Ethics in Private and Public Relationships UPSC. Best Ethics Notes for UPSC & UPPSC.
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Ethics in Private and Public Relationships UPSC
Private relations refer to personal, intimate relationships such as family, friendships, and romantic partnerships, close friendships, and other intimate connections. They are our own small world as their relationship with us matters much more to us than with our relationship with the rest of the world.
Public relationships refer to community interactions, professional connections and broader social networks that occur in the public sphere or have a public dimension. These relationships are often more formal, structured, and visible than private relationships.
The principles of morality vary in private and public life. According to Max Weber it is important to realise that the state bureaucracy might possess its own independent bureaucratic morality. It is not wise to apply to public administration the sort of moral and ethical norms we apply to matters of personal conscience.
| Ethics in Private relations UPSC | Ethics in Public relations UPSC | |
| Definition | Ethics in private relationships refers to the moral principles and values that guide behavior and decision-making within intimate, personal connections. They follow the words of Karl Marx: ‘From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.’ In the matter of private relationships, virtue ethics and relationship ethics play more important roles. In our personal domain, we act like a sovereign body. | Ethics in public relationships refers to the moral principles and standards that guide the conduct of individuals and organizations involved in public affairs, such as government officials, politicians, public servants, and public relations practitioners. |
| Foundational values | Trust- Involves reliability, confidentiality, and mutual understanding Respect- Valuing each other’s opinions, personal boundaries, privacy, beliefs, and choices, Treating each other with dignity. Intimacy- Emotional and/or physical closeness Autonomy- Respect for individual boundaries and independence Reciprocity- Mutual give-and-take in the relationship Emotional support- Being present during both good and challenging times Communication- Open and honest dialogue, Ability to express needs, concerns, and feelings Loyalty- Commitment to the relationship Fidelity – the quality of being faithful to Spouse, not having a sexual relationship with anyone else If you are faithful, you are trustworthy because faith and trust are two sides of the same coin. Privacy- Maintaining confidentiality within the relationship Confidentiality Love, mutual care, compassion, forgiveness | Transparency and Accountability Integrity and Honesty Professionalism Equality and fairness, avoiding favouritism or discrimination Collaboration, team work Building and maintaining public trust Adaptability, responding to changing social norms and expectations Representation, speaking or acting on behalf of others or organizations Objectivity Innovation Respect for diversity and inclusivity Confidentiality and Privacy Conflict of Interest Management Public Engagement and Participation Adherence to Legal and Regulatory Frameworks Brotherhood |
| Similar Values | Necessary to feel humanity Respect Credibility Internal peace Good mental health as no dissonance | Necessary to feel humanity Respect Credibility Internal peace Good mental health as no dissonance |
| Challenges | Cooperation vs freedom Social media impacting personal boundaries Extramarital Affairs Generational shifts Work life balance Domestic Violence Open Marriage, Divorce, Grey Divorce Lack of personal space in densely populated areas Gender Inequality, Unequal expectations and responsibilities within marriages Generational gaps Lack of trust, especially in long-distance relationships | Corruption Nepotism Red Tapism Partisanship Indifference towards duty Lack of compassion towards weaker section Toxic influence of casteism Religious fundamentalism |
| Difference Use in Why be need different standard for professional life | Different expectations- example foundation values Based on human emotions Mutual respect and equality More informal More durable Moral value, tradition, custom etc. are the source of ethical guidance Mostly voluntary enforcement (some exception like domestic violence act 2005) Solve problem by mutual agreement May also be inherited Forgiveness | Rule based Based on public interest or societal good Hierarchy More formal Less durable Rules, regulations, law, code of conduct etc. are the source of ethical guidance Externally Imposed Formal institute like police, judiciary In general, not hereditary Punishment Different expectation of society – outburst on social media by public figure can create havoc in society |
Dual Character Dilemma
Sometimes people practice different standards of moralities in their personal and private lives.
- Some people are ethical and efficient public life but follow immoral activities like having extramarital relationships, domestic violence etc. in their private life.
- Keshva Chandra Sen, Aasharam Bapu
- Some people may be extremely corrupt in their official matters, but are honest with their family members, like faithful to their spouse, a loving parent to their children etc.
- Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb
Why ethics in private life is important for ethics in public life?
Is private and public life can be separated?
In general, both are considered separate, both have different morality, but it’s challenging and often impossible to completely separate them. People at responsible and influential position should have responsible behaviour in private life also, because-
- Interconnectedness
- There is no watertight compartments division, Sooner or later, the values of private life are reflected in public life.
- Pooja Khedkar, a trainee IAS officer demanding special privileges during probation period show the toxic influence of private life.
The shaded portion shows the effect of one on the other.
- Spillover effect
- Cause mental irritability
- Private life has Spillover effect on public life.
- The conflict at home soon starts affecting the office.
- Lead to poor work culture.
- Virtu ethics – Private ethical behaviour forms the core of one’s character.
- Only virtuous person can do good work
- How a police officer indulges in domestic violence, implement the domestic violence act?
- Role Model – People at responsible and influential position work as role model for youth.
- Therefore, they have a moral duty/obligation to act as civic heroes.
- Increase Vulnerability
- Good officers with bad character are more vulnerable for Honey trapping.
- Erosion of Public trust
- Fallacy of generalisation
- People start judging civil servants based on their personal lives
- Issue of Mental Health
- Too much difference in private and public life can led to –
- Cognitive dissonance
- Loss of credibility – Aasha ram, Keshav Chandra sena
- Conflict of interest
- Too much difference in private and public life can led to –
- Private life provides a strong moral foundation for inculcating the professional values. UPSC also consider it.
- Ex – Code of civil service ban polygamy.
- Ex – Background check in UPSC after selection of candidate.
- Kripa Shankar Kanaujiya, DSP in UP demoted to the rank of a constable after found in a hotel with a woman constable.
- IPS officer, Pankaj Kumar Chaudhary, has been dismissed from service due to extramarital relationship.
- Collective goods
- Character of individual will determine character of society.
- Erosion of foundational value
- Lack of dedication towards service due to mental dissonance.
- Digital footprints, work from home culture also blur the line between private and public.
Therefore, it is the moral responsibility of any civil servant to maintain high standards in his professional as well as personal life.
However, some degree of separation is often necessary and beneficial:
- Work-life balance is important for well-being
- Legitimate expectation of privacy in personal matters not directly affecting public roles
- Some ethical norms may differ between private and public spheres (e.g., nepotism might be acceptable in a family business but not in government)
- Family duty
In conclusion, while complete separation of private and public ethics is nearly impossible and often undesirable, maintaining some boundaries is important.
Use in case study – be careful before interference in family matter.
- Private and personal life have different set of ethical standards and their implementation. Family members sort out their differences themselves by mutual agreement.
- Emotional outburst is common in family, outsider can exacerbate the situation.
- Most people not accepted outsider interference in their personal matters. Hence, it is not advisable to interfere in the personal matters of other people, except in exceptional situations. There are conflicts within families for various reasons.
- Government also permits the outsider to report against social crime like domestic violence, POCSO.
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Ethics in Private and Public Relationships UPSC
Best Ethics Notes for UPSC & UPPSC
Ethics Notes UPSC