General Studies, Paper-IV Test dated.30.11.2015
1.
You are working as BDO in a block. You came to know that the Panchayat/village
Development Officers, working under you administrative control, have been
drawing Pension under the National Old Age Pension Scheme, in the name of
deceased persons, by putting their own thumb impression in the pension
distribution register. As per law, whenever some pensioner dies, they must have
intimated you for suitable replacement within the village of the deceased.
How do you rectify the system? What
action will be taken against the VPO/VDO who had indulged in the illegal
activities mentioned above? [250 words]
Ans.
Once, I know the issue of fraud or embezzlement of funds meant for old age
people, my first action would be taking the possession of “Pension Distribution
Registers” from the Village Development Officers. I would not disclose my
information to the VDO and I will direct them to visit each and every
habitation and give the list of dead pensioners on government pension rolls. I
will also assign the same work to a trusted team of officials who work in
disguise and get the correct report on the living pensioners and existing
vacancies in all villages in a block. I will compare the lists submitted by the
VDOs and the trusted team. Once, the latest list is received and vacancies are
ascertained, first, I will send the proposals to the district administration
for sanctioning the pensions to eligible persons in place of the dead. I will
change the procedure of distribution of pensions henceforth. The VDOs have to
distribute pensions in the presence of local Sarpanch or other non-officials
and Self Help Groups. I will personally visit some villages to ascertain the
implementation of the scheme. The other alternative would be transferring the
money to the bank accounts of the pensioners or using biometric methods to
distribute pensions where the thumb impression of the pensioners have to be
identified by the machine for distributing the pension. Further, try to create
awareness among the rural people on the pensions and publish the list of
pensioners in the Gram Panchayat Office.
If the
allegations of embezzlement are proved in the above mentioned process, I will serve
Memos on them and take action as per appropriate disciplinary rules. The thumb
impressions done by them in the place of the dead will be used against them if
necessary.
[Note:
The issue which is asked in this query is process in dealing with the corruption
at grass root level and lack of supervision on the work of lower
functionaries.]
2.
“You are working as a BDO in a block. There are certain development works in
your block which are given on nomination basis by the local MLA to his party
functionaries. There have been vociferous demands from various quarters to pay
the “mobilization advance” to the
persons involved in the execution of the works. The local MLA has already spoke
to you on the issue and threatened to transfer you if you don’t pay the advances
immediately. There were instances, in your block that certain persons had taken
mobilization advances and not started the works which led to suspension of your
predecessor”.
What do you do in this situation? Will
you grant the advance to the concerned? Discuss. [250 words]
Ans.
In Panchyat Local bodies, the development works are not executed by
professional contractors, as the quantum of works are not big and the class-I
contractors are mostly based in cities. The political functionaries execute the
works with an intention to make huge money in small works and the local MLA
expects them to take care of local needs of party. In this backdrop, there
would be lot of pressure on the BDO for granting mobilization advance,
generally before starting of the work itself. Once they take advance, they will
spend it away on their domestic or party needs and it is the responsibility of
the BDO to get the work done. If the BDO insists on the work to be done as per
specifications, the person who has taken advance will himself gives news to
press that BDO has illegally granted mobilization advances without following
the procedure. The correct procedure would be giving advance on the basis of
certificate of value of work done issued by the Assistant or Junior Executive
Engineer. In this case, there were instances where the previous BDO was
suspended for giving mobilization advance without following the procedure.
The
person after getting mobilization advance shall expend it only for the work and
there is no system available with the BDO to ensure it, as such mobilization
advances is not authorized as per rules. Hence, in general no mobilization
advance would be granted and the said contractors would be advised to get their
work recorded in the M-book [Measurement Book] by the AEE or JE and take the
payment officially. Further, wherever the nominated contractors are poor and
not able to manage capital for doing the work, mobilization advance would be
granted @ 90% of the value of the work done as per the certificate of AEE. The
MLA would be apprised of this rule position and will be ready for transfer or
any such action, if the MLA would be resorted to thereafter.
3.
“You are District Collector went for inspection of a development work done in a
remote village which has been infested with the Maoists. The villagers informed
you that it would not be safe to go the site of the work, as the Maoist
movements are very frequent in the said area and it was told that the Maoists
are planning to abduct a politician or top beaurocrat, to execute their
agenda.”
What do you do in the situation? Give
reasons for your decision in 250 words?
Ans.
Before taking the decision whether to visit the development work site or not, I
will ascertain from the villagers discretely and also from the local Police whether
the information given by the villagers is true. If the information is true, I
would prefer not to visit the site for the following reasons
1. I don’t want to play into the hands of
Maoists. If I visit the site and get abducted by them, they will bargain my
head with the Government, for release of their comrades and other demands which
are unpalatable to any one of us.
2. The precious time of the Chief
Minister and whole state administration, which is meant for the welfare of the
public, required to be diverted for my release.
3. The purpose of visiting work site is
to ensure quality of work. I have other methods at my disposal for ensuring
standard of work. I will ask the contractor and engineers who record the work
in the Measurement Book to attach photos of the work, taken at different stages
of work.
4. If I’m not satisfied I have an option
to visit the site with full police force in a later date.
5. The people live happily in the village
under the impression that District administration will take care of them and if
they see District Collector under the siege of Maoists, there is a danger that
they may get scared of Maoists and lose the confidence in the Government.
On the
other hand, if the information given is under the influence of contractor, not
allowing me to visit the poor quality work, I will visit the work and take
rectification measures to ensure quality of work.
4.
“You are a young IPS officer posted in a district as a “Superintend of
Police”. There has been illegal
quarrying of granite for long time in the district and many of these illegal
miners are goons and some politicians. You have decided to end this menace. On
one of your visits to the sites, you have found a lorry is carrying a truck
load of granite mined illegally. You are
alone with your driver in the scene. There were instances in the district that
the illegal miners crushed some Government officers under the wheels of their
Lorries who tried to stop the vehicles”.
What course of action you take? Will
you stop the vehicle just by standing in the road? Discuss in 200 words.
Ans. I
will not stop the vehicle by standing on the road and instead take wiser steps in
dealing with the situation. This decision is based on the following reasons and
availability other better options.
1. It is general human psychology that
when in danger, either they fight or flee. The people involved in illegal
activities, in order to save their skin and also not to be caught by the
police/other government officers tend to behave extremely. They try to kill if
they have a choice and if they are dominated by the force, they surrender. I
don’t give them choice to kill me by standing on the road
2. I will note down the vehicle number
and other features of the vehicle and inform the nearest check post to stop the
vehicle. I will also direct the local police to guard the route and catch the
vehicle if they escape at check-post.
3. Instead of standing on the road and
stopping the lorry, I can shoot the driver or vehicle’s tyre, or both, as the
situation warrants, so that I can ensure the vehicle along with the driver at
the spot and meanwhile I will ask the police to reach the spot.
4. In both the methods described above, I
will get the case registered and take the details of real persons behind the
scene and get them arrested and taking the case to logical conclusion.
5. By standing on the road without
application of mind and allowing the vehicle to crush and go, I will be not
only killing myself and also downing the morale of sincere officers and force
in the Department. By the method described above, we can the book the illegal
miners and also boost the morale of the force working with me in the district.
5.
There has been long history of food adulteration is India. But, of late, the
nature of adulteration has reached alarming proportions where the artificial
food products are being made with dangerous chemicals which have debilitating
effect on the health of the people. For instance, black pepper is made from the
seeds of papaya by adding, dangerous chemicals to them. You are working as a police commissioner is a
city, where an adulteration mafia is operating for several years with the
active support of local Minister and Health and Sanitation Department. The local Minister has a share in this
illegal business. Further, he is a powerful and vengeful man who can make your
life miserable and may not hesitate to take action on you and your personnel if
this illegal business is touched.
The
local media has been publishing news on this mafia and recently one informant
approached you to give credible information on the network of the adulteration
mafia and their network, under the condition of anonymity.
Knowing the effect of the products
marketed by the mafia under different names, on the health of the people and
also knowing the clout of the local Minister, what course of action you take
with the credible information in your hand? What measures you take to ensure
the safety of your personnel and how you secure the anonymity of informant?
[250 words]
Ans.
The information received by me through informant is very important and gives full
details of the network of the mafia and their operations. Being son of this
country and also in a responsible position, I have only one choice to take
action on the adulteration mafia.
I will
make two teams with the best and practical officers and officials. I will share
the information received from the informant as if I have observed the same from
news papers and other media reports, without intimating them about informant. By
this method, I have shared the information required with my teams and saved the
informant, by removing from the picture. I advice the teams to arrest the main
persons in the mafia and put them behind bars and speed up investigation for
swift and strict action on these people.
I will use the media to go to
politician and ask for his comments on his involvement in the racket. He would
surely disown the transaction and there is much likely hood that he may not
involve himself directly in the matter. Meanwhile I would appraise the state
Director General of Police on the circumstances leading to the arrests of
adulteration mafia. Just by sumo-to exposing the powerful Minister through
media, the counter-action from him on me and my police would be neutralized to
a great extent. If at all, he would be able to get me transferred out of the
charge, I would be least bothered as getting transfer is part of the job and I
have done my part to save the people from the adulteration. Further, my
personnel are safe, because I own up action taken on the mafia, as a part of
the duty and as authorizing officer.
6.
In a district, four Dt. Collectors have been transferred for their refusal to
make payment to a contract work involving the clay-bunding of a local river to
the tune of Rs.9.5 crores. The contract was duly sanctioned by the state
Government. But the work has been executed by the local and powerful Minister,
through his benamis. There are
allegations that not even 20% of the work is done, but total work has been
recorded by the engineers, surely under the threat of the Minister. The four district collectors, who were shifted
out of district in quick succession for their refusal to make this payment,
feared that they have to face career related problems they clear the bill. They
refused to make the payment, in spite of big bribes offered to them by the benamis of the Minister.
You
are working as a district collector in a remote district in a state where no
proper facilities are available. You got an offer though you chief secretary to
go the district referred above & the CS briefed you about the problem &
you yourself aware of the transfer to your colleagues on the issue.
Will you accept the offer of transfer?
Will you make the payment? What course you take in the matter? [Reply in 250
words]
Ans.
The chief secretary, knowing my competence in dealing with the complicated
people and things, has offered me this problem which my 4 colleagues scared of
finding solution. I never bothered about my place of posting and no issues in
continuing the same place. Hence, my decision to take the new assignment has no
link to my current posting in remote location. Coming to acceptance of offer of
transfer, no government servant has a choice of posting. They should be ready for
transfer anywhere as required by the Government. Hence, I accept the transfer
to the new place.
In this case, work has been duly sanctioned by
the Government and there is no doubt that payment shall be given to the
contractor. I don’t bother who is the contractor and I see only whether work
has been executed as per the terms of the contract. The first action, I would
undertake is visit to the site and gather the information on the quality of
work and impression of the people. If I get any doubt on the work, I will
officially visit the site and ask the engineers to recheck their measurements
and demand photos taken while executing work in different stages. If necessary,
I will request the quality control wing to visit the work and give me report.
If work is not done properly, I will ensure the standard of the work and make
payment to the extent of work done, not more and not less. The quantum of money
and name of the person who has done the work is not important, but only whether
works done or not as per the agreement.
7.
Your roommate who is also preparing for civil services exam services exam for
past six years keeps telling you that he has lost zeal to serve public and his
only motive to getting into IAS is to make money and enjoy power. Even though
he made it into personality test stage four times in a row, he has not got any
rank till now. He thinks he cannot go back to his previous lucrative job as his
ego is not permitting him to go. Moreover he is skeptical that the company
might hire him for lesser salary that what he used to earn earlier. He is
confident of clearing this exam in his next attempt. As far as you know him, he
was very motivated to serve people in the early days of exam preparation. He
used to talk about helping weaker sections as an IAS officer. He is to motivate
you to put interest of the public before anything else. But, now his tone has
reversed. He wants to marry a rich girl, preferably a daughter of a powerful
politician. He also wants to venture into business after making lots of money
in IAS. There is clear chance of him getting selected into civil services as he
seems to have corrected all his previous mistakes that he had committed in the
exam.
What options do you have in this case?
Examine their merits and demerits, and choose the best course of action [250
words]
Topic: Public/Civil service values and
Ethics in Public administration]
Ans. Having seen my friend for long years of co-preparation, I will try
to find out the main reason for his reversal of attitude. If I address that
core issue, I will be able to solve the dilemmas faced by him and bring him
back on right track.
The civil services is a surely a means to reach out to the poor,
especially the poorer sections of the society such as Scheduled Castes,
Scheduled tribes and other backward classes. The officers of IAS have several
avenues at their disposal to bring deserving people out of poverty and make
them live a dignified life. I will explain him the consequences of marrying a
rich girl from a family of politician will not give him happiness and he would
be always considered as secondary citizen, given his family background. On the
other hand, if he marries in a middle class family, he would enjoy lot of respect
for life, without making any illegal money.
I will explain him the consequences of corruption. It is the history
that nobody has been happy whose prime motive is to make money illegally. The
real happiness comes from the good deeds or service done, not by earning
tainted money. The wetness in the eyes of the beneficiaries is the real award
for the officer, rather than the wealth acquired. I will also apprise him the
dangers of breaching the trust held by Government of India on him and effects
of action from the anti-corruption agencies.
I would advice my friend that several aspirants could not clear the
personality test of the UPSC who had this kind of negative aim of using civil
services for gaining wealth. I will guide him to leave these day dreams of
marrying the daughter of a politician and making money in IAS for venturing
into a flourishing business. I will also tell him the money earned easily would
be lost cheaply, but the money earned by hard work would give long lasting
happiness. The best course before him is
to prepare sincerely for the exam with the precious thoughts of service he had
earlier or leave the IAS aim and start the business right now. If his prime aim
is to make money, the best course is to start the business where he can earn
legally. There is no need to waste precious time in going through the UPSC and
getting IAS and then going for the business.
8.
Recently your wife’s gold bangle was stolen from your bedroom. Apart from maid
who daily works from morning to afternoon, only, your wife and your 18 year old
son live in your home. Your son is a school drop-out and goes to acting and
dance classes to fulfill his ambition to become an actor. You suspect him of
stealing the bangle, whereas your wife suspects maid even though she has been
working in your home for past ten years. In your absence, your wife confronts
the maid and accuses her of breaching trust. She asks her to give back the
bangle and threatens to file police complaint against her. The maid pleads not
guilty and days that she has not stolen anything in last ten years and she
would never do such things despite being very poor. From the next day maid
stops coming to your home. You find out that, as expected, your son had stolen
the bangle to pay fee for a dance class. He had done after you had refused to
pay his fees. Knowing this, your wife feels bad about the maid. She tries to
reach the maid, but later learns from another maid that she has left the town
with her blind son.
Which values are
lacking in your family in the above case? Knowing that your son had stolen,
what will you do now? Critically discuss. [250 words]
Tolerance
and compassion towards weaker sections and values in family]
Ans. The values of mutual
trust and respect for the aspirations of the others are lacking in my family. I
don’t like my son’s views on his life and my wife has blind love on my son. My
son is a school dropout and has an ambition of becoming a movie actor which I
don’t like. Since, he is not toeing my line, I’m not paying his fees for dance
classes. I must have respected his passion for acting and must have encouraged
him in that field. Had I given money to him for his dance classes, he must not
have stolen my wife’s bangle. Lack of values in family and my wife’s blind love
on my son, has caused extreme suffering to the honest maid who was living happy
and honest life with her blind son. We must say her sorry and bring her back to
the city.
My son had stolen my wife’s
bangle, once I refused to pay his fees for a dance class. I feel guilty for the
theft committed by my son and suffering caused to the honest maid. Had I
trusted my son and his ambition and paid fees for him, he must not have stolen.
He was forced to steal by me. Hence, I will correct myself first and start
respecting my son’s ambition. I will encourage him in his chosen field and pay
all the fees and give him money for his expenses. I will also explain him the
consequences of breaching the trust by a family member and the suffering caused
to an innocent maid due to his stealing of a bangle and request him never to
repeat such things in future.
[Topic: Ethical issues in private life]
Ans. The situation which I’m in is very complex and throws up many
ethical issues, besides medical and social issues. I have great respect for my
husband who has been all along supportive and encouraged me in my career
growth. I myself know that it is not ethical to go for foeticide. At the same
time, I’m not medically fit to carry and give birth to a child. If something
happens to me in the process, my kids and my husband would become motherless
and wifeless respectively. My career graph is also going very smoothly and I
don’t want any breaks in that. Further, the pregnancy is just in third week,
there are no problematic issues to go for abortion. In view of these facts, I
will go for abortion.
I don’t agree with my husband that I’m giving preference to profession
over family life. I will explain him that career options and growth doesn’t
mean that I don’t have preference for family. He has been taking care of kids
because he was better positioned to do so. Like my husband, I also love kids,
but my medical condition would not allow me to carry and give birth to a baby. My
husband has right to accuse me because he took care of the kids and never
blamed me for not bearing children before I gave birth to twins. He is fond of
children, but he loves me too, albeit more than what he loves the kids. I will
convince my husband by properly appraising my medical condition and prospects
of career progression vis-à-vis continuation of pregnancy. The abortion would
be done with his approval.
What will you do?
Justify. (250 Words) [Ethical concerns and dilemmas
in government and private institutions]
Ans. I
will go the spot to resolve the issue, by taking the directions of the CM and
warning of the SP in view. The directions of the CM are binding on me, as they
are legal and the warning of the SP need to be addressed to.
When,
I start from my headquarters, I will first ascertain the strength of the mob
from the SP on the spot and accordingly direct the reserve SP to send required
number of armed guards to the spot discretely. I will also call the local
revenue officials with relevant details of quarry leases granted in the area. I
will inform the SP on the spot to take the situation into his control on the
one hand by informing the mob that DC is coming to the spot and on the other
hand with the help of armed guards who had reached the spot. Having created congenial
atmosphere for talks, I will reach the spot now.
I will
listen to the mob and ask them to show the license granted to them by the
competent authority for quarrying the granite. If they have legal license and
the quarrying is legal, I will let them go with their lorry and instruct the
local police and revenue authorities not to harass legally quarries. If I found
the quarrying is illegal, I will ask the SP to seize the lorry and arrest the
mob for their illegal quarry under the relevant provisions of law. I will
intimate the issue to the CMs office and vacate the scene.
Additional two questions:
Q.11. Is it morally
wrong if a beggar steals food from a shop that is making loss to feed a hungry
baby?
What are criticisms
made against utilitarian approach? Discuss. [250 words]
Ans.
Utilitarianism is an ethical philosophy
in which the happiness of the greatest number of people in the society is
considered the greatest good. According to this philosophy, an action is
morally right if its consequences
lead to happiness (absence of
pain), and wrong if it ends in unhappiness (pain).
In the instant case, food is the requirement
of all living human beings whether a beggar or a baby. According to Utilitarian
approach, the action of stealing by the beggar is right as it gives him
happiness. But morally it is wrong to steal food from shop which is meant for
the hungry baby.
The utilitarian approach
has been criticized on the grounds of Fair and Justice, Personal Integrity,
nature of demanding too much and taking promises too seriously.
1. Fair and Justice
Under
utilitarianism, the beggar has right to steal as stealing of food benefit him.
But there is no fairness in stealing from somebody’s shop and that to the food
meant for a hungry baby. The right of the baby to have a food has been taken
away by the beggar. Therefore, the theory of utilitarianism defies the fairness
and justice.
2. Personal integrity:
There
would be lot of difference between what we ourselves do in a situation and what
we expect from others in similar situation. In this case, the beggar never
bothers about the needs of others and just steals the food for his benefit. If
he is on other side of the table, he expects that the food should go to baby
only. Thus, the utilitarianism is not conforming to the integrity part of
morality
3. Utilitarianism demands too much:
The
utilitarianism hardly accommodates our personal projects, desires, values and
commitments. According to the utilitarianism, the baby’s suffering has no
meaning as the action of the beggar is benefiting him. It demands too much from
the hungry baby as it has to starve and the total benefit has been enjoyed by
the beggar thief.
4. Taking Promises too seriously:
Yet
another common criticism of utilitarianism is that it does not take promises
seriously. But it is morally incorrect in not keeping the promises made to
somebody. For instance, the beggar should suppose not to steal from the shop.
It is his duty to beg, but not to steal from any shop. This stealing correct as
per utilitarianism and but morally wrong.
[Additional
information:
What is utilitarianism?
An ethical philosophy in which the
happiness of the greatest number of people in the society is considered the
greatest good. According to this philosophy, an action is morally right if its consequences lead to happiness (absence of pain), and
wrong if it ends in unhappiness (pain).
Since the
link between actions and their happy or unhappy outcomes
depends on the circumstances, no moral principles
absolute or necessary in itself under utilitarianism. Proposed by the English
philosopher-reformer Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) in his 1789 book Principles of
Morals and Legislation and it was
developed by the English
philosopher-economist John Stuart Mill (1806-73)
in his 1863 book Utilitarianism.
[It is the doctrine
that actions are right if they are useful or for the benefit of a majority. The
doctrine that an action is right in so far as it promotes happiness, and that
the greatest happiness of the greatest number should be the guiding principle
of conduct.]
Criticism
against the Utilitarian approach:
The utilitarian approach has been criticized on the grounds of Fair and
Justice, Personal Integrity, nature of demanding too much and taking promises
too seriously.
1. Fair and
Justice
Under utilitarianism, the rights of an
individual are less important than the good for the many. It is morally wrong
to take away the right of individuals on the ground of promoting happiness in
the greater number of people. The following case studies illustrates the same
principle.
Case 1: The Fat Man in the lift:
If utilitarianism is true, the people
in the lift ask the fat man to go out of lift, so that 3 persons can go in the
lift, despite being the fact that the fat man has entered the lift first. Here,
throwing fat man out of lift making 3 people happy at the cost of the single
man which is morally wrong. This is not done in general. Therefore,
utilitarianism is not true.
Case 2: The Magistrate and the Mob:
If utilitarianism is true, then the
execution of the homeless man was morally right. The execution of the homeless
man was not morally right. It is the duty of the Government or other fellow
citizens allow him to live in some place of his choice or provide him a house.
Case 3: The Organ Harvest:
If utilitarianism is true, then the
doctor’s act of killing the ward boy for his organs was morally right. The
doctor’s act of killing the ward boy for his organs was not morally right,
though it may help several people to get their required organs.
Therefore, utilitarianism is not true.
The other examples that defies utilitarianism
are-bombing civilian targets in a war, torturing innocent civilians in order to
catch a mass murderer or stop a terrorist threat etc.
2. Personal
integrity:
There would be lot of difference
between what we ourselves do in a situation and what we only allow to happen.
Case study 1: Suppose an executive in
a hurry to reach his destination for attending a seminar in his office which is
being attended by several dignitaries sees someone who has been in a motorcycle
accident and badly needs help. It doesn’t seem like much of an excuse to simply
say, “oh well, if the biker dies, it’s not my fault. I didn’t do it, I’m just
allowing it to happen”. If the executive himself met with a similar accident,
he expects somebody should take him to hospital for care. It is not morally
right in leaving the person accident and going to office for giving seminar,
but utilitarianism justifies it on the ground of making more people happy
rather helping a single individual.
Case study 2: If a terrorist group
abducts 30 people and tells them if any two of them fight among themselves and
die, then they will release other 28 abductees. This proposition is allowed by
utilitarianism. Killing two persons is not morally correct, albeit for the
benefit of remaining members.
3. Utilitarianism
demands too much:
Can utilitarianism accommodate our
personal projects, desires, values and commitments?
Case 1: Krishnan and the Weapons Job: Krishnan is morally opposed to
chemical weapons. But he is considering taking a job making chemical weapons,
knowing that if he does not, someone else will, and will probably make the
weapons worse than he would. If utilitarianism is true, then Krishnan is
morally obligated to take the weapons job. Krishnan is not morally obligated to
take the weapons job. Therefore, utilitarianism is not true.
Case study 2: Simon and his Mother. Simon’s mother is feeling really
lonely and would like Simon to come and spend the day with her. Simon, an
engineer, had planned on using the day to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity.
By volunteering, since he would be helping a whole family for the rest of their
lives, rather than cheering up his mother for simply one day.
If utilitarianism is true, then it
would be morally wrong for Simon to visit his mother rather than volunteer. It
is not morally wrong for Simon to visit his mother rather than volunteer. Therefore,
utilitarianism is not true.
Case 3: Sarala and the car:
Sarala, a middle class girl in India
has been a dream of owning a car. She has been working for a private company
and in the morning and evening hours, she conducts tuitions for the school
students to get extra money. She saves all her money, rarely goes out, until
she has Rs.2 lakh. On her way to the used car dealership, she reads about a
devastating flood in Chennai that has left several dead, wounded and homeless.
If utilitarianism is true, then it would be morally wrong for Sarala to buy a
car rather than give the money to the relief effort. It is not morally wrong
for Sarala to buy a car rather than give the money to the relief effort.
Therefore, utilitarianism is not true.
5. Possible utilitarian responses
a) Being moral simply does require
a lot from people.
- No one said it was easy.
- If people don’t like it, that’s just
too darn bad.
b) Again, utilitarians can make a
distinction between acting wrongly, and acting in a way that is worthy
of punishment. - accept that a lot of the time people put their own interests,
commitments and relationships first - realize that this is inevitable and not
try to punish people for this, or try to force everyone to be moral all the
time - probably enforcing morality or punishing wrongdoers itself would create
far more unhappiness than happiness
4.
Taking Promises too seriously:
1. Yet another common criticism of
utilitarianism is that it
does not take promises seriously
2. Case 1: Susan and Her Mother:
On her deathbed, Susan’s mother asked Susan to deliver a fresh bouquet
of flowers to her gravesite twice a year. After her death,
Susan blows off the request, since it
simply wastes time and money on flowers that her mother can no longer enjoy.
If utilitarianism is true, then
Susan’s act of blowing off her promise to her mother is morally right.
Susan’s act of blowing off her promise
to her mother is not morally right.
Therefore, utilitarianism is not true
Case 2: Angelika’s Promiscuity: David and Angelika are recently
married people who have promised to be faithful to each other. David is a
member of the Navy who has been sent away on a yearlong mission in a submarine.
Angelika misses their physical intimacy, and as a substitute has secret sexual
affairs with willing college students who aren’t looking for long term
relationships. No one else knows about her dalliances, and David never finds
out.
If utilitarianism is true, then
Angelika’s acts of cheating on her husband are morally right.
Angelika’s acts of cheating on her
husband are not morally right. Therefore, utilitarianism is not true.
4. Do utilitarians have a response to
worries about promises?
a) Utilitarianism can explain why in
most cases we should fulfill promises.
- it upsets people to break promises;
destroys important bonds of trust
b) Can accept that when it does more
harm to keep a promise than break it, it is morally right to break it. - Surely
there are cases where promises should be broken]
Q.12.
If an action of an individual is illegal but ethical, will you punish the
individual provided you have power to punish. Justify. [250 Words]
Ans. Ethics are bundle of morals
evolved by the members of society over a period of time and the legality is
conforming to the provisions of the codified statutes such as Indian Penal
Code, Criminal procedure code etc.
For instance, a 10 years old boy is working in
a hazardous industry, to feed his ailing parents who are not in a position to
work. Here, it is illegal to send any child below 14 years to work under law,
but on the other hand, it is the duty of the son or daughter to feed the family
at the need of crisis. Punishing the parents in this case is not warranted,
though power to punish vested with me. On the other hand, if the parents are
sending, though they are in a position to work, action to be taken against
them, albeit after proper counseling.
Let us take one more example. The
doctor who has been treating a patient for longtime certified that the pain of
the terminally ill patient is unbearable and there is no possibility of his
survival. The patient and family members are requesting the doctor to assist
the patient for quiet death. Knowing the pain and history of the patient, the
doctor assisted patient’s death, on humanitarian grounds. Here also there is no
meaning in punishing the doctor, though he has committed an illegal act. If the
doctor has assisted death with a motive to get organs, sure and swift action to
be taken against him.
The motive behind the action should be
the guiding principle for awarding punishment. The actions which are done on
ethical grounds require separate treatment than the actions done with ulterior motive.
Note: The views expressed by the author are his personal,
not that of GOI.
*****
Dear
Friends,
I
hope you must have prepared well for the ensuing CSM on 18th of this
month. The above questions and answers may help you in your endeavor. I regret
the delay, but it was un-avoidable. It may not be out of place to give you some
small tips for scoring well in the Main examination
ü
Write
legible and reasonably good/simple English
ü
Read
and understand the question properly, before starting your answer.
ü
Don’t
write whatever you know and write only what examiner expected from you. If you
know only 30% answer, write that only. Don’t try to fill the gap with some
unnecessary stuff. This will not fetch you marks, but instead create an
impression in the mind of a valuer that you are a non-serious candidate. The
time saved here can be used elsewhere
ü
Use
facts and figures in your answer to add weight to your answer. For example, if
any question on women empowerment, you should quote literacy and employment
among women, percentage of women legislators in India etc.
ü
Wherever
possible use flow charts, diagrams etc. as value additions to your answer
ü
Write
the answer with passion. General questions appears to be dry, by add juice to
the answer, by adding facts, figures, flow charts etc. as described supra.
With
these few words, I wish you best of luck...God bless you...
Yours friendly
B.
Yadagiri, IRS.,
Mumbai.
