. Administrative Ethics: Ethics and human interface: Essence, Determinants and Consequences of ethic and human actions
Administrative Ethics: Ethics and human interface: Essence, Determinants and Consequences of ethic and human actions Ethics is the branch of philosophy that deals with issues of right and wrong in human affairs Ethics refers to well-based standards of right and wrong that prescribe what humans ought to do, usually in terms of duties, principles, specifc virtues, or benefts to Society. which can better be stated as:-
- Duties: Te behaviors expected of persons who occupy certain roles; that is, the obligations taken on when assuming a role or profession
- Virtues: Qualities that defne what a good person is; moral excellence
- Principles: Fundamental truths that form the basis for behavior; “kinds of action that are right or obligatory”
- Benefts to society: Actions that produce the greatest good for the greatest number
Administrative ethics implies applying general moral rules to specific sphere of human relations, that is to say administrative relations. Some of the most important areas of applied ethics today concern the ethics of administration. In spite of the fact that Public Administration is very old institution, administrative ethics is still undeveloped and it longs for specific moral rules that cover maybe the most important area of human relations – administrative relations.Public administration is a part of our daily life and to a large extent governs it. The administrative apparatus consist of people who are also members of the local community (communities). Citizens and public officials, who have access to power, have to coexist together in one area, one space. The difference between them is that public administration officials have to provide Services in aid of community. Because of this work, based on public Money and property the possibility of betraying public trust is probable. There is no simplest thing, than spending someone‟s money, even if we do not get direct profits. Ethical behavior and decisions maintaining citizens‟ trust, ensure effective and efficient use of Resources, and allow government to preserve individual rights while assisting those who will benefit the most.
Determinents of Ethics and Human Action
- Honesty: To act in a truthful manner and to comply with promises
- Integrity: To act in accordance with relevant moral values and norms
- Benevolence: To act in a manner that promotes good and avoids harm for citizens
- Lawfulness: To act in accordance with existing laws and rules
- Incorruptibility: To act without prejudice or bias in favor of one‟s own private interests
- Accountability: To act willingly in justifying and explaining one‟s actions to relevant stakeholders
- Dedication: To act with diligence, enthusiasm, and perseverance
- Reliability: To act in a manner that is consistent, predictable, and trustworthy
- Serviceability: To act in a manner that is helpful and provides quality service to citizens, customers, and other relevant stakeholders
- Effectiveness: To act in a manner that best achieves the desired results
- Humaneness: To act in a manner that exhibits respect, compassion, and dignity toward others
- Expertise: To act with competence, skill, and knowledge
- Impartiality: To act without prejudice or bias toward particular individuals or groups
Essense of of Ethics and Human Action :-
Ethical standards for Public Service should be clear.
Ethical standards should be reproduced in the legal framework.
Ethical supervision should be available to public servants.
Public servants should know their rights and obligations when exposing wrongdoing.
Political commitment to ethics should reinforce the ethical conduct of public servants.
The decision -making process should be transparent and open to scrutiny.
There should be clear guidelines for interaction between the public and private sectors.
Managers should demonstrate and promote ethical conduct.
Management policies, procedures and practices should promote ethical conduct.
Public service conditions and management of human resources should promote ethical conduct.
Adequate accountability mechanisms should be in place within the public service.
Appropriate procedures and sanctions should exist to deal with misconduct.
Consequences of Ethics and Human Action
Intensity of pleasure or pain :-Consequence of an action can be good or bad. How intense it is, makes the difference in the effect. E.g., eating a chocolate and eating bitter guard shows the difference in intensity. The duration :-The duration of pleasure or pain created by an action differs for stubbing one‟s toe and breaking one‟s toe.
The certainty or uncertainty Consequences of an action can be certain or uncertain. E.g. jumping off from a higher building can cause a lot of pain to an individual than jumping onto a giant pillow from the same place.
The Nearness or remoteness:- During the time of pleasure or pain nearness or remoteness effect follows an action. e.g. Pleasure of eating ice-cream is immediate, whereas the pleasure produced by winning a chess game is little more remote. They take a little longer to show up results.
The fecundity Consequence of doing the action is either pleasurable or painful, but how likely the action is to be followed by more pleasure or more pain is an important question. The purity or impurity of pleasure or pain is the opposite of fecundity. This explains how likely the action is to be followed by the opposite feeling. For example, eating all the chocolate is very pleasurable at first, but it leads to a great deal of pain in the long run which creates a high level of impurity or a low level of purity.
The extent of an action This refers to the wide effect of an action. Some actions can have an extent numbering in the millions, such as deciding whether to torture a terrorist for life-saving information.,
Administrative ethics is the study of the moral principles that should guide the conduct of public administrators. It is a branch of applied ethics that focuses on the ethical dilemmas that public administrators face in their work.
The Essence of Ethics is the study of morality. It is concerned with the principles that govern right and wrong conduct. Ethics is a branch of philosophy that has been studied for centuries.
There are many factors that can influence a person’s ethical behavior. These factors include:
- Personal values
- Religious beliefs
- Social norms
- Professional codes of ethics
- Legal requirements
Ethical behavior can have both positive and negative consequences. Positive consequences of ethical behavior include:
- Increased trust and confidence in public institutions
- Improved Morale and Productivity among public employees
- Reduced Corruption and fraud
Negative consequences of ethical behavior include:
- Damage to the reputation of public institutions
- Loss of public trust
- Increased costs associated with corruption and fraud
The human interface is the point at which humans interact with technology. In the context of administrative ethics, the human interface is the point at which public administrators interact with the public.
Ethics plays an important role in public administration. It helps to ensure that public administrators act in a fair and impartial manner. It also helps to protect the public from unethical behavior by public officials.
There are many challenges to Ethics in public administration. These challenges include:
- The complexity of ethical issues
- The competing demands of different stakeholders
- The lack of clear ethical standards
- The pressure to compromise ethical standards
The future of ethics in public administration is uncertain. However, it is likely that the challenges of ethics will continue to grow in the years to come.
One of the most important challenges facing public administrators today is the complexity of ethical issues. Public administrators are often faced with difficult choices between competing ethical principles. For example, a public administrator may be faced with a choice between protecting the public from harm and respecting the privacy of individuals. There is no easy answer to this dilemma, and public administrators must carefully consider all of the relevant factors before making a decision.
Another challenge facing public administrators is the competing demands of different stakeholders. Public administrators are accountable to a variety of stakeholders, including the public, elected officials, and other government agencies. These stakeholders may have different expectations of public administrators, and public administrators must be able to balance these expectations in order to make ethical decisions.
The lack of clear ethical standards is another challenge facing public administrators. There is no single set of ethical standards that applies to all public administrators. Instead, public administrators must rely on a variety of sources, such as professional codes of ethics, legal requirements, and their own personal values, to guide their ethical decision-making.
Finally, public administrators are often under pressure to compromise ethical standards. This pressure may come from a variety of sources, such as elected officials, colleagues, or the public. Public administrators must be able to resist this pressure and maintain their ethical integrity.
The future of ethics in public administration is uncertain. However, it is likely that the challenges of ethics will continue to grow in the years to come. Public administrators will need to be prepared to address these challenges in order to ensure that they act in an ethical manner.
One way to address the challenges of ethics in public administration is to develop clear ethical standards. These standards should be based on a shared understanding of the values that should guide the conduct of public administrators. They should also be flexible enough to accommodate the different ethical challenges that public administrators face.
Another way to address the challenges of ethics in public administration is to provide training on ethical decision-making. This training should help public administrators to identify ethical issues, understand the relevant ethical principles, and make ethical decisions.
Finally, public administrators need to be held accountable for their ethical conduct. This accountability can be achieved through a variety of mechanisms, such as professional codes of ethics, legal requirements, and public scrutiny.
By addressing the challenges of ethics in public administration, we can help to ensure that public administrators act in an ethical manner and that the public can trust in their government.
What is ethics?
Ethics is the study of morality and the principles of right and wrong. It is a branch of philosophy that deals with the nature of good and evil, and the moral principles that should guide human behavior.
What are the different types of ethics?
There are many different types of ethics, but some of the most common include:
- Deontological ethics: This type of ethics is based on the idea that certain actions are inherently right or wrong, regardless of the consequences.
- Consequentialist ethics: This type of ethics is based on the idea that the rightness or wrongness of an action is determined by its consequences.
- Virtue ethics: This type of ethics is based on the idea that the rightness or wrongness of an action is determined by the character of the person who performs it.
What are the Determinants of ethics?
There are many factors that can influence a person’s ethical beliefs and behavior, including:
- Culture: The culture in which a person is raised can have a significant impact on their ethical beliefs. For example, people from different cultures may have different views on issues such as abortion, euthanasia, and animal rights.
- Religion: Religion can also play a role in shaping a person’s ethical beliefs. For example, many religions teach that certain actions, such as murder and theft, are always wrong.
- Personal values: A person’s personal values are also important determinants of their ethical beliefs. For example, someone who values honesty is more likely to believe that lying is wrong.
- Personal experiences: A person’s personal experiences can also influence their ethical beliefs. For example, someone who has been the victim of a crime may be more likely to believe that criminals should be punished harshly.
What are the consequences of ethical and unethical behavior?
The consequences of ethical and unethical behavior can be far-reaching. Ethical behavior can lead to positive outcomes such as trust, respect, and cooperation. Unethical behavior can lead to negative outcomes such as distrust, resentment, and conflict.
What are some examples of ethical dilemmas?
Ethical dilemmas are situations in which there is no clear right or wrong answer. Some common examples of ethical dilemmas include:
- Whistleblowing: Whistleblowing is when someone reports wrongdoing within an organization. This can be a difficult decision, as the whistleblower may face retaliation from their employer.
- Conflicts of interest: A conflict of interest occurs when someone has a personal interest that could interfere with their ability to make a fair decision. For example, a doctor who owns stock in a pharmaceutical company may be more likely to prescribe that company’s drugs.
- Plagiarism: Plagiarism is the act of taking someone else’s work and passing it off as your own. This is considered to be unethical because it is dishonest and deprives the original author of credit for their work.
What are some resources for Learning more about ethics?
There are many resources available for learning more about ethics, including:
- Books: There are many books on ethics, both fiction and non-fiction. Some popular examples include “The Ethics of Ambiguity” by Simone de Beauvoir, “The Prince” by Niccolò Machiavelli, and “The Art of War” by Sun Tzu.
- Articles: There are also many articles on ethics available online and in print. Some popular sources include The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Economist.
- Websites: There are also many websites dedicated to ethics. Some popular examples include The Ethics Center at Bentley University, The Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University, and The Hastings Center.
- Courses: Many colleges and universities offer courses on ethics. These courses can provide students with a deeper understanding of ethical theory and practice.
What are some ways to improve your ethical decision-making?
There are many ways to improve your ethical decision-making. Some tips include:
- Be aware of your own biases: Everyone has biases, which are unconscious beliefs that can affect our judgment. It is important to be aware of our own biases so that we can try to overcome them.
- Consider the consequences of your actions: Before making a decision, take the time to consider the potential consequences of your actions. This will help you to make a more informed decision.
- Consult with others: If you are unsure about what to do, it can be helpful to consult with others. This could include talking to a friend, family member, or colleague.
- Follow your conscience: Ultimately, the best way to make ethical decisions is to follow your conscience. This means doing what you believe is right, even if it is difficult.
Which of the following is not a determinant of ethics?
(A) Culture
(B) Religion
(C) Personal values
(D) The lawWhich of the following is not a consequence of unethical behavior?
(A) Damage to reputation
(B) Loss of job
(C) Legal problems
(D) Increased productivityWhich of the following is not an example of an ethical dilemma?
(A) A doctor must decide whether to save the life of a patient who is a criminal.
(B) A company must decide whether to lay off workers in order to save the company.
(C) A politician must decide whether to accept a bribe.
(D) A student must decide whether to cheat on an exam.Which of the following is the most important factor in determining whether an action is ethical?
(A) The consequences of the action
(B) The intent of the actor
(C) The laws of the land
(D) The customs of the societyWhich of the following is the best way to resolve an ethical dilemma?
(A) Consult with a trusted friend or colleague.
(B) Consider the consequences of each possible action.
(C) Follow your conscience.
(D) Do what is in your best interest.Which of the following is not an example of an ethical principle?
(A) Do no harm.
(B) Treat others as you would want to be treated.
(C) Be honest.
(D) Be loyal.Which of the following is the most important ethical principle for administrators?
(A) Honesty
(B) Integrity
(C) Fairness
(D) ResponsibilityWhich of the following is not an example of an ethical violation?
(A) Taking credit for someone else’s work.
(B) Lying to a supervisor.
(C) Stealing from an employer.
(D) Cheating on a test.Which of the following is the best way to prevent ethical violations?
(A) Set clear ethical standards.
(B) Provide training on ethical issues.
(C) Create a culture of ethics.
(D) All of the above.Which of the following is not an example of an ethical issue in the workplace?
(A) Sexual harassment
(B) Workplace bullying
(C) Discrimination
(D) Conflict of interest
Answers:
1. (D)
2. (D)
3. (D)
4. (B)
5. (C)
6. (D)
7. (B)
8. (D)
9. (D)
10. (D)