Ethical Values and ethical Dilemma

Impartiality and Non-partisanship

Impartiality and Non-partisanship Impartiality is a norm of Justice holding that decisions should be based on objective standards, instead of on the basis of bias, prejudice, or preferring the advantage to one person over another for unsuitable reasons. Impartiality is acting solely according to the merits of the case and serving equally well governments of different political persuasions. Impartiality means that civil bureaucrats in carrying out their official work, including functions like procurement, recruitment, delivery of Services etc., should take decisions based on merit alone. Impartiality implies that the behaviour of, and treatment by a bureaucrat to any individual or entity has to be exclusively on the basis of merit. An administrator has to take numerous major decisions such as recruitment, procurement and allotment. To make such decisions effective and efficient, there has to be absolute impartiality. Impartiality is the eminence of a person where one is impartial while allocating any goods or services among several people or selecting a person from a set of people based on certain set of abilities.

One must:

serve the Government, whatever its political Persuasion, to the best of your ability in a way which maintains political impartiality and is in line with the requirements of this Code, no matter what your own political beliefs are;
Act in a way which deserves and retains the confidence of Ministers, while at the same time ensuring that you will be able to establish the same relationship with those whom you may be required to serve in some future Government; and
Comply with any restrictions that have been laid down on your political activities.

One must not:

Act in a way that is determined by party political considerations, or
Use official Resources for party political purposes; or
Allow your personal political views to determine any advice you give or your actions.

It can be very hard to follow the above advice, especially when a Minister or Special Adviser does not share your view of the borderline between ‘explaining’ a policy and ‘defending’ it. It is even more difficult if you strongly support – or strongly object to – decisions that have been made, or might be made, by Ministers. It is not always possible to hide those views from colleagues, and it is sometimes difficult to hide them from those outside the Government with whom you come into frequent contact. But it is absolutely essential that you give no sign that you oppose the principles and underlying thrust of the Government’s policies, nor must you suggest that you do not respect your Minister.

It can be even more difficult to follow the above advice where minor decisions are concerned. (‘Of course I will try to get him to open your conference. It’s an important occasion’). But you will learn from bitter experience that the advice is sensible, for it is embarrassing all round when the Minister refuses to do what you suggest. There is, I am afraid, no alternative to sounding rather pathetic and merely promising that the case will be put to the Minister, adding that you cannot predict the result. Quite simply, it should never be possible for anyone to be able to criticise Ministers for failing to take your advice. And it is even more important that incoming Ministers should be unaware of the extent or otherwise of your personal support for their predecessors’ policies.

Ethical conduct of a civil servent

In the Public Administration organizations the civil servants are exercising their power of decision, day by day in many ways. Whether the action involves managing public resources in their role of interface with citizens or in the context of policy making, ethics represent a vital factor in creating and maintaining trust in government and its institutions. Yet public sector ethics must be understood as an activity and not as a statute.

Encouraging ethical behaviour is not just a list of rules or statutes to be achieved. For any public administration organizations, ethics means a continuous management process that supports business and government and is becoming a key factor for the functioning and development of the government. Preventing Corruption and improving Public Service management is the primary goal of promoting ethical standards for civil servants. Many governments have reviewed their policies on ethical conduct in public service being preoccupied by the problem of corruption and the declining trust in government.

Accountability

In ethics and governance, accountability is answerability, blameworthiness, liability, and the expectation of account-giving. As an aspect of governance, it has been central to discussions related to problems in the public sector, nonprofit and private (corporate) and individual contexts. In Leadership roles, accountability is the acknowledgment and assumption of responsibility for actions, products, decisions, and policies including the administration, governance, and implementation within the scope of the role or EMPLOYMENT position and encompassing the obligation to report, explain and be answerable for resulting consequences.

Internal rules and norms as well as some independent commission are mechanisms to hold civil servants within the administration of government accountable. Within department or ministry, firstly, behavior is bound by rules and regulations; secondly, civil servants are subordinates in a hierarchy and accountable to superiors. Nonetheless, there are independent “watchdog” units to scrutinize and hold departments accountable; legitimacy of these commissions is built upon their independence, as it avoids any conflicts of interests. The accountability is defined as “an element which is part of a unique responsibility and which represents an obligation of an actor to achieve the goal, or to perform the procedure of a task, and the justification that it is done to someone else, under threat of sanction”.

Courage

Having courage of conviction is imp for public service because its helps one to take bold decisions that can have effect on millions of people in one stroke. Having courage to do what one believes is best for the community requires awful lot of mental strength. This courage of conviction also helps in taking further decisions in the same line.

Objectivity

Objectivity is a central philosophical concept, related to reality and truth, which has been variously defined by sources. Generally, objectivity means the state or quality of being true even outside a subject’s individual biases, interpretations, feelings, and imaginings.

Objectivity is the last public administration core value. It entails respect, Equality, and fairness. It doesn’t matter whether someone has Money or not, they must be treated fairly. Discrimination plagues the world, and it is a public administrator’s job to make sure that the laws created do not infringe on any person’s rights. Everyone should be treated equally and with respect. It is never ok for a public administrator to belittle anyone based on political, cultural, or religious beliefs because that is not acting professionally. It is ok to have opinions, but this core public administration value means that everyone should be treated fairly regardless of socioeconomic status.

The reputation and success of governance depends upon the conduct of public functionaries and what the public believe about their conduct. It is therefore of fundamental importance that public functionaries act justly and fairly to all, not only paying lip service to ethical conduct but also ensuring that these are manifestly and undoubtedly seen to be done. It is imperative that all public functionaries upon accepting government employment recognize that they have a special duty to be open, fair and impartial in their dealings with Society. Personal self-interest should be subordinate to the public good in all circumstances, especially if circumstances arise where the possibility of a conflict of interest may become an ethical dilemma.

Viewing ethics in this Light indicates that people are faced with choices requiring them to make decisions enabling them to lead an ethical life within the context of their relationships with others. This suggests that people can be placed in ethical dilemmas. An ethical dilemma arises from a situation that necessitates a choice between competing sets of principles. Thus an ethical dilemma can be described as a circumstance that requires a choice between competing sets of principles in a given, usually undesirable or perplexing, situation. Conflicts of interest are possibly the most obvious example that could place public sector leaders in an ethical dilemma. Other types of ethical dilemmas in which public servants may find themselves include conflict between: the values of public administration; justifications for the institutions; aspects of the Code Of Conduct; personal values and supervisor or governmental directive; professional ethics and supervisor or governmental directive; personal values and professional ethics versus governmental directive; blurred or competing accountabilities; and the dimensions of ethical conduct.

Ethical Dilemmas Faced by Public Servants

Some of the most common ethical dilemmas with which public servants are confronted, revolve around aspects such as:

administrative discretion
corruption
Nepotism
administrative secrecy
information leaks
public accountability
policy dilemma

Administrative Discretion

Public officials are not merely executors of public policy. They make decisions pertaining to the lives of people, for example, about taxes, survival and the dismissal of people. In doing so they exercise discretion. The question is then how decisions are to be made to avoid ethical dilemmas.

It is true that within the rules and regulations laid down by legislation and within the prescribed procedures, there is ample opportunity for the public official to use his discretion. When faced with alternatives the choice of the public official poses an ethical problem: the choice may be acceptable to only a small section of society. The problem is that the selection of one path of action from among several alternatives is often made on the basis of personal preference, political or other affiliations, or even personal aggrandizement, thereby disregarding known facts and thus the possibility of rational DECISION MAKING. It could well be that all the prescribed rules, regulations and procedures are adhered to but that the discretionary choice may be viewed as unethical or even corrupt.

Corruption The majority of officials uphold the high standards required by public office and are devoted to promoting the general welfare. The ethical standards of public officials are, however, directly related to society as a whole. If the public accepts that in order to secure an expeditious response from a public official some pecuniary or other incentive is necessary, and the official accepts the incentive, then the standards of ethical conduct of officials and the public are in fact in harmony from the point of view of the public.

Administrative Secrecy

An area which lends itself to the creation of situations and actions which could prove to become major ethical dilemmas is the secret conduct of public business. This is especially so because secrecy can provide an opportunity to cover up unethical conduct. Secrecy is an ally of corruption and corruption is always practiced in secrecy. It is generally accepted that in a Democracy the people have a right to know what the government intends to do and it would be in the interest of the public for the administration of public affairs to be conducted openly.

Nepotism

The practice of nepotism (the appointment of relations and/ or friends to public positions, thereby ignoring the merit principle), may lead to the downgrading of the quality of the public service. This disrupts the esprit de corps and trust and resulting in corrupt administration, owing to the ability of a select few to impair control measures on account of their personal relationship with the policy-maker, and by reason of their not being easily dismissed or replaced by others. In other words, those who are appointed with the view that they will conform to the standards and views of their appointing authority could prove to be problematic. The preferential treatment of one individual over another, without taking into account the relative merit of the respective individuals, represents nothing but victimization of an individual or individuals.

Information leaks

Official information is often of such a sensitive nature (for example, pending tax increases, rezoning land, retrenchment of staff) that disclosure of the information can lead to chaos, corrupt practices or, for some individuals, improper monetary gains. Leaking official information at a date prior to the public announcement thereof is a violation of procedural prescriptions and can be an ethical dilemma.

Public Accountability

Since public officials are the implementers of public policies, they ought to be accountable for their official actions to their superiors, the courts and the public. It is nevertheless, possible for them to hide behind prescribed procedures, the cloak of professionalism and even political office-bearers.

Policy dilemmas

Policy makers are often confronted by conflicting responsibilities. They have specific loyalties to their superiors, but also to society. They have freedom to act on behalf and in the interest of others, but they must also answer to others – their superiors and society – for their actions. The official’s obligation to respect the political process may conflict with his view on how the objects of policy making are treated. In other words, the dilemma of the public official is the clash between his view of the public interest and the requirements of law.

Dilemma of the public servant

The potential areas for conflict are not necessary ethical dilemmas in themselves. It is what the public servant does when he is confronted by activities pertaining to these phenomena that could prove to be the ethical dilemma:

Would he keep silent when he finds that administrative discretion is abused, or that corruption or nepotism are practiced?
Or should he blow the whistle? 3. Should he actively engage in pressure group activities because he sympathizes with their views?
Should he actively participate in party politics?
Or should he endeavor only to promote the public good and uphold the high standards of public office?

Ethical Dilemma Case

Sanjay is a senior public servant who has worked in two State public service departments over a twenty-year period. Prior to this he was employed as a chartered accountant. In the course of performing his duties, involving primarily monetary and BUDGETING issues, sanjay becomes aware that public revenue is being used inappropriately. While he is not directly responsible for this aspect of the budget, he raised his concerns about the channeling of funds from one part of the budget to another to the Head of Division. Sanjay learns that not only is Deepak aware of this practice, but also that he condones it. Not long after, sanjay is summoned to talk to Deepak and to the Director-General about the issue. In preparation for this meeting Deepak prepares a short paper that identifies his understanding of the key issues and presents this to Deepak and the DirectorGeneral. Due to the politically sensitive nature of the issue, sanjay is told that the matter is not within his jurisdiction and therefore he should ‘keep his nose out of it’. This advice is based on the fact that the incumbent government will not tolerate questions about how it puts its budget together but that it also faces electoral defeat if the matter were to be made ‘public’. sanjay and his two supervisors are acutely aware of the tensions between the department, the minister and the government. This unease manifests itself around the advice the department provides the minister with, and the advice that the minister and the government want to hear in particular: After much soul searching, sanjay decides to obey his supervisors by leaving the matter alone.

Ethical values are the principles that guide our decisions and actions. They help us to determine what is right and wrong, and to make choices that are in line with our beliefs. Ethical dilemmas are situations in which we have to choose between two or more Options, none of which is clearly right or wrong. These dilemmas can be difficult to resolve, as they often involve conflicting ethical principles.

There are many different ethical theories that can be used to guide our decision-making. One of the most well-known is deontology, which holds that actions are right or wrong based on their adherence to a set of rules or principles. Another common theory is consequentialism, which holds that the rightness or wrongness of an action is determined by its consequences. Virtue ethics, on the other hand, focuses on the character of the person making the decision, rather than the action itself.

There are also a number of ethical principles that can be used to guide our decision-making. One of the most important is autonomy, which is the right of individuals to make their own decisions about their lives. Another important principle is beneficence, which is the obligation to help others. Non-maleficence is the obligation to avoid harming others, and justice is the principle of fairness.

Ethical dilemmas can arise in any area of life, but some of the most common areas include abortion, animal rights, assisted suicide, capital punishment, Climate change, cloning, discrimination, euthanasia, Genetic engineering, gun control, healthcare, Human Rights, immigration, POVERTY, privacy, racism, religion, sexism, suicide, and war.

There is no easy way to resolve ethical dilemmas. However, by understanding the different ethical theories and principles involved, we can make more informed decisions about how to proceed.

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Deontology

Deontology is an ethical theory that holds that actions are right or wrong based on their adherence to a set of rules or principles. Deontological theories often focus on the duty to do what is right, regardless of the consequences. One of the most well-known deontological theories is Immanuel Kant’s categorical imperative, which states that we should only act in a way that we could will to be a universal law.

Consequentialism

Consequentialism is an ethical theory that holds that the rightness or wrongness of an action is determined by its consequences. Consequentialist theories often focus on the goal of maximizing happiness or minimizing suffering. One of the most well-known consequentialist theories is utilitarianism, which states that we should act in the way that will produce the greatest good for the greatest number of people.

Virtue ethics

Virtue ethics is an ethical theory that focuses on the character of the person making the decision, rather than the action itself. Virtue ethics holds that the rightness or wrongness of an action is determined by the character of the person who performs it. A virtuous person is someone who has the right character traits, such as courage, honesty, and compassion.

Ethical principles

There are a number of ethical principles that can be used to guide our decision-making. One of the most important is autonomy, which is the right of individuals to make their own decisions about their lives. Autonomy is based on the idea that individuals are capable of making their own decisions and that they should be free to do so.

Another important principle is beneficence, which is the obligation to help others. Beneficence is based on the idea that we have a duty to help those who are in need. This principle can be difficult to apply in some cases, as it may not always be clear what the best way to help someone is.

Non-maleficence is the obligation to avoid harming others. This principle is based on the idea that we have a duty to avoid causing harm to others. This principle can also be difficult to apply in some cases, as it may not always be clear what constitutes harm.

Justice is the principle of fairness. This principle holds that we should treat others fairly and that we should not give preferential treatment to some people over others. Justice can be difficult to achieve in some cases, as it may not always be clear what is fair.

Ethical dilemmas

Ethical dilemmas can arise in any area of life, but some of the most common areas include abortion, animal rights, assisted suicide, capital punishment, Climate Change, cloning, discrimination, euthanasia, genetic engineering, gun control, healthcare, human rights, immigration, poverty, privacy, racism, religion, sexism, suicide, and war.

There is no easy way to resolve ethical dilemmas. However, by understanding the different ethical theories and principles involved, we can make more informed decisions about how to proceed.

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 rules and principles that govern human behavior.

What are ethical values?

Ethical values are the principles that guide our behavior and help us make decisions about what is right and wrong. They are based on our beliefs about what is important in life, and they help us to live a good and meaningful life.

What are ethical dilemmas?

Ethical dilemmas are situations in which we have to choose between two or more courses of action, each of which has both good and bad consequences. They can be difficult to resolve, because there is no easy answer that will please everyone.

What are some examples of ethical values?

Some examples of ethical values include honesty, Integrity, fairness, respect, compassion, and responsibility.

What are some examples of ethical dilemmas?

Some examples of ethical dilemmas include whether to tell the truth when it will hurt someone’s feelings, whether to cheat on a test to get a good grade, and whether to steal something that you need.

How can we resolve ethical dilemmas?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the best way to resolve an ethical dilemma will vary depending on the specific situation. However, some general tips that may be helpful include:

Consider all of the options available to you and weigh the potential consequences of each one.
Talk to someone you trust about the dilemma and get their perspective.
Try to imagine how you would feel if you were in the other person’s shoes.
Make a decision that you can live with and that you believe is the right thing to do.

What are the benefits of living an ethical life?

There are many benefits to living an ethical life. Some of these benefits include:

Increased self-respect: When we live in accordance with our values, we feel good about ourselves and our actions.
Improved relationships: When we are honest and fair with others, they are more likely to trust and respect us.
A sense of purpose: When we live a life that is aligned with our values, we feel like we are making a difference in the world.
A more fulfilling life: When we live an ethical life, we are more likely to be happy and content.

What are the challenges of living an ethical life?

There are also some challenges to living an ethical life. Some of these challenges include:

It can be difficult to know what the right thing to do is in every situation.
Sometimes, living an ethical life means making sacrifices, such as giving up money or opportunities.
We may face opposition from others who do not share our values.
It can be difficult to stay true to our values when we are under pressure to do otherwise.

Despite the challenges, living an ethical life is worth it. When we live in accordance with our values, we are happier, healthier, and more fulfilled. We also make the world a better place for everyone.

Which of the following is not an ethical value? (A) Honesty (B) Integrity (C) Loyalty (D) Selfishness
Which of the following is an example of an ethical dilemma? (A) Deciding whether to tell a lie to protect someone’s feelings (B) Deciding whether to cheat on a test (C) Deciding whether to steal something you need (D) All of the above
Which of the following is the best way to resolve an ethical dilemma? (A) Talk to someone you trust about the dilemma (B) Consider the consequences of your actions (C) Make a decision that you can live with (D) All of the above
Which of the following is not an example of a professional Code of ethics? (A) The Hippocratic Oath (B) The Boy Scout Law (C) The Code of Hammurabi (D) The Ten Commandments
Which of the following is the best way to learn about ethical values? (A) Read books and articles about ethics (B) Talk to people you respect about ethics (C) Reflect on your own values and beliefs (D) All of the above
Which of the following is not an example of an ethical violation? (A) Plagiarism (B) Cheating (C) Stealing (D) Being late for work
Which of the following is the best way to respond to an ethical violation? (A) Report the violation to the appropriate authorities (B) Confront the person who committed the violation (C) Try to resolve the issue on your own (D) All of the above
Which of the following is not an example of an ethical dilemma in the workplace? (A) Deciding whether to report a coworker who is stealing (B) Deciding whether to accept a bribe (C) Deciding whether to work overtime without pay (D) Deciding whether to take a vacation when your company is short-staffed
Which of the following is the best way to resolve an ethical dilemma in the workplace? (A) Talk to your supervisor about the dilemma (B) Talk to your coworkers about the dilemma (C) Make a decision that you can live with (D) All of the above
Which of the following is not an example of an ethical dilemma in your personal life? (A) Deciding whether to cheat on your partner (B) Deciding whether to lie to your parents (C) Deciding whether to steal something you need (D) Deciding whether to help a friend who is in trouble
Which of the following is the best way to resolve an ethical dilemma in your personal life? (A) Talk to someone you trust about the dilemma (B) Consider the consequences of your actions (C) Make a decision that you can live with (D) All of the above