<–2/”>a >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.,
Ethics and Values in Public Service
Public service is a noble profession that requires a high level of ethics and values. Public servants are entrusted with the public trust, and they must always act in the best interests of the people they serve.
There are many different ethical principles that apply to public service. Some of the most important include accountability, conflict of interest, confidentiality, discrimination, diversity, ethics training, honesty, integrity, loyalty, Objectivity, openness, political neutrality, respect, responsibility, transparency, and whistleblowing.
Accountability is the principle that public servants are responsible for their actions and must be held accountable for them. This means that public servants must be transparent about their decisions and actions, and they must be willing to answer for them.
Conflict of interest is a situation in which a public servant’s personal interests could interfere with their professional duties. Public servants must avoid conflicts of interest by recusing themselves from decisions or actions that could benefit them personally.
Confidentiality is the principle that public servants must keep information confidential unless they are authorized to release it. This means that public servants must protect the privacy of individuals and organizations, and they must not disclose confidential information without permission.
Discrimination is the unfair treatment of people based on their race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or other personal characteristics. Public servants must not discriminate against anyone, and they must treat everyone with respect.
Diversity is the variety of different people and groups that make up a society. Public servants must be aware of and respect the diversity of the people they serve.
Ethics training is the process of teaching public servants about ethical principles and how to apply them in their work. Ethics training is essential for all public servants, and it should be ongoing throughout their careers.
Honesty is the principle that public servants must always tell the truth. This means that public servants must not lie, cheat, or steal.
Integrity is the principle that public servants must always act with honesty and fairness. This means that public servants must not take advantage of their position or power, and they must always act in the best interests of the people they serve.
Loyalty is the principle that public servants must be loyal to their employer and to the people they serve. This means that public servants must not betray the trust of their employer or the people they serve.
Objectivity is the principle that public servants must make decisions based on facts and evidence, not on personal opinions or biases. This means that public servants must be impartial and fair in their decision-making.
Openness is the principle that public servants must be open and transparent in their work. This means that public servants must share information with the public, and they must be accountable for their actions.
Political neutrality is the principle that public servants must not take sides in political disputes. This means that public servants must not use their position to promote their own political beliefs or to support a particular political party.
Respect is the principle that public servants must treat everyone with respect, regardless of their race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or other personal characteristics.
Responsibility is the principle that public servants must be responsible for their actions and must be held accountable for them. This means that public servants must be transparent about their decisions and actions, and they must be willing to answer for them.
Transparency is the principle that public servants must be open and transparent in their work. This means that public servants must share information with the public, and they must be accountable for their actions.
Whistleblowing is the act of reporting wrongdoing by a public official or organization. Whistleblowing is an important tool for holding public officials accountable, and it is essential for protecting the public interest.
These are just some of the ethical principles that apply to public service. Public servants must always act in accordance with these principles, and they must be prepared to uphold them even in difficult or challenging situations.
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 values?
Values are the beliefs and principles that guide our actions. They are the things that are important to us, and that we hold dear. Values can be personal, such as honesty or integrity, or they can be shared by a group or society, such as Justice or Equality.
What is public service?
Public service is the work that is done by the government to provide services to the public. This includes things like Education, healthcare, and Infrastructure-2/”>INFRASTRUCTURE. Public servants are the people who work in government, and who are responsible for providing these services.
What is the importance of ethics and values in public service?
Ethics and values are important in public service because they help to ensure that public servants act in a way that is fair, just, and honest. They also help to ensure that public servants are accountable to the public, and that they use their power and authority for the benefit of the people they serve.
What are some ethical issues that public servants face?
Public servants face a variety of ethical issues, including conflicts of interest, bribery, and Nepotism. They also face issues related to privacy, confidentiality, and whistleblowing.
What are some ways to promote ethics and values in public service?
There are a number of ways to promote ethics and values in public service. These include:
- Creating a Code of ethics: A code of ethics is a set of principles that guide the behavior of public servants. It should be clear, concise, and easy to understand.
- Providing training on ethics: Training on ethics can help public servants to understand the ethical issues they may face, and how to resolve them.
- Enforcing the code of ethics: The code of ethics should be enforced through disciplinary action, such as suspension or termination.
- Creating a culture of ethics: A culture of ethics is one in which ethical behavior is valued and rewarded. This can be done by setting a good example, providing positive reinforcement, and creating a Climate of trust and respect.
What are some examples of ethical behavior in public service?
Some examples of ethical behavior in public service include:
- Acting in the public interest: Public servants should always act in the public interest, and not in their own personal interest.
- Being honest and transparent: Public servants should always be honest and transparent in their dealings with the public.
- Being fair and impartial: Public servants should always be fair and impartial in their dealings with the public.
- Respecting the law: Public servants should always respect the law, and uphold the Rule of Law.
- Protecting the public: Public servants should always protect the public from harm.
What are some examples of unethical behavior in public service?
Some examples of unethical behavior in public service include:
- Conflicts of interest: A conflict of interest occurs when a public servant has a personal interest that could interfere with their ability to act in the public interest.
- Bribery: Bribery is the act of offering or giving something of value to a public servant in order to influence their decision-making.
- Nepotism: Nepotism is the act of giving preferential treatment to a relative or friend, even if they are not qualified for the job.
- Privacy violations: Public servants should always respect the privacy of the people they serve.
- Confidentiality violations: Public servants should always keep confidential information confidential.
- Whistleblowing: Whistleblowing is the act of reporting unethical or illegal behavior to the authorities.
What are the consequences of unethical behavior in public service?
Unethical behavior in public service can have a number of consequences, including:
- Damage to the public’s trust: When public servants engage in unethical behavior, it can damage the public’s trust in government.
- Legal consequences: Public servants who engage in unethical behavior may face legal consequences, such as fines or imprisonment.
- Disciplinary action: Public servants who engage in unethical behavior may face disciplinary action, such as suspension or termination.
- Reputational damage: Public servants who engage in unethical behavior may damage their own reputation, and the reputation of the organization they work for.
Question 1
Which of the following is not a core value of public service?
(A) Integrity
(B) Accountability
(C) Professionalism
(D) Efficiency
Answer
(D) Efficiency is not a core value of public service. The core values of public service are integrity, accountability, professionalism, and responsiveness.
Question 2
Which of the following is an example of an ethical dilemma in public service?
(A) A public servant is offered a bribe by a private citizen.
(B) A public servant is asked to violate the law by a superior.
(C) A public servant is asked to keep confidential information secret from the public.
(D) All of the above.
Answer
(D) All of the above are examples of ethical dilemmas in public service. In each case, the public servant must weigh the potential benefits of taking the action against the potential risks to their own integrity and the integrity of the public service.
Question 3
Which of the following is not an example of a conflict of interest in public service?
(A) A public servant’s spouse works for a company that does business with the government.
(B) A public servant owns stock in a company that does business with the government.
(C) A public servant accepts a gift from a private citizen who does business with the government.
(D) A public servant serves on the board of directors of a company that does business with the government.
Answer
(C) A public servant accepting a gift from a private citizen who does business with the government is an example of a conflict of interest. In each of the other cases, the public servant’s personal interests are not directly aligned with the interests of the government.
Question 4
Which of the following is not a way to prevent ethical lapses in public service?
(A) Enacting strong ethical codes and standards
(B) Providing training on ethics and conflict of interest
(C) Creating a culture of ethics in the public service
(D) Conducting ethics audits
Answer
(A) Enacting strong ethical codes and standards is not a way to prevent ethical lapses in public service. Ethical codes and standards are important, but they are not enough. They must be accompanied by training, a culture of ethics, and ethics audits.
Question 5
Which of the following is not a way to promote ethical behavior in public service?
(A) Set a good example
(B) Provide clear guidance on ethical standards
(C) Create a culture of openness and transparency
(D) Reward ethical behavior
Answer
(A) Setting a good example is not a way to promote ethical behavior in public service. While it is important for public servants to set a good example, it is not enough. They must also provide clear guidance on ethical standards, create a culture of openness and transparency, and reward ethical behavior.