Best Ethics Notes for UPSC
Table of Contents
Determinants of Ethics UPSC
Determinants of ethics are the factors in human behaviour which should be taken into consideration while scrutinizing the human conduct from ethical perspective. The ethicality of the same action may vary due to these factors. They are-
- Deliberate/Voluntary Human Action
- Knowledge/Awareness consequence of the action, consciously do the action
- Free Will, freedom to choose between different courses of action, at least two or more options available
- Absence of Coercion, action is not forced by external circumstances
- Purpose/Intention of Human Action
- Consequences/End of action
- End justify the means
- Means used (Nature of Action)
- Means justify the end
- Circumstances
Deliberate/Voluntary Human Action: It is not ethical to punish an unaware person while it is legal. However, the ignorance (not aware about law) of law does not save a person from the legal consequences just as the ignorance of the law of gravitation does not save a person’s life, if he jumps from a building. In many legal systems, including India, quantum of punishment depends on deliberate or indeliberate aspect of human action.
Purpose/Intention of Action: Intention of human action should be considered as Nobel or good if they not harm or less harm to the society. Government administrative system in many countries, including India, also take into consideration bona fide and mala fide mistakes.
Consequences/End of action: Consequences also do matter end many a times it matters more than anything else in society. Performance is the key indicator in administration. Government also should perform to survive.
Many ethical theories, such as consequentialism or utilitarianism, consider the end results of an action to determine its ethical value. If an action results in a greater amount of good for a greater number of people, it is generally considered ethical. For example, a policy that leads to better healthcare for all citizens would be seen as ethically positive based on the end result.
The ends justify a means. End is well all is well theory.
The end does not justify a means.
Nature of Action/Means used: Some actions are inherently ethical in nature while others are unethical, for example, speaking the truth and being honest is ethical while lying and stealing are unethical.
However, actions that are considered unethical nature when they serve the common good may also be considered moral (only in emergency situations) but these should be considered exceptions and not examples for others (should not be make precedents for future action).
Should not become the precedent for future course of action.
Like Heinz Dilemma – Stealing medicine to save the life of his wife. Act of saving life is more precious, the cost of breaking law and get punished (faced the legal consequences of act) is less than the cost of saving life, circumstances have forced that action
Some other examples are-
- Spying to gain a national advantage
- Stealing food to feed a starving family
- Using violence to stop a crime
Circumstances: The context or situation in which an action occurs can also affect its ethical value. Circumstances can include factors such as the level of knowledge or understanding one has about the situation, the available options, and the potential impact on all parties involved. For example, it may be unethical in a normal situation to speak a lie. However, if we lie to save a life, or to protect our country or to help a depressed person, it can’t be said to be wrong. In many legal systems, including India, quantum of punishment depends on external circumstances.
Civil Servants must know that all these factors interact and collectively determine the ethical nature of a human action. In other words, an ethical action must satisfy all the determinants.
Ethics and Human Interface
The above determinants/pre conditions of ethical enquiry are fulfilled only be Human beings, hence ethics is especially related to human and not related to all living organisms. Only the actions of humans come under the purview of ethics. Further, ethics is not related to all human conduct or behaviour. The scope of ethics includes only voluntary human actions.
Ethics PYQs UPSC – Topic Wise Collection
FAQs on Determinants of Ethics UPSC
Why Mohit Sharma (Director Sankalp IAS Academy) is the best Ethics Teacher for UPSC Ethics GS IV?
Why Mohit Sharma (Director Sankalp IAS Academy) is the best Ethics Faculty for UPSC Ethics GS IV?
Mohit Sharma is a highly regarded Ethics faculty for the UPSC Civil Services Examination, known for his in-depth knowledge, engaging teaching style, and focus on practical application.
With over 12 years of experience in teaching Ethics for UPSC and University Level, he provides a comprehensive understanding of the entire syllabus, covering all key topics and subtopics in detail. Here are some key reasons why many consider him to be among the best:
- Authorship in Ethics: As an author of multiple books on ethics and moral philosophy, he brings a strong theoretical foundation and insightful perspectives to his teaching.
- Positive Reviews and Testimonials: Many successful UPSC aspirants have praised Mohit Sharma’s teaching and guidance, attributing their success to his mentorship.
- Current Affairs Integration: Connects ethical concepts with contemporary issues. Uses recent case studies from administration Helps students relate theory to real-world scenarios.
- Comprehensive Coverage: Mohit Sharma provides a thorough understanding of the entire Ethics syllabus, covering all key topics and subtopics in detail.
- Conceptual Clarity: He emphasizes conceptual clarity and helps students grasp complex ethical dilemmas and frameworks.
- Case Study Approach: His teaching methodology heavily relies on case studies and real-life examples, making the subject more relatable and easier to understand.
- Focus on Answer Writing: Mohit Sharma provides extensive guidance on answer writing, helping students structure their answers effectively and present their arguments convincingly.
- Personalized Mentoring: One-on-one doubt clearing sessions. Individual feedback on answer writing. Customized guidance based on student needs.
- Regular Practice and Feedback: He encourages regular practice through mock tests and assignments, providing personalized feedback to help students improve.
- Focus on Previous Years’ Questions: Detailed analysis of UPSC trends. Strategic approach to important topics. Practice with exam-oriented questions.
- Online Learning Resources: Digital study materials. Recorded lectures for revision. Online test series.
- Holistic Development Approach: Integration with other GS papers. Emphasis on character building. Focus on developing ethical reasoning skills.
Best Ethics Book for UPSC & UPPCS GS IV:
Best Book of Ethics for UPSC and UPPCS (4th Edition, English)
Top rated on Google. Recommended by UPSC Toppers. Language – English This book Ethics for UPSC is Written by Mohit Sharma (Director of Sankalp IAS Academy). Mohit Sharma is a highly regarded Ethics faculty for the UPSC Civil Services Examination, known for his in-depth knowledge, engaging teaching style, and focus on practical application. With over 12 years of experience in teaching Ethics for UPSC and University Level. Download Free Demo eBook
Determinants of Ethics UPSC
Ethics UPSC