Approach to Ethics Paper - Dr. V. Vivekanandan IRS

The nearer a value system is to the Universal Values, the better it is in terms of Virtues and Righteousness. The deviations in the value systems only lead to conflicts and wars and are against human development.

Undesirable qualities or traits(ego, anger, greed, arrogance, vindictiveness) lead to destructive actions. When practiced over a period of time, they build into habits. Desirable values drive a person to use his capabilities for positive actions, i.e. actions useful to humanity (and not self alone), while the undesirable values drive them for negative actions, which may result in his own benefit or fulfillment of desire, but are in long run harmful to both the society and the doer.

Values guide us in deciding what is to be done and also the means that should be used for such action.

The Knower-Doer Split: Doing something against Universal Values / intrinsic humanness / general ethical standards  Inner murmuring: Knower I vs Doer I  Split / Division  Conflict  Guilt  Very great irritant  Disintegration of Self  ‘Ideal’ Knower vs ‘Actual’ Doer  Dr. Jekyle vs Mr. Hyde conflict  Knower I condemns while Doer I gets some short-term comforts  Accumulation of Guilt  Discomfort in the long run  Lack of “togetherness” within  Harming Self  Quality of life suffers  You can’t enjoy anything  You can’t get anything out of this life  Unhappiness, insecurity, tensions, health problems – physical, mental, emotional and psychological.

Be in consonance with the inner value system (Universal Values)  The Conduct ought to be  Ethics  Outer Behaviour  Integration  Togetherness  Composed  Integrated Personality  Enjoy life  Long term Comfort.

Ethics: Ethics are a code of conduct that we expect of others and so logically from ourselves also. Ethics is human conduct in the light of moral principles, which may be viewed as the individual’s standard of conduct or as a body of social obligations and duties.

147 V. Vivekanandan