GS4 · 10 marks · 300 words

While traditional ethics has focussed on notions of justice, fair allocation and obligations, ethics of care emphasise maintaining connectedness and promoting care. Which of the above two ethical perspectives is more suitable for guiding ethical decision making in the context of public services. Explain your position with suitable examples.

Answered by 5 toppers · CSE 2024

Ethical TheoriesCivil Service ValuesDimensions of EthicsEmpathy and CompassionQuality of Service DeliveryEthical 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 320 words · 83% drew a diagram.

Opening

  • No separate opening67%
  • A definition17%
  • A quotation17%

Body

  • Points and prose83%
  • Points17%

Close

  • No separate close33%
  • A summary33%
  • A quotation17%
  • A source17%

The toppers’ answers

Divyank GuptaAIR 21 · CSE 2024 · 283 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening

Ethics can be categorised into various ways like Traditional and Care which guide human conduct.

Body · points and prose

Traditional Ethics helps in Ethical decisions

  1. Making a just society (Rawlsian Justice) (eg DPSP in Constitution)

  2. Motivate one to act fair (Kant's Categorical Imperative)

  3. Promote peace and harmony by abandoning hatred (eg Imam of Asansol asked people to not hate after son's death)

  4. Following transparency in delivery (Eg) RTI

  5. Following accountability in the system (Eg) Social Audit - MGNREGA

  6. Proper utilisation of public funds (Eg) Good financial management system

  7. Rewarding people for good delivery

Diagram
- Box: However it is limited due to - corruption (Eg) PDS - lack of Human Resources - Overdeveloped state (Hamza Alvi) - Moral Turpitude in officials

Therefore, it is important to ensure right delivery through transparency, including people in Governance so as to promote ethical Governance.

  1. Help in promoting probity in Governance (Eg) Mission Satyanishtha of railway.

Ethics of care helps in Guiding ethical decisions

  1. Promoting care ethics in society (Eg) Carol Gilligan
  2. Move from basic needs to needs of human love (Maslow hierarchy of Needs)
  3. Promote an administration and model which looks beyond basic Service (Eg) Palliative care in cancer
  4. Ensure that all people are given love (Eg) Donate a pension scheme for elderly.

Therefore a balance of both is required as it will ensure

Diagram
- Flowchart: ensures - Basic Goods are available to people - last mile outreach - love and care during tech era - warmth of human to all

As Aristotle said State survives due to goodness of people. Therefore tradition and care ethics should guide that combined.

Ans b) Quality in service delivery refers to how good is the service given by administration. It emphasises not just on service delivery but on factors like time taken, durability, grievance redressal etc.

Diagram
- Box: component of service Quality - Arrows pointing to: - citizen Charter - Timely delivery - Adjusted to needs of people. - last mile outreach - Standard - Grievance Redressal

Means for ensuring Quality in terms of efficiency, economy and effectiveness

  1. Following citizen charter before release of scheme (Eg Australia citizen charter)
  2. Following Grievance redressal for better delivery

Close · a quotation

None written.

More on Ethical Theories

A named framework used as a framework: consequentialism and utilitarianism, deontology and duty, virtue ethics, care ethics, and the tensions between them.

All GS4 questions on Ethical Theories