Values & Ethics

Key Points

Introduction to Values & Ethics

Values:

A value is a belief that something is good and worthwhile. It defines what is worth having and worth
striving.
Values are general conceptions of the good, ideas about the kind of ends that people should pursue
throughout their lives and throughout the many different activities in which they engage.
Value from the Latin valere: to be strong, to be worth. Values are feelings and convictions
regarding what is of strong worth (i.e. important) to us in what we think, say or do
Values form the basis for all our thoughts, behaviors and actions. Once we know what is valuable to us,
these values become the basis, the anchor for our actions.
Humans have the unique ability to define their identity, choose their values and establish their beliefs. All
three of these directly influence a persons behavior. Values are the scales we use to weigh our choices
for our actions, whether to move towards or away from something.
The five core human values are: 1. Right Conduct: e.g. modesty, self-reliance, good behavior, helpfulness,
courage, duty, efficiency, punctuality 2. Peace: e.g. Attention, calmness, equality, self-control, patience,
optimism, tolerance,understanding etc... 3. Truth: Accuracy, fairness, honesty, justice, integrity etc.. 4.
Love: Affection, care, compassion, consideration, gentleness, sacrifice, service, sharing, sympathy,
friendship, humanness, empathy, generosity, trust, etc.., 5. Non-violence: Forgiveness, morality,
brotherhood, national awareness, respect for property etc.

Ethics:

The term 'Ethics' comes from the Greek word 'ethos', which means 'character'.
Ethics concerns with the moral behavior of humans.
Ethics are the set of moral principles that guide a person's behavior. These morals are shaped by social
norms, cultural practices, and religious influences. Ethics reflect beliefs about what is right, what is wrong,
what is just, what is unjust, what is good, and what is bad in terms of human behavior.
They serve as a compass to direct how people should behave toward each other, understand and fulfill
their obligations to society, and live their lives.
Ethics is the word that refers to morals, values and beliefs of the individuals, family and society. The word
has several meanings. Ethics refer to particular set of beliefs, attitudes, and habits of individuals or family
or groups concerned with morals.
We each need both a personal code of ethics plus knowledge of the code of ethics that applies when we
join a group or community or organization. These will not always be in alignment and indeed part of our
joining a group will be based on how different our ethics and values are from those of any group or
organization or community we are considering joining.
Ethics are a universal consideration and binding principle that every person in that group must fall under
for that ethical structure to work and more importantly, to be seen to work.
Ethics is concerned with human actions, and the choice of those actions. Ethics evaluates those actions,
and the values that underlies them. It determines which values should be pursued, and which shouldn't.
Ethics is a code of values.
 Values & Ethics
Key Points

Types of Values

Universal Values:

A value is a universal value if it has the same value or worth for all, or almost all, people. Universal values
are applicable to all the human beings irrespective of cast, creed, nationalities, religion, etc., for all time
and regions.
Peace, Be Responsible, Humility, Simplicity, Cooperation, Happiness, Freedom, Tolerance, Love

Personal Values:

Success, Friendship, Power, Justice, Honesty, Peace, Loyalty, Family, Wisdom, Courtesy, Freedom

Social Values:

Social Values form an important part of the culture of the society. Values account for the stability of social
order. They provide the general guidelines for social conduct.
Values such as fundamental rights, patriotism, respect for human dignity, rationality, sacrifice,
individuality, equality, democracy etc. guide our behaviour in many ways. Values are the criteria people
use in assessing their daily lives; arrange their priorities and choosing between alternative course of
action.

Civic Values:

Civic Values are the values we learn to respect as citizens, as set forth in the Declaration of Independence
and the Preamble to the Constitution. All people are created equal. We're endowed with inalienable
rights--life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Civic responsibility can also include helping promote community activities, encouraging corporate giving
to help the community, working to register voters, advocating for the needy, obeying all laws and
behaving in an ethical manner.
Activities that fulfil civic responsibilities typically fall under the categories of respecting laws but
dissenting when necessary, establishing balance between the responsibilities and rights of citizens,
addressing social problems, working to include all citizens in the democratic process, questioning
government, using community resources wisely, and negotiating differences among citizens.

Democratic Values:

Democracy is all about being able to make informed choices. For example, if there are three political
parties in an election, you make a choice from the individual candidates, and/or from the programmes
and positions of the parties they represent.
Life, Liberty, Pursuit of Happiness, Common Good, Justice, Equality, Diversity, Patriotism
 Values & Ethics
Key Points
Applied Ethics
Code of Ethics:
A code of ethics is a guide of principles designed to help people conduct business/daily acts with honestly
and accountability.

Universal Code of Ethics:

The Universal Code is a list of fundamental moral principles that can be found throughout the world.
The code incorporates basic, universal ideas about how we should live and how we should treat each
other.

DO NO HARM.
Do not do to others what you would not like them to do to you.
Do not lie.
Do not steal.
Do not cheat.
Do not falsely accuse others.
Do not commit adultery.
Do not commit incest.
Do not physically or verbally abuse others.
Do not murder.
Do not destroy the natural environment upon which all life depends.

DO GOOD
Do to others what you would like them to do to you.
Be honest and fair.
Be generous.
Be faithful to your family and friends.
Take care of your children when they are young.
Take care of your parents when they are old.
Take care of those who cannot take care of themselves.
Be kind to strangers.
Respect all life.
Protect the natural environment upon which all life depends.

Professional Ethics:

Professional ethics encompass the personal, organizational, and corporate standards of behavior expected of
professionals. One of the earliest examples of professional ethics is the oath to which medical doctors still
adhere to this day. Typically these include:

Honesty
Transparency
Accountability
Confidentiality
Objectivity
Respectfulness
Obedience to the law
Loyalty
Following are ten golden rules to being professional in service to your organization:

Always strive for excellence

Be trustworthy
Be accountable
Be courteous and respectful
Be honest, open and transparent
Be competent and improve continually
Always be ethical
Be respectful of confidentiality
Set good examples

Organization Ethics:
The way an organization should respond to external environment refers to organization ethics. Every
organization runs to earn profits but how it makes money is more important. No organization should
depend on unfair means to earn money. One must understand that money is not the only important
thing; pride and honour are more important.
Primarily it is the individual, the consumer, the employee or the human social unit of the society who
benefits from ethics. In addition ethics is important because of the following:
Satisfying Basic Human Needs
Creating Credibility
Uniting People and Leadership
Improving Decision Making
Long Term Gains
Securing the Society
Uniform Treatment
Social Responsibility

Ethical Leadership:

Ethical leadership is leadership that is directed by respect for ethical beliefs and values and for the dignity
and rights of others. It is thus related to concepts such as trust, honesty, consideration, charisma and
fairness. Here are 10 ethical leadership characteristics:
Justice
Respect others
Honesty
Humane
Focus on teambuilding
Value driven decision-making
Encourages initiative
Leadership by example
Values awareness
No tolerance for ethical violations

Ethical Leaders:
Lord Krishna
Mahatma Gandhi
Swami Vivekananda
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
Sardar Patel
 Values & Ethics
Key Points
Global Issues
Global Ethics & Human Values allows us to study the urgent ethical issues of our globalizing world including
climate change, war, terrorism, poverty, inequality, trade, justice and human rights. According to the Report of
the UN Secretary Generals High Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change there are following security
threats to the world:
Economic and social threats, including poverty, infectious disease and environmental degradation.
Inter-State conflict.
Internal conflict, including civil war, genocide and other large scale atrocities.
Nuclear, radiological, chemical and biological weapons.
Terrorism.
Transnational organized crime
Issue Ethical Issue Involved
Climate Change Exploitation of resources; luxurious life style; differentiated
responsibility; Sustainable development.
Terrorism Deprivation; clash of civilizations; identity; moral superiority;
tolerance; injustice, Inequality.
Poverty socio-economic inequalities, insensitivity.
Financial Instability Greed
Disarmment Morality of nuclear weapons, nonviolence
Organised crime, drugs, Greed, Utter Insensibility
human trafficking
Competition over resources Selfishness, Greed

Global Citizen Values:

Political, economic and humanitarian values: human rights , environmental protection, sustainable
development, gender equity, religious pluralism, digital access, poverty alleviation and, reduction of
resource inequalities, global peace and justice
Social, cultural and behavioral values: love , peace, nonviolence, compassion, service & caring for others,
forgiveness, tolerance, patience, joy

Global citizenship rights: Individual liberty, equality, Equity, digital access rights, environmental rights

Global citizenship responsibilities:

Responsibility to understand ones own perspective and the perspectives of others on global
issues
Responsibility to respect the principle of cultural diversity
Responsibilities to make connections and build relationships with people from other countries and
cultures
Responsibilities to understand the ways in which the peoples and countries of the world are inter-
connected and inter-dependent
Responsibilities to understand global issues
Responsibilities to advocate for greater international cooperation with other nations
Responsibility for advocating for the implementation of international agreements, conventions,
treaties related to global issues