Ethics involves not only doing the right thing but also trying to understand why somebody has taken the wrong route
- Unfortunately, society follows two systems of morality. One is for the ordinary people, and we call it Public Morality. The other system is the Prime Morality under which nothing is right or wrong
Dr. Jernail S. Anand
Ethics is the science of conduct. It considers the actions of human beings with reference to their rightness or wrongness. The word “ethics” is derived from the Greek word ethos, which means “character”. Ethics deals with the principles of morality which a society has adopted. It deals with the idea of right and wrong. But, life is too complex, it cannot be divided into black and white because most of our life is lived in the grey, where what looks white to me is black for the other person. That is why, there is confusion of values which leads to fighting, and violence because everyone thinks he is in the right.
That is why, Ethics has a great take on Objectivity. Suppose someone has done any wrong to me, personally, I will be enraged and assault him. But, if my conduct is governed by ethical orientation, I will first look into if I have done anything wrong to him. I can try to talk to him also. And if he feels hurt over some of my remarks or actions, I can explain to him. So that, things get back to normal. Otherwise, it is a poisonous stream and it goes on enveloping others, and it ends both parties being in the civil hospital.
Read: What’s the Difference between Morality and Ethics?
Thus Ethics involves not only doing the right thing but also trying to understand why somebody has taken the wrong route. Not only that, it includes trying to bring him back to the world of morality.
Ethics is the practical aspect of goodness. It relates to Truthful Living. Guru Nanak Dev ji says: Sachon ure sabh ko, upper sach achar which means, truthful living is higher than even truth. He is talking of moral conduct.
3 R’s
Things actually go amiss when it comes to the teaching of young students. For centuries, we have been teaching A for Apple. Why A cannot suggest something else. Like Almighty. If C is for cat, why can’t it signify Compassion? Going further, we teach 3 R’s. Reading, Writing and Arithmetic. This is a highly physical conception of studies, at the cost of the metaphysical.
I suggest 4 Rs.
I suggest: Reading, Writing Arithmetic, and Raciocinatioin [Clear thinking]. Thinking has to be added to education. But, you know, we fill the mind of the student with so much information, that he has no time to sift it, and turn it into wisdom. What we teach is simply Information. At the most they get Knowledge. But no student moves beyond Knowledge into the realm of Wisdom. We are not a race which believes in Wisdom. In fact, our ancestors ate the fruit of the tree of Knowledge. Devil was interested in Knowledge. There was no tree for Wisdom. So, we are all bereft of essential wisdom, and we have no idea, how from Wisdom, Buddha landed in the realm of Light. But that is not our cup of tea.
Of ‘Sukh’ and ‘Khushi’ [Happiness and Pleasure]
‘Khushi’ [Pleasure] is joy which comes to you when you get things. ‘Sukh’ [happiness] comes to you when you give things.
But it is not easy to have such a thought process. All depends on: What you read/what you think/what you Say/What you do. A good act performed with an evil intention does not serve the purpose of morality. Gods judge you by your actions. Yes, but also by your intentions. If you are doing good, well, it will bring fruit only if your action is without any vested interest. Or if it is ‘detached’ [Nishkaam]. Good acts get tainted when they are done with a selfish motive.
Dilemma
Law is generally meant to safeguard the moral structure of a society. But sometimes, Law also fumbles and takes inhuman decisions which shatter the lives of men. Who are essentially good? Crime and Punishment is a great theme in Victor Hugo’s famous novel, ‘Les Miserables’. The hero, Jean Valjean is accused of stealing bread, for his hungry sister. He is convicted and converted into a hardened criminal. Was he wrong in stealing the bread? It is a monumental question of morality. Was the system not more criminal which made him suffer the pangs of starvation? And then, what about Law, did the law know anything more than a few clauses of the penal code? Sometimes it is difficult to accuse a person of moral misconduct. Jean Valjean did not deserve the punishment he got. There are hundreds of situations in which wrong and right overlap, and here, we have to apply our judgement, what is wrong and how much. Here we find layers or goodness and evil at work. What is more immoral and what is less immoral: we have to choose between such options.
Two Systems of Morality
Unfortunately, society follows two systems of morality. One is for the ordinary people, and we call it Public Morality. The other system is the Prime Morality under which nothing is right or wrong. Tam Sam Dand Bhed. [Everything is right in love and war]. The ordinary people who are convicted for minor crimes, see before their eyes, their leaders committing far bigger crimes, yet law enforcing machineries just turn their face away.
Professional Ethics
Study of Professional ethics has become necessary because literature has been removed from the studies. Literature has a moral edge. Without direct preaching, literature does the job of scriptures. But in our classes, the focus on ethics and moral science too is academic and clinical, not emotional involvement. Clinical means relating to testing of their memory, and passing them in an examination. It has nothing to do with a student’s emotional development into a kind and compassionate human being.
International Academy of Ethics has come up with a Handbook of Contemporary Ethics. The IAE has also developed an Ethical Alphabet. Balkavi Poetic Recitation sessions start from 1st January, 2025 to last all through the year weaving in thousands of students across the globe. A booklet of Ethical Alphabet is being brought out in different languages which will be available on kindle
Take Away
Professional ethics refers to the set of principles and values that guide the behaviour and decision-making of individuals in a particular profession or occupation. These ethics serve as a moral compass, ensuring that professionals conduct themselves with integrity, responsibility, and respect for others.
The focus is on:
– Honesty and transparency
– Objectivity and fairness
– Respect for confidentiality and privacy
– Accountability and reliability
– Continuous learning and improvement
– Respect for colleagues, clients, and the community
Professional ethics are essential in maintaining public trust, ensuring quality services, and promoting a positive reputation for the profession. They may be codified in codes of conduct, regulations, or laws, and are often enforced through professional organizations, licensing bodies, or legal entities.
By adhering to professional ethics, individuals demonstrate their commitment to upholding the highest standards of their profession, prioritizing the well-being of others, and contributing to the greater good.
Read: The Cultural Imbroglio and the Society under Transformation
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Dr. Jernail Singh Anand, President of the International Academy of Ethics, is author of 170 books in English poetry, fiction, non-fiction, philosophy and spirituality. He was awarded Charter of Morava, the great Award by Serbian Writers Association, Belgrade and his name was engraved on the Poets’ Rock in Serbia. The Academy of Arts and philosophical Sciences of Bari [Italy] has honoured him with the Seneca Award Laudis Charta. He was awarded Doctor of Philosophy [Honoris Causa] by the University of Engg and Management, Jaipur. He organized an International Conference on Contemporary Ethics at Chandigarh and another Interdisciplinary International Conference on Values, Culture and Ethics & World Poetry Conference VI at Pune [14-15 Oct. 2024]. His most phenomenal books are Lustus: The Prince of Darkness [first epic of the Mahakaal Trilogy] and Philosophia de Anand [a compilation of his ten works of philosophy]. Email: anandjs55@yahoo.com
Bibliography:
https://sites.google.com/view/bibliography-dr-jernal-singh/home
