GS4 Ethics & Integrity Trainer
Foundations of Ethics
Module 1 — Nature, scope, sources & key distinctions
Back to Ethics
What is Ethics?
A systematic study of right and wrong, good and bad in human conduct
Ethics (from Greek ethos = character) is the branch of philosophy that examines moral values, principles, and rules that govern human action. For a civil servant, ethics is not optional — it is the operating system.
Normative EthicsMeta-EthicsApplied EthicsDescriptive Ethics
Nature of Ethics
Concerned with 'what ought to be' — prescriptive, not merely descriptive. It asks: What should I do? What kind of person should I be?
Scope of Ethics
Covers individual conduct, social norms, institutional behaviour, public policy, professional duties, and relationships with nature and future generations.
Morality
Practical application of ethical principles in daily life. Morality is ethics in action — judging acts as right/wrong, virtuous/vicious.
Values & Beliefs
Values = deep convictions about what matters (honesty, justice). Beliefs = accepted propositions. Both shape moral choices, but values carry greater normative weight.
Sources of Ethical Guidance
Religion & Scripture
Gita, Quran, Bible, Upanishads — timeless moral codes
Philosophy
Kant, Aristotle, Bentham, Gandhi — reasoned frameworks
Law & Constitution
Fundamental duties, DPSPs, judicial precedents
Family & Society
Primary socialisation — parents, peers, culture
Education
Moral education, role models, institutional values
Reason & Conscience
Inner moral faculty — the 'voice within'