GS4 · 10 marks · 150 words

"Duty forms the cornerstone of administrative ethics, yet without integration of other ethical perspectives, it risks becoming mechanical compliance." Discuss how the interplay of duty, virtue, principle, and consequences can enrich ethical decision-making in public administration.

Answered by 6 toppers · CSE 2023–2025

Civil Service ValuesEthical TheoriesDimensions of EthicsEthical Dilemmas in Government

Syllabus: Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in-human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics - in private and public relationships. Human Values - lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; role of family society and educational institutions in inculcating values.

How toppers approached it

From all 6 answers · about 180 words · 67% drew a diagram.

Opening

  • No separate opening100%

Body

  • Points67%
  • Points and prose33%

Close

  • No separate close50%
  • A summary33%
  • A quotation17%

The toppers’ answers

Pakshal SecretryAIR 8 · CSE 2025 · 115 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening

Too much focus on duty has lead to problems like Red Tapism, Non Regard to ends and short-sightedness in public administration.

Body · points

Too much focus on duty has lead to problems like Red Tapism, Non Regard to ends and short-sightedness in public administration.

Diagram
problem of mechanical duty focus → means becoming ends in itself → Lacks Emotions and Compassion → Leads to short sightedness

Interplay for Ethical Decision

  1. Ensure right balance (Eg) - Balancing Duty with consequence → Red carpet instead of Tapism

② Virtue → Leads to automatic following of duty (eg) - Virtue of Displine Heuristic processing of thoughts

③ principle → Make duty more Value oriented (eg) - Ration to old women leads to greater good of people

④ Consequence → Ensure long term vision of duty Helps in resolving dilemmas in duty (eg) Heinz Dilemma

Diagram
Duty to feed child ⇓ Resolve by consequence approach ⇑ Duty to be Honest

Thus, as Aristotle says, "focus not only on means or ends, but a reasoned balance of the two."

Close · a quotation

Helps in resolving dilemmas in duty (eg) Heinz Dilemma Thus, as Aristotle says, "focus not only on means or ends, but a reasoned balance of the two."

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