Summary

Ethics Class 12

A BRIEF REVIEW OF THE PREVIOUS CLASS (5:04 P.M.)

MAX WEBER (5:05 P.M.)

Power is the ability of an individual to exercise their will in the collective action despite resistance.
When this power is legitimized this is referred to as authority.
There are three types of authority:
(a) Traditional Authority
(b) Charismatic Authority
(c) Legal-Rational Authority
Traditional Authority
The basis of legitimacy is tradition. For example, Monarchy, Patriarchy, etc.
Charismatic Authority
The basis of legitimacy is superhuman quality. For example, a Charismatic leader or personality.
Legal-Rational Authority
The basis of legitimacy is written rules, which are framed to achieve some goals.
There exists a formal organization that consists of administrative staff under legal-rational authority. It is known as bureaucracy.
Structure
(i) Hierarchy
(ii) Division of Labour
(iii) System of rules
(iv) Role Specificity
Functional
(i) Objectivity
(ii) Impersonality
(iii) Rationality
(iv) Rule Orientation
Weber's Impersonal Management
It is defined as the management through a system of official authority and pre-defined rules, rather than emotions.
It is the core of Weberian bureaucracy to maximize efficiency.
Necessity of Impersonal Management
(a) It ensures uniformity in action.
(b) It ensures equality in treatment.
(c) It ensures just and fair decisions.
(d) It ensures quick decision-making.
(e) It sets the precedence for the future decision-making.
(f) It ensures rationality.
Challenges
(a) Blind Rationality
It means that over-obsession with the rules may lead to the displacement of goals.
(b) Prostitution of Personality (C.W. Mills)
It simply means to be someone or behave in a manner they don't wish to or when a person is indulged in doing work where there is no scope for creative expression.
(c) Occupational Psychosis
When one is trained to do the same type of work over a long period, one develops preferences and antipathy.
For example, Inertia in bureaucracy for the use of information technology.
(d) Status Quoism
Rigid adherence to the rules obstructs the process of change.
(e) Trained Incapacity
It refers to the incapability of the officials to deal with new things since there exists a lack of scope for innovation and initiatives.
(f) Due to strict implementation of the rules it leads to a lack of compassion among the officials which aggravates the problems of the weaker section.

HUMAN RELATION'S THEORY (5:45 P.M.)

It emerged as a criticism of existing theories that ignored the human dimension in the organization.
Elton Mayo is referred to as the 'Father of Human Relations Theory'.
He conducted an experiment known as the 'Hawthorne Experiment'.
Findings of the experiment
(a) It specifies that social and psychological factors have a more significant impact on a worker's performance than the physical condition.
(b) The experiment revealed that factors such as group cohesion, supportive supervision, and a sense of belongingness are crucial in motivating employees.
(c) One of the key takeaways from the experiment was recognizing the importance of treating workers as social beings.
(d) It is the informal organization within the formal setup that determines the efficiency of the workers as they are responsible for setting norms and behavioural patterns.
Participative management is the key to improving the efficiency due to the following reasons:
(i) It generates a sense of involvement.
(ii) It creates a pleasant environment.
(iii) Internalisation of goals.
(iv) Prevent alienation.
(v) Increased productivity.
The work of Elton Mayo that emphasized the human component was carried forward by Daniel Goleman, and Mayer and Salovey.

ROLE OF EI IN ADMINISTRATION (6:04 P.M.)

All governance is people's governance.
All service is public service.
Therefore, if we fail to develop a trustworthy relationship between the administration and citizens, then good governance cannot be ensured.
Hence, it is required to develop social skills, self-awareness, regulation, etc. among the administrative officials. It implies that EI in administration is inevitable.

EI IN CIVIL SERVICES

Positive Implications
(a) Emotionally intelligent officials would be aware of the needs of citizens, and hence, will not go for a one-size-fits-all approach.
For example, the bike ambulance initiative by Awanish Sharan.
(b) They are self-motivated to achieve the goal and will come up with innovative ideas.
For example, Dr Rajendra Bharud established oxygen plants before the second wave of COVID-19 struck India.
Sandeep Naduri established the cafe which is sun exclusively by people with disabilities to ensure their economic and social empowerment.
(c) Emotionally intelligent officials would be aware of their responsibilities and will not be demotivated due to certain hurdles.
For example, Armstrong Pame is popularly known as the 'miracle man of India'.
(d) Emotionally intelligent officials would be able to regulate their emotions and overcome crises of conscience.
For example, T. N. Seshan, Rajni Sekari Sibbal, Ashok Khemka, etc.
(e) Such officials have social skills and, hence, would be able to persuade people and diffuse the conflict.
For example, N Prasanth, District Collector (Kozhikode), successfully addressed a challenging issue involving the relocation of the street market.
(f) Emotionally intelligent officials serve as role models by walking the talk.
For example, Pankaj Jain, IAS sends his daughter to Anganwadi.
(g) Emotionally intelligent officials are compassionate.
For example, S. Somvanshi removed the Air conditioner from his office and got it installed in the nutritional habitational center to save the malnourished children from the scorching heat. Moved by his effort, people contributed and five lakh was collected in three days.
Emotionally intelligent officials can help:
(i) Establishing a morally virtuous society
(ii) Prevent status quo.
(iii) Development of shared vision.

EI IN INDIAN CONTEXT (6:38 P.M.)

It is mentioned in "Bhagwad Gita".
It is referred to as "Sthithapragnya'.
Causes For Emotional Turmoil
Desire and Anger are the two vices that are responsible for emotional turmoil.
When an individual has the desire for something/someone, it leads to an attachment.
This attachment creates longing.
When this desire is not fulfilled, anger is generated.
This anger makes the person delusional.
This further, reduces the capacity of the person to differentiate between right and wrong.
The downfall is then, inevitable.
For example, Duryodhan, Raavan, Kaikeyi, etc.

CHARACTERISTIC ATTRIBUTE OF AN EMOTIONALLY INTELLIGENT PERSON ACCORDING TO BHAGWAD GEETA

One who remains unperturbed, in the face of calamity.
One whose mind is not shaken by adversity.
One who takes both good and bad equally.
The ones with these characteristics are known as emotionally intelligent people.

DEVELOPING EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE ACCORDING TO BHAGVAT GEETA

It is through Nishkam Karma that an individual becomes emotionally stable.
Nishkam Karma
It is the philosophy of the performance of duty without any expectation in return.
It teaches us that duties should be performed without any selfish motive or desire with respect to the consequences of the action.

DISCUSSION ON QUESTION

Question
Discuss how the philosophy of Nishkam Karma can act as an asset in administrative services. (150 words, 10 marks)
Approach
In the introduction define the philosophy of Nishkam Karma.
In the body mention:
(a) A certain set of duties has to be performed selflessly and without any expectation for credit.
The most important attribute of a civil servant is anonymity.
(b) There shouldn't be any condition concerning service, for example, caste, class, religion, etc. Only sincerity should motivate their actions.
Uniformity, Unbiasedness, egalitarianism, etc.
(c) The result of action shouldn't agitate the mind even in a tense situation, and this is possible only when action is performed with detachment.
Courage, risk-taking abilities, calm and composed mind, etc.
(d) It will help in ensuring honesty, integrity, accountability, etc.
(e) Many times the situation is not in the hands of the individual and one cannot guarantee success.
In this situation, Nishkam Karma helps us to remain focused.
(f) This philosophy creates scope for innovation, out-of-box thinking, etc. because we don't have the fear of failure.

ETHICS AND HUMAN INTERFACE (7:09 P.M.)

(a) Concept of Ethics
Characteristic features of Ethics.
(b) Essence of Ethics
Consequences of Ethics
(c) Determinants of Ethics
(d) Dimensions of Ethics
Descriptive Ethics
Meta-Ethics
Normative Ethics- Moral Thinkers
Applied Ethics
Concept of Ethics
It is defined as a set of do's and don'ts that govern human action in social settings.
The concept of ethics can be described as "Atmanah Pratikulani Paresham na Samacharet".
(Do not impose on others which you don't want to go through).
Hence, ethics is the systematic study of human actions concerning rightness or wrongness with the ultimate aim of happiness.

THE TOPIC FOR THE NEXT CLASS: CONTINUATION OF ETHICS AND HUMAN INTERFACE