Values and Ethics - Key Definitions Notes
Values and Ethics - Key Definitions Notes
An Intrinsic value is one which has worth in its own right. It is an end-in-
itself. Truth,Beauty,Goodness,Courage etc are considered as intrinsic values and are good not because
of their consequences but because they are good in themselves. They are also called Absolute values.
ex: Beauty, Goodness, Kindness etc
Other names for intrinsic value are terminal value, essential value, principle value, or ultimate
importance.
Terminal values are the goals that a person would like to achieve during his or her lifetime. They
signify the final goals and objectives of a life of a person, and they are his/her destination. Therefore,
they are also referred to as the end-state of existence. Terminal values are the highest values in a
person’s value system. Therefore, they are very important. These values are shared by a group as a
whole. Examples of Terminal Values
1. A world at peace (free of war and conflict) 11. A Sense of accomplishment (a lasting
2. Family security (taking care of loved ones) contribution)
3. Freedom (independence, free choice) 12. A World of beauty (beauty of nature and the
4. Equality (brotherhood, equal opportunity for arts)
all) 13. A Comfortable life (a prosperous life)
5. Self-respect (self-esteem) 14. An Exciting life (a stimulating active life)
6. Happiness (contentedness) 15. Social recognition (respect, admiration)
7. Wisdom (a mature understanding of life) 16. Mature love (sexual and spiritual intimacy)
8. National security (protection from attack) 17. Inner harmony (freedom from inner conflict)
9. True friendship (close companionship) 18. Pleasure (an enjoyable leisurely life)
10. Salvation (saved eternal life)
Extrinsic value is one which is a means to some other value. It is of instrumental worth only.
Action or expectations are used as 'conditions' or "means' for the attainment of ends."
A pair of spectacles is good only if there are eyes behind spectacles to see through them. The
spectacles have instrumental value. Extrinsic value is also called as instrumental value and are the part
of the larger whole. They are the means to an end. ex: wealth, fame, physical fitness etc
Instrumental values are modes of behaviour in achieving the terminal values. These values are used
often in the day to day lives. These values lead to conflicts since they differ within a group. Generally,
these values show ways an individual would follow to achieve the aims in his life. Examples of
Instrumental Values
1. Cheerful (light-hearted, joyful) 10. Intellectual (intelligent, reflective)
2. Love (affectionate,tender) 11. Broad-Minded (open-minded)
3. Honest (sincere, truthful) 12. Logical (consistent, rational)
4. Self-Control (restrained, self-discipline) 13. Courageous (standing up for your beliefs)
5. Capable (competent, effective) 14. Obedient (dutiful, respectful)
6. Ambitious (hard-working, aspiring) 15. Helpful (working for the welfare of others)
7. Polite (courteous, well mannered) 16. Responsible (dependable, reliable)
8. Imaginative (daring,creative) 17. Clean (neat, tidy)
9. Independent (self-reliant, self-sufficient) 18. Forgiving (willing to pardon others)
Terminal values are the goals in life that are desirable states of existence. Examples of terminal values
include family security, freedom, and equality. Examples of instrumental values include being honest,
independent, intellectual, and logical.
How to write a case study for ethics?
there are about 12 ethical principles: honesty, fairness, leadership, integrity, compassion, respect,
responsibility, loyalty, law-abiding, transparency, and environmental concerns.
13 codes of ethics?
While your character is determined and defined by your actions (i.e., whether your actions are
honorable and ethical according to the 12 ethical principles:
1. HONESTY. Be honest in all communications and actions. ...
2. INTEGRITY.
3. PROMISE-KEEPING.
4. LOYALTY. ...
5. FAIRNESS. ...
6. CARING.
7. RESPECT FOR OTHERS.
8. LAW ABIDING.
9. LEADERSHIP.
10. COMPASSION. .
11. ACCOUNTABILITY
12. TRANSPARENCY
13. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSCIOUSNESS
Values
The Five Types of Values
The five value elements.
1) Personal value is the essence of why individual learning has so much merit. ...
2) Tangible value is the value language of business! ...
3) Emotional value, is like a sprinkling of magical fairy dust. ...
4) Service Value! ...
5) Relationship value is the ace card.
Characteristics of Values
Values are personal.
Our actions point to what we really value.
Our values give us our perception of the world.
Inconsistent behaviour may indicate and absence of values.
Values change as experiences change.
What are the concepts of values?
Values are individual beliefs that motivate people to act one way or another. They serve as a guide for
human behaviour. Generally, people are predisposed to adopt the values that they are raised with.
People also tend to believe that those values are “right” because they are the values of their
particular culture. Thus, values are collective conceptions of what is considered good, desirable, and
proper or bad, undesirable, and improper in a culture. Familiar examples of values are wealth, loyalty,
independence, equality, justice, fraternity and friendliness.
Concept of Purushartha?
Purushartha literally means an “object of human pursuit”. It is a key concept in Hinduism and refers to
the four end goals of a human life.
Purushartha (Sanskrit: "objectives of man") purusha means human being and artha means object or
objective. Purushartha means objectives of man.
It is a key concept in Hinduism, and refers to the four proper goals or aims of a human life.
There are four Purusharthas — artha (wealth), kama (desire), dharma (righteousness) and moksha
(liberation).
The Purushartha, referred to in Vedic texts and within the great epics of the Ramayana and
Mahabharata, are translated in Sanskrit as the “goals of human existence” or “the soul's purpose.”
These universal aims influence every thought and deed of our lives.
The purpose of life for Hindus is to achieve four aims, called Purushartha. These are dharma, kama,
artha and moksha. These provide Hindus with opportunities to act morally and ethically and lead a
good life.
The Purushartha are the inherent values of the Universe: Artha (economic
values), Kama (pleasure), Dharma (righteousness), and Moksha (liberation). The Purushartha are
the blueprint for human fulfilment. Working with them helps you create a satisfyingly balanced,
meaningful life at the deepest and most holistic level. They offer a way for evaluating your life
and making good decisions. Knowing your goals brings meaning to your spiritual practice.
Purushartha means “for the purpose of the Self. Take a moment and ask yourself, ‘Am I managing
my life in a way to support my spiritual growth?’ and ‘What do I really, really want at the level of my
Soul?’”
The original Vedic texts only suggested the three goals of Dharma, Artha, and Kama. In the later
Upanishadic era, when people began to seek higher consciousness, the fourth goal of Moksha was
added. Although the first three are somewhat interwoven, it is felt that the “right action”
of Dharma is a necessary requirement for Artha to be meaningful and the abundance of Artha will
be needed to support Kama. The path to liberation or enlightenment of Moksha is supported by the
harmonious interaction of Dharma, Artha, and Kama.
1. Dharma
Dharma means truth, the right way of living, and human behaviours considered necessary for the
order of things in the world. On a grander scale, it refers to the cosmic law or rules that created the
Universe from chaos.
On an individual level, you can think of Dharma as your true purpose in life or the ethical basis on
which you live your life. It is also:
Being conscious in your actions, words, and thoughts.
Having compassion and sensitivity to the needs of others.
Being awake to the existence of the Divine within you.
Ultimately, Dharma leads you to remember who you really are.
Dharma also brings stability and order, a life that is lawful and harmonious, and the striving to do
the right thing, to be virtuous, to be helpful to others, and to interact successfully with society. The
great Indian text, The Bhagavad Gita says, “The greatest dereliction of Dharma is to desert the
helpless in their time of need.”
Vedanta tells us that you can discover your Dharma by studying sacred teachings from the
examples of highly evolved people, reflecting on and following what satisfies your heart, and
listening to your deepest inner feelings.
We suggest asking your heart, “What is my purpose, how can I serve?” Just silently ask the question
and listen to whatever answer arises, without evaluation or judgment. We also recommend making
two lists, one of all the things you are good at and the other of all the things you really enjoy doing.
The items that are on both lists will give you a clue to your Dharma or the path to follow.
The Bhagavad Gita also says, “Better your own Dharma though imperfect than the Dharma of
another done perfectly.” This means that you need to find your own truth and even though you may
make mistakes along the way, this is still preferable to trying to copy others.
Vedanta tells us that you will know when you are in Dharma when your actions are spontaneously
correct, you automatically know what to do in any situation, you are in harmony with and your life
is supported by everything around you, you feel complete within yourself, and life becomes
effortless.
Dharma is considered the first of the Purushartha because without it, Artha and Kama can easily
become self-destructive. However, Artha and Kama, when balanced, also serve to support your
Dharmic Path and eventually your outward Dharma leads you to inner Moksha.
2. Artha
Artha is the security of having the material comfort you need to live in the world with ease. While
some people think that to be spiritual means to be poor, Artha is not about rejecting the world, but
being content with the things you own. It’s to live skillfully in a world of material objects that exist
for your benefit.
Artha is one of the basic human dignities—to have enough assets to live on and care for your
family, without hoarding or being greedy. Artha guides you to ask the question, “What do I see as
truly valuable?”
Needs vary from person to person. Artha includes everything in your environment that allows you
to live a fulfilling life and also the means to achieve it. It includes knowledge, friendships, love,
career, skills, good health, and prosperity. The Upanishads tell us, “There is no joy in smallness, joy
is in the infinite.”
Artha provides the foundation for Dharma and Kama. Without prosperity and security in society or
at the individual level, both moral life and sensuality become difficult. However, it’s important that
your "worldly success" doesn’t violate the moral responsibility of your Dharma and your journey
toward Moksha (spiritual liberation).
Ultimately, Artha is the pursuit of activities and means necessary for a joyous and pleasurable life.
Vedanta says that you should:
Discover a way so money runs after you and not vice versa.
Do work that is compatible to your nature and capabilities.
Do work that serves society.
Do work you really love.
Trust in the infinite organizing power of the Universe.
Paramhansa Yogananda said, “Seek spiritual riches within. What you are is much greater than
anything or anyone else you have ever yearned for. And remember, the fear of not having, disguises
the reality that we have everything.”
3. Kama
The desire for pleasure is what drives human behaviour. A life without pleasure and enjoyment is
hollow and empty.
Kama relates to this pleasure, which can be sensuality, but is also art, music, beauty, love, intimacy,
affection, fellowship, and kindness—it’s what brings a sense of delight to your life. The right kinds
of pleasure lead you toward your Dharma and help you fulfill it with passion. Kama is good and
necessary when it exists to support Dharma and becomes part of the richness of life. However,
excessive Kama can lead to overindulgence, addiction, sloth, greed, and lust.
To successfully practice Kama, you must ask, “Are my pleasures aligned with my life’s purpose?”
The Upanishads tell us, “As is your desire so is your will, as is your will so is your deed, as is your
deed so is your destiny and You are what your deep driving desire is.”
Many Westerners were introduced to Kama when the ancient Indian text, The Kama Sutra, became
popular. Unfortunately, it was generally misinterpreted as a sex manual; it is actually a guide to a
virtuous and gracious living that discusses the nature of love, family life, and other aspects
pertaining to pleasure-oriented faculties of human life. In truth, it depicts Kama as an essential and
joyful aspect of human existence.
To practice Kama from a yogic perspective means to practice being fully present with whatever
you’re experiencing. Kama is a total sensory experience that includes discovering the object,
learning about the object, establishing emotional connection, learning the process of enjoyment,
and experiencing the resulting feeling of well-being before, during, and after the experience.
Vedanta warns us that Kama should be followed with thought, care, caution, and enthusiasm, and
be free from worries and egotistical problems. Know and seek which pleasures are saturated with
Divine Consciousness and are drenched in the ecstasies of the soul. Ultimately, the highest Kama is
the longing for Oneness with the Divine.
4. Moksha
When you live your Dharma, fully supported by Artha and Kama, Moksha or the final liberation
dawns.
Moksha is your true nature—it’s who you really are. It includes:
Emancipation.
Liberation.
Freedom from the cycle of death and rebirth.
Freedom from ignorance.
Self-realization and self-knowledge.
Consciousness of the Oneness of the Supreme Soul.
The removal of obstacles to an unrestricted life.
Access to our full human potential of creativity, compassion, and understanding.
Vedanta tells us that liberation comes to those who know Brahman as that which is the origin and
end of all things, the universal principle behind and at source of everything that exists, and the
consciousness that pervades everything and everyone.
Such realization comes from self-knowledge and self-discipline. Moksha is self-discipline that is so
perfect that it becomes unconscious, second nature, an unworldly understanding, and a state of
bliss. This liberation comes from a life lived with inner purity, alert mind, led by reason, intelligence,
and realization of the Supreme Self who dwells in all beings. As the poet Rumi says, “The whole
Universe exists within us, ask all from yourself.” While Lao Tzu tells us, “Knowing others is wisdom,
knowing yourself is Enlightenment.”
Moksha is seen as a final release from life’s illusion. The Upanishads describe the liberated
individual as one who treats others with respect (regardless of how others treat him/her); returns
anger with soft and kind words; doesn’t expect praise from others; never injures or harms any life
form; is as comfortable being alone as in the presence of others; and is humble of clear and steady
mind, straightforward, compassionate, and patient.
Altruism is the principle and moral practice of concern for the welfare and/or happiness of other human
beings or animals, resulting in a quality of life both material and spiritual. It is a traditional virtue in
many cultures and a core aspect of various religious and secular worldviews. However, the object(s)
of concern vary among cultures and religions. In an extreme case, altruism may become a synonym of
selflessness, which is the opposite of selfishness.
Altruism, in ethics, a theory of conduct that regards the good of others as the end of moral action. The
term (French altruisme, derived from Latin alter, “other”) was coined in the 19th century by Auguste
Comte, the founder of Positivism, and adopted generally as a convenient antithesis to egoism.
Universalism The principle of regarding humanity as a whole, rather than in terms of different nations,
races,
Moral universalism, or the idea that some system of ethics applies to all people regardless of race,
color, nationality, religion, or culture, must have a plurality over which to range—a plurality of diverse
persons, nations, jurisdictions, or localities over which morality asserts a universal authority.
Ethical universalism is a concept in which the ethical implications of an action applies universally to
anyone, regardless of circumstance. To summarize, the end justifies the means. There is no specific
date of its foundation, but the principal has existed in similar forms in ancient societies.
Sarvodaya means 'progress of all' or 'Universal uplift'. Gandhi started this Sarvodaya movement, and
people consider it an addition to his efforts in his non-violence movement. The main objective of this
event was to establish a new India based on non-violence and love. The term was used by Mahatma
Gandhi as the title of his 1908 translation of John Ruskin's critique of political economy, Unto This
Last, and Gandhi came to use the term for the ideal of his own political philosophy.
This plan itself was inspired by Gandhian Plan and Sarvodaya Idea of Vinoba Bhave. This
plan emphasized on agriculture and small & cottage industries. It also suggested the freedom from
foreign technology and stressed upon land reforms and decentralized participatory planning.
Justice is a concept of moral rightness based on ethics, rationality, law, natural law, religion, or equity. It
is also the act of being just and/or fair.
Justice, in its broadest sense, is the principle that people receive that which they deserve, with the
interpretation of what then constitutes "deserving" being impacted upon by numerous fields, with
many differing viewpoints and perspectives, including the concepts of moral correctness based on
ethics, rationality,
Justice, quite simply, forms the foundation of a civilised society. Societies without just laws tend to be
harsh and intolerant, often leading to conflict. We hold up the rule of law and the ideal of justice as
being blind to social status, wealth or anything else.
Justice has four major dimensions: Social Justice, Economic Justice, Political Justice and Legal Justice.
All these forms are totally inter-related and interdependent. Justice is real only when it exists in all
these four dimensions.
What is equality?
Equality is about ensuring that every individual has an equal opportunity to make the most of their lives
and talents. It is also the belief that no one should have poorer life chances because of the way they
were born, where they come from, what they believe, or whether they have a disability.
Right to Equality. The Constitution says that the government shall not deny to any person in India
equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws. It means that the laws apply in the same
manner to all, regardless of a person's status.
Equality rights ensure that each person is entitled to equality, human dignity, to reach our full potential
and to live our lives freely. Equality means being equal in all aspects such as status, rights irrespective
of caste, colour, race, gender, etc.
Situational values are ones that if the circumstances were different, we would not want whatever it is.
Intrinsic values often include having good relationships, good health, meaningful work, involvement
with life. These are things that you would want no matter what the circumstances.
Build your life on intrinsic values, not situational values - Intrinsic Vs. Situational Value
There are two types of values we can have. Intrinsic value is based on what we want, independent of
the circumstances. Situational values are ones that if the circumstances were different, we would not
want whatever it is. Intrinsic values often include having good relationships, good health, meaningful
work, involvement with life. These are things that you would want no matter what the circumstances.
Situational values are fine to have. But they can change once the situation changes. A situational
value might be choosing the right book to read on the beach when you’re on vacation. You might not
want to read the same book once you are back to your usual routine
.Here is the principle: build your life on intrinsic values, not situational values. Intrinsic values will not
change when the times change and they will become a firm foundation for your life-building process.
Situational values are not values – they are strategies. Here’s a good example:
“Ethics:
We strive to be recognized by our stakeholders as setting the standard among the world’s great
companies for integrity and principled performance. This is more than just doing the right thing. We
also have to do it in the right way.
Honesty, trust, and integrity are essential for meeting the highest standards of corporate governance.
Our ethics are the sum of all the decisions each of us makes every day. Everything we do is built on
trust. It doesn’t happen with one transaction, in one day on the job, or in one quarter. It’s earned
relationship by relationship.”
Value concepts or values in general use linguistic usage as desirable or morally well-considered
qualities or qualities that are attached to objects, ideas, practical or moral ideals, facts, patterns of
behaviour, character traits.
As with individual values, the five levels of ethical behavior—financial competence, accountability,
reciprocity, respect, integrity—are attained successively and one at a time.