possible only when one is ready to take the responsibility of being free. We are
answerable not just for the things we do but also for the kind of people we become. Every
[ 2 ] Hints: Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude
 thought, word and deed in our lives shapes our character. We create our own character
through the decisions we make.
If we establish the habit of making the right choices in given situations, we create the
foundation for a good character. Poor choices, on the other hand, lay the groundwork for
developing bad character. In this way, we determine to a great degree our destiny through
the quality of character we develop. Hence freedom with a sense of responsibility design our
character.
5. Climate change has been described as a perfect moral storm? Critically analyze.
Thinking line:
Climate change is one of the most challenging issues facing the world today. It is not caused
by a single agent, but by a vast number of individuals and institutions. It is affecting worlds
biological diversity - entailing not only social and economic changes, but also raising serious
ethical issues.

E
The main ethical issue that might be is how to define and differentiate responsibilities
between present and future generations, developed and developing countries, and human

and non-human beings. OR

The climate change impact lives of people in following ways:
a) Threats to the lives of people.
b) Food security of people exposed to climate change events such as regular floods, prolonged
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droughts, frequent storms, the loss of coral reefs, or melting ice.

c) Exposed to disease vectors that have shifted in range as a result of changes in climate.
d) Threats to cultural heritage, mainly to traditional ways of living, or to architectural
masterpieces of various kinds, particularly in the case of sudden irreversible submergence of
inhabited land.
GS

e) Threats to cultural heritage, mainly to traditional ways of living, or to architectural

masterpieces of various kinds.
f) Threats of possible mass emigration by climate change refugees, particularly in the case of
sudden irreversible submergence of inhabited land.
g) Threats to the dignity of people who become victims of climate change.
Hence the ethical concerns in climate change arise within following dimensions: emissions
from carbon uses benefit the developed world but making the life worse for poor people, by
intensifying literal storms or changing rainfall patterns.
Thus Climate change is not merely a technical, economic, or political challenge but
fundamentally a moral one.
6. Which eminent person has impressed you most? Which of the human value of that person
has impressed you most?
Thinking line:
Human values are thevirtuesthat guide us to take into account the human element when
one interacts with other human beings.
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 Human values are the foundation for any viable life within society: they build space for a
drive, a movement towards one another, which leads to peace.
Here we are giving the example of the T.N. Sheshan:
T.N. Seshan worked in various ministries and departments of the state and Central
Government. The values that can be learned are:
a) Commitment to work: Seshan was appointed Director at the Transport Department in his
earlier career. The transport department was in very poor state. He took charge of supervising
4,000 employees and running 3,000 buses. Commitment to the work can be seen from the
example that once during a strike by bus-drivers he personally drove down a bus. He
improved the transport system of Madras.
b) Courage: In December 1990, he took charge as the tenth Chief Election Commissioner.
During this period, Seshan introduced many changes in the electoral process to ensure
independent and free elections. He kept on trying to introduce his decisions fearlessly. With
his concerted efforts the democratic system got strengthened and the voter began to place

E
confidence in the system.
c) Worked for emancipation of people: By re-establishing the democratic values by the conduct
OR
of free and fair election, he provided voice to the voiceless and encouraged public participation
in the governance.
7. What could be the influence of a civil servants private life on his/her Public life? How
would you prepare yourself to separate the two?
Thinking line:
SC

There is a two way linkage between private and public life of a civil servant.
The private life act both as a motivating or an obstacle to public service according to the
personality of the public servant. The public servant of high integrity, honesty, empathy and
objectivity maintain these characteristic in public life also. Only a compassionate civil servant
can understand the need of marginalized and vulnerable people.
GS

Similarity on the negative side, private life can induce the dilemmas of personal gain or
organizational goal. The decision making may get influenced by personal preference, political
or other affiliations, or even personal aggrandizement, thereby disregarding known facts
and thus the possibility of rational decision-making.
Hence, to maintain a balance between the two, a detached personality should be maintained.
Civil servant should practice right set of values and conduct. He should work according to
code of ethics and high conscience so that the goal of civil service vocation can be achieved.
8. We have no more right to consume happiness without producing it than to consume wealth
without producing it. Do you agree? Comment.
Thinking line:
We cannot be happy if all the people around us are unhappy.
The happiness and well being of one is embedded in the collective well being of society.
Hebert Spencer said- no one can be perfectly happy till all are happy.
Appreciation of this fact places a moral responsibility on us to think and to work for the
happiness and well being of others, of the larger society and of the whole of humanity.
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9. Knowledge is power, but it is power for evil as much as for good. It follows that, unless
men increase in wisdom as much as in knowledge increase in knowledge will be increase
in sorrow." Do you agree? Illustrate.
Thinking line:
Education, if looked at beyond its conventional boundaries, forms the very essence of all our
actions. What we do is what we know and have learned, either through instructions or
through observation and assimilation.
Wisdom is the way knowledge is used to add value to life. Wise use of knowledge is that
which leads to the well being of the individual and society.
Wisdom is more closely related to the experience than to the knowledge.
It is born out of profound experiment of the life and repeated reflections on them.
How knowledge is being used is more important.

E
10. Do you agree that not only a decent minimum living wage for the people should be fixed
but also a limit is to be fixed for the maximum income? What is the advantage and
disadvantage of this argument?
Thinking line:
OR
Society is a composition of individuals belonging to extreme status rich and poor. While the
poor have to struggle to earn their bread two times a day, the rich continue to enjoy wealthy
luxuries of life. To reduce this gross inequality in the society, it is necessary to bridge the gap
between rich and poor.
SC

Here, comes the idea of putting a cap on maximum income and on the other side fixing a
decent minimum living wage. This will ensure poor are not exploited by their employers,
they have access to minimum living wage to ensure a good standard of life.
Putting a cap on maximum income will stop rich from running after profit and realize their
moral responsibility towards poorer sections.
GS

At the same time, it is not advisable in a market economy to put a limit on maximum
income. It might invoke protests from various upper sections.
No doubt reducing inequality is very essential to achieve the objectives of a welfare state but
fixing a limit is not possible.
The gap between the poor and rich can be bridged by following trickle down approach and
taking welfare measures for the poor along with ensuring that rich realize their moral duty
to lift the level of living of the poor people.
Hence to conclude that the utilization of wage depends on an individual ethics. An ethical
individual should work on the principle of trusteeship for maintaining equality in the society.
11. What are the significant changes brought on the attitude of people by an enlightened society?
How society can have a significant contribution in changing the attitude of some people
who believe in gender preference?
Thinking line:
The attitude of an individual is shaped in family and society in which he lives.
An enlightened society influences the attitude of people in many ways.

Hints: Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude [5]

 The people realize their duties and responsibilities develop, good civic sense, respect others,
develop considerate feelings to those who need them and most importantly such enlightened
citizens inculcate these behaviours in their children as well. The society also affects and
shapes the way in which an individual responds to a particular situation.
Society is an agglomeration of individuals whereby people with different behaviours,
perceptions and mindset live.
In context of gender preference, the societal norms and values have a significant contribution
society that gives preference to sons over daughters, look down on females generally tend
to practice gender discrimination.
The respect, dignity and status of a gender in a society is dependent on the values and norms
of the society.
The female foeticide and abortion of girl child in many society reflect that society have a
significant impact on the people.

E
A good and enlightened society can change the attitude of people who believe in gender
preference. OR
12. In an era today some have characterized it as "the age of self-interest", utilitarianism is
a powerful reminder that morality calls us to look beyond the self to the good of all.
Analyse.
Thinking line:
The Utilitarian Approach deals with consequences; it tries both to increase the 'good' done
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and to reduce the 'harm' done.

Utilitarianism was conceived in the 19th century by Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill
to help legislators determine which laws were morally best.
Ethical actions are those that provide the greatest balance of good over evil.
But there is rise of individualism and consumerism in the globalized world. Hence according
GS

to Utilitarian Approach one should not be self-centered or self-seeking individual only rather
their action should serve the larger interest.
As John Stuart Mill once wrote: The happiness which forms the utilitarian standard of what
is right in conduct, is not...(one's) own happiness, but that of all concerned.
13. What do you understand by the term personal effectiveness? Explain the role of self-awareness
in enhancing personal effectiveness.
Thinking line:
Personal effectiveness means making use of all the personal resources at disposal - talents,
skills, energy and time to enable oneself to achieve both work and life goals.
Personal effectiveness is important for improving organizational management, as those who
can first manage themselves will ultimately be able to effectively manage others.
Being self-aware, making the most of strengths, learning new skills and techniques and
developing behavioural flexibility are all key to improving personal effectiveness.
Hence self-awareness is the core for improving personal effectiveness. Self-Awareness reflects
the importance of recognizing one's own feelings and how they affect one's performance. It
is a key to realize one's own strengths and weaknesses.
[ 6 ] Hints: Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude
 Self-awareness helps administrators identify gaps in their knowledge, skills attitude etc, and
thus ultimately stimulates overall development.
14. Real freedom is of the mind and spirit it can never came to us from the outside. Analyse.
Thinking line:
Freedom as 'inner freedom' emphasizes on the inner aspect of life. The closest English
equivalent would be 'freedom-hood' meaning 'freedom of one's consciousness state', the
conscious inner struggle for inner freedom for which all human beings strive for understanding
knowledge of one's connectedness with the world and other beings in the world i.e.
'enlightenment'. Enlightenment is the mental condition of inner freedom. Inner freedom is
freedom from the ignorance of human nature and human potentiality... 'freedom of thought',
freedom of mind, freedom of conscience...
Freedom is said to exist when an individual is not subject to external controls or coercion
and is able to make independent decisions and act in an autonomous way.

E
Freedom is also about expanding the ability of people to freely express themselves and
develop their potential.
OR
Freedom in this sense is the condition in which people can develop their creativity and
capabilities.
In the present era people has been given sovereign power in their hands. But this power is
robbed by hosts of self-seekers.
The ideal form of freedom is curtailed on every side. Peoples' thoughts are fashioned according
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to the plans of organized interests; in its choosing of ideas and forming of opinions is
hindered either by punitive force.
15. 'Dis-value among public servants ultimately makes democracy dysfunctional'; corruption is
just one example of it. Analyze.
Thinking line:
GS

Civil servants have a special responsibility of managing resources on behalf of the community,
delivering services to the community and taking decisions that affect a citizen's life. The core
concept of democracy is associated with a system of welfare and redistribution aimed at
narrowing social inequalities; system of decision-making based on the principle of majority
rule. This concept has led to the implementation of Welfare activities as a democratic value
in the nation.
For implementation of these ideals government has initiated many programmes and policies
Public servants are severely criticized for their irresponsiveness, insensitivity and lack lustre
performance in the delivery services in the field of transport, health, education, social sector
urban development and environment management. Further the recent disclosures of affairs
and scandals have shown the deep rooted dis-value system in the organization. Target of
these initiatives are not reaching the beneficiaries.
Corruption is a very serious social and societal evil as it generates economic distortions in
the public sector by diverting public investment into capital projects where bribes and kickbacks
are more plentiful. Corruption reduces the quality of government services and infrastructure,
and increases budgetary pressures on government.
Hence the dis-value in the public servants are discouraging them in fulfilling their duty
which in turn makes democracy dysfunctional.
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