GS4 · 10 marks · 150 words

Do you think it is ethically justified for political leaders to violate the deepest constraints of morality in order to achieve great goods or avoid disasters for their communities? Justify your position with suitable examples

Answered by 3 toppers · CSE 2024–2025

Ethical Dilemmas in GovernmentDimensions of EthicsEthical TheoriesCivil Service ValuesEthics in Private and Public Life

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 3 answers · about 130 words · 33% drew a diagram.

Opening

  • A definition1 of 3
  • No separate opening1 of 3
  • A quotation1 of 3

Body

  • Points2 of 3
  • Points and prose1 of 3

Close

  • No separate close1 of 3
  • A summary1 of 3
  • A way forward1 of 3

The toppers’ answers

Raghav JhunjhunwalaAIR 4 · CSE 2025 · 132 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening

The above dictum resonates with 'Ends justify the means' as was depicted by Bose, etc.

Ethically justified to use immoral means:

Body · points and prose

  1. Greater Good Ex: Bose's decision to join hand with Axis powers to help India's freedom struggle.

  2. Avoids crisis: Ex: During Mumbai Blasts of 2001, CM hid the identity of perpetrators to avoid communal tensions.

  3. Mock Fire Drills

  4. Lying to a terminally ill patient.

However, it is also criticized for same:

(i) Not categorical Imperative because the immoral act (despite its use) can't be made a global dictum.

(ii) Slippery slope

Diagram
- slight moral lapse → long Run deep crisis (Ex: unsustainable development)

(iii) Against Deontology: (S Gita philosophy)

  • 'karmavad' thesis focuses on duty, forget rest.

Close · a way forward

However, there should not be any hard & fast rules. The means adopted must be based upon situational analysis and ensuring no maleficence.

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