Questions
Q1. “To delight in war is a merit in the soldier, a dangerous quality in the captain, and a positive crime in the statesman.” – George Santayana. Can war be ethically justified? Discuss the moral principles related to war. (150 words) 10 marks
Q2. Ethical work culture increases employee job satisfaction and ensures organizational success. Elaborate. In what ways can ethical culture be incorporated in an organization? (150 words) 10 marks
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Model Solutions
Q1. “To delight in war is a merit in the soldier, a dangerous quality in the captain, and a positive crime in the statesman.” – George Santayana. Can war be ethically justified? Discuss the moral principles related to war. (150 words) 10 marks
Model Structure
Introduction:
- War is an armed conflict characterized by intense violence and destruction. Intuitively, war appears to be immoral. However, at times, fighting a war is not only morally permissible, but even obligatory.
Main Body:
War can be ethically justified on following grounds:
- War may be fought to uphold what is morally right, and to fulfill one’s ethical duty.
- Dharma Yuddha as discussed in Bhagavad Gita or a soldier fighting for his country.
- Defensive war may be fought if a country is attacked by enemies.
- For example: Kargil war fought by India against Pakistani misadventures.
- The war can be resorted to as a last option if all efforts for conflict resolution fail.
- For example: Uri attack by Indian Army against terrorists in Pakistan was resorted to as a last resort.
- A pre-emptive strike is permissible in case of inevitable aggression by an enemy force.
- Balakot air strikes by Indian Air Force against terrorist hideouts in Pakistan.
- If the cost of not fighting a war is higher than the cost of fighting the war, then the war may be considered ethical.
- For example: humanitarian interventions against a suppressive dictatorial regime that has created a refugee crisis such as the Bangladesh Liberation war of 1971.
The moral principles of war as per the Just war theory are listed below:
- Jus ad bellum: A war should be (a) fought for a just cause, (b) with right intention, (c) should be declared by proper authority and (d) fought as a last resort.
- For example: Indian Peacekeeping forces in Sri Lanka, UN Peacekeeping forces in various African countries like Congo, etc.
- Jus in bello: There should be no disproportionate use of power. The principle of discrimination between combatant and non-combatant should be followed.
- For example: the Balakot air strikes by India caused minimum harm to civilians and eliminated terrorist targets in Pakistan efficiently.
- Jus post bellum: War should end with the right intention, which should be declared publicly by competent authority and the defeated party should be treated with respect.
- For example: India was very generous in the peace terms of the Shimla Agreement after the 1971 war.
Conclusion:
- The principles of ethical war have been institutionalized by the UN charter, The Hague convention and the Geneva convention. The single most important moral principle of war should be desire for peace and not for dominating others.
Q2. Ethical work culture increases employee job satisfaction and ensures organizational success. Elaborate. In what ways can ethical culture be incorporated in an organization? (150 words) 10 marks
Model Structure
Introduction:
- Work Culture is a collection of attitudes, beliefs and behaviors that make up the regular atmosphere in a work environment.
- Work Culture becomes ethical when it gives priority to employee rights, fair procedures, and equity in pay & promotion, and promotes tolerance, compassion, loyalty and honesty in the treatment of customers and employees.
Main Body:
- Ethical work culture helps in increasing employee job satisfaction as well as ensures organization's success in the following ways:
- Work ethics are a cultural norm that places a positive moral value on doing a good job.
- Employees who abide by your workplace ethics would be able to protect and respect the organization's assets.
- Work ethics involve the ascription of value to work. Work is valued as the means to some end.
- Ethics enable workers to feel a strong alignment between their values and those of organization.
- They show such feelings through increased productivity and motivation.
- Ethical conduct in the workplace encourages a culture of making decisions based on ethics.
- Ethical work culture can be incorporated by the following ways:
- Defining the value system: By defining the value system of the organization very clearly, every employee needs to be educated about that.
- Set an Example: Executives at higher orders in hierarchy need to work as an example in following the value system.
- Citizen’s Charter and Grievance Redressal Mechanism: Both for the employees and customers, so that everyone knows the service to be expected and provided.
- Proper action against wrongdoers: Strict action against wrong doing but only after giving the chance to prove innocence.
- All decisions need to be made considering ethics at the center.
- For example, organizations that give importance to sustainable development will not indulge in activities like polluting rivers.
- Proper hierarchy is required but it should not be so rigid that only procedure becomes important, not the outcome.
Conclusion:
- Ethical work culture ensures justice and equitable development for all.