Ethics is a set of standards that society places on itself, which helps guide

behaviour, choices and actions. The word ‘ethics’ comes from the original
Greek term ethikos, meaning ‘arising from habit’. ‘Ethics’ presupposes that
there is a certain set of mannerisms and behaviours that are ‘right’ and must
be followed.
Further, as a subject, Ethics is the philosophical treatise that studies human
behaviour and tries to determine what is right or wrong behaviour. It is a
discipline based on logical justification of human action.
It is closely related to ‘Morality’ and is also called Moral Philosophy.

Morality
Morality comes from the Latin word ‘mores’ which means, ‘ways of behaviour’
or ‘human character’. Morality refers to the set of beliefs that guides an
individual to distinguish right from wrong.
Morality assumes that there is a spontaneous awareness of a distinction
between ‘right’ and ‘wrong’, i.e. there is something intuitively telling us what is
right and wrong. It is generally based on our conscience. If someone says that
“I feel from my heart, this is right”, this person is guided by a personal sense of
morality.

Ethics and Morality

Both ethics and morality are often used synonymously. However, there is a
slight difference. Ethics is socially recognized and morality is based on
individual conscience. If ethics is morality socialised, morality is ethics
personalised.

Ethics Morality

Origin of Greek term Ethikos, which The Latin word ‘mores’ means, ‘ways
term means ‘arising from habit’. of behaviour’ or ‘human character’.

Source The source of ethical standards The source of morality is

is external like Social Norms Internal like Individual Conscience
and standards. and beliefs.

Objectivity These are objective standards It is completely Subjective as it varies

within a society, but are not from individual to individual.
universal; Different cultures might
still have different ethical
standards.

Flexibility Ethics are dependent on others Morality is based on personal Values

for definition and thus are subject and attitudes, and thus less inclined for
 to flexible individual change.
interpretations.

For Live-in relationships are generally However, being dedicated to a

Example, considered unethical in Indian relationship even without formally
society. marrying might suit personal morality.

Swami Vivekananda’s exposition of Morality

“…we know that as knowledge comes, a person grows, morality is evolved, and the idea
of non-separateness begins. Whether men understand it or not, they are impelled by that
power behind them to become unselfish. That is the foundation of morality.”

Functions of Ethics and Morality

There is very little difference between Ethics and Morality in terms of their
meaning and both the terms are often used interchangeably. This is because
both are very similar in their nature:
 Both Morality and Ethics impose certain limits on our actions.
 Both help in critically evaluating our actions, choices and decisions,
telling us what is best for us and for the society at large, resolving dilemmas
and confusion.
 Both provide for stability in society and other institutions by providing a
common ground.
 In the personal sphere ethics and morality guide our relations with our
fellow beings and in professional life or public administration, ethics focuses
on how one should act and reflect in order to act responsibly.
 If our actions are in line with Morality it removes any internal conflict, if they
align with the ethical standards of the society, it prevents social isolation.

Essence of Ethics
Essence is the intrinsic quality of something that determines its character.
The Essence of ethics can be charaterised as follows:
1. It is both relative as well as Universal
Ethics is relative are determined in a social setting at a given point in time.
A society’s history, culture, values etc. determine ethical standards, which
may vary from society to society. For example in medieval India practice of
Sati was perceived to be ethical as society legitimised it where it was unethical
practice.
However it applies to the all members of the society, and everyone generally
agrees upon what is right and what is wrong. It is therefore universal. For
example, everyone agrees that we must not steal.
2. It is Subjective as well as objective
Ethics is not an objective universal concept. Its understanding varies from
time to time, from person to person, society to society. Ethics
are subjective in nature are they are affected by an individual’s emotions and
perceptions.
But it is also objective: Ethics preach a certain kind of behaviour to us. It
tells us how people should behave. In fact, laws and rules are formed when
ethics is codified. Even as social norms, ethics is objective.
3. Originates from the idea of Justice
Ethics originate from the sense of justice prevailing in a particular society.
Ethical conduct implies treating a person equally with dignity.
Ethical values are interrelated to each other. For example – honesty,
truthfulness, integrity; values of equality and justice cannot exist without
tolerance etc. All these stem from the same idea of justice.
4. It is abstract as well as real
Ethics are abstract as it is a system of thoughts and judgments and all
thoughts are abstract in the sense that they are “of ” or “about” an object; they
are not the object itself.
But it applies to the real world, and is therefore real.
5. Applies at Various Levels:
Ethics operates at different levels individual, organization, socio-cultural,
political and international. Ethics at each level affect each other. For example,
a leader who is ethical in their personal life is more likely to act ethically in
their political life. Like Lal Bahadur Shastri was ethical in the individual and
political life.
Ethical standards may transcend the narrow stipulations of law and code
of regulations.
6. It is benefitial
Ethical behaviour leads to various benefits for an individual as well as the
society at large. Ethics leads to peace, harmony, respect, justice etc. For
example, Gandhi’s strong ethical and moral principles benefitted society as
well.

Determinant of Ethics
 Determinants of ethics are the factors that affect and shape an individual’s
beliefs, values, and behaviours. These determinants are varied and complex,
often interlinked with each other to form the ethical framework that guides a
person’s decisions and actions. Understanding these determinants is crucial
for comprehending why people behave the way they do in moral and ethical
situations.
Some of the determinants of ethics are as follows:
 Person: Ethical decision depends on the mental makeup of an individual. It
depends upon how the person has internalized personal attitudes and values
regarding ethical behaviour.
 Place: It refers to the external environment, which includes family, school,
etc. For example, as kids, we were told by our parents and teachers not to
steal things. As we grow up we tend to carry such knowledge and apply it to
the real world. Similarly, work workplace teaches us the ethics of teamwork,
punctuality, responsibility, etc.
 Time: Different individuals, societies and cultures have different sets of moral
codes at different times. It was once considered ethical to own a slave. But
today such a practice is unethical.
 Object: It is unethical to lie despite any circumstances, purpose or
intention. Telling a truth to harm a person intentionally is also unethical as
the intention of telling a truth is not pure.
 Circumstances: Circumstances also affect the person’s decision and it
determines whether it is ethical or not. Thus, the situation often makes
morality subjective. For example, Stealing is unethical in the first place but
when a poor person steals to feed her children, it reduces the unethicality
of the act.
 Culture: Culture has a profound effect on shaping individual values. For
example, western culture surrounds individualism and Indian culture is based
on universalism.
 Role Models/Celebrities/Famous Personalities: The leadership or role
models and celebrities of a society organization or nation also help to
determine whether the conduct of their followers or admirers is ethical.
 God & Religion: Every religion and god advocate universal peace and ethical
practices. Religious textbooks teach how one should behave in a society and
how the society should be.
 Conscience & Intuition: A person who follows his conscience & Intuition
feels that what is good is good because it is good and what is bad is bad
because it is bad. Intuition doesn’t need any justification while following its
actions. But conscience is justified based on his actions because of its moral
nature and it has reasoning and justification.
 Family: Family is the first interaction where a child’s personality develops
since his birth. Today’s Children are tomorrow’s citizens. Therefore, its utmost
importance that the Family environment teaches what is ethically correct.

Classification of Ethics
Ethical theories can be classified as either teleological or deontological.
Teleological ethics/Consequential ethics:
Consequentialism is a theory that says whether something is good or bad
depends on its outcomes.
For example, most people would agree that lying is wrong. But if telling a lie
would help save a person’s life, consequentialism says it’s the right thing to
do.
Deontological ethics:
It judges the ethical behaviours of the person based on the principle. It
evaluates the morality of an action based on its inherent rightness or
wrongness, regardless of its consequences. For example, Gandhi ji
denounced the Violence in the Chauri-Chaura incident based on the principle
of non-violence.
We shall study about these in detail in the next chapter.

Consequences of Ethics in Human Action

Consequences of Ethics means consequences of human actions when it is
guided by ethical standards. It can be studied at various levels as follows:

It builds self-confidence and courage of conviction.

It creates a peace of mind.
At Individual Trust and credibility of individuals increase with ethical behaviours.
level Example: Court ruled out accusation charges against Ex-Chairperson
of ISRO Madhavan Nair. False accusations of unethical behaviour
have disturbed the mental peace of the Ex-Chairman thus the court
asked the government to pay compensation for his mental suffering.

Ethical conduct of civil servants improves the quality of services.

It reduces corruption.
At
organisational Creates trust among people.
Level Example: Election Commission of India – Even after seven decades
it conducts elections free and fair manner. People and political parties
placed tremendous faith in ECI for conducting elections.

At societal Ethical conduct of individuals creates social capital as trust in the

 society develops. Thus Social harmony in society develops.
A society based on high ethical standards creates a safe environment
level
for human development.
It creates a sense of Justice.

Consequences of Loss of Ethics

“A man without ethics is a wild beast loosed upon this world”.
– Albert Camus (French author and philosopher).
The absence of ethics leads to dire consequences at various levels as follows:

Levels Consequences

Loss of civic values leads to behaviour like spitting in public spaces

and jumping red lights.
Individual level Loss of respect for the elders that reflected in the crime against the
aged and the use of abusive and filthy language.
Greed in the man increases leading to the Petty crimes.

Due to the loss of ethical values social disharmony in society

Social level increases, such as crime rate, drug addiction, regionalism, and
castism in the society increases.

When there is a loss of ethical values in the organization it leads to

the rise of favouritism, Nepotism etc.
Organisational Work culture in the organization degrades leading to the rise of
level corruption, loss of trust and decrease in efficiency.
Unethical behaviours in the government organization lead to Loss of
trust of the people in the administration.

Loss of ethics in political leadership leads to an increase in the use of

political power for personal gain.
Political level
Further immoral behaviours lead to the criminalisation of politics,
political bureaucracy nexus etc.

Trust deficit, frictions, disputes, unhealthy competition, damage to the

International
environment and unsustainable development, and disregard for
level
international conventions and laws.

Abortion, animal rights, cloning, artificial intelligence, consent,

Bioethical level
confidentiality, GM organisms, Suicide.
 Loss of flora and fauna, unsustainable development, polluter shall pay
Environmental
principle is diminishing, increase in pollution levels, disregard
level
to Common but Differentiated Responsibility (CBDR).

Relation between Law and Ethics

Law Ethics

Formal rules established by authority Informal, subjective principles

Governed by individual or societal

Enforced by governmental/societal authority
conscience

Non-adherence leads to sanctions or Non-adherence leads to moral guilt or

penalties. shame.

Varies among individuals, cultures,

Universal within a jurisdiction
religions

Rigidity in application Flexible and adaptable

Mostly tangible and explicit Mostly intangible and implicit

Meant to control and regulate behaviour Meant to guide and inspire behaviour

Reactive (penalties after breach) Proactive (prevents moral wrongs)

Codified and documented Often unwritten and unspoken

Doesn’t necessarily include ethical

Can include legal considerations
considerations

Ethics in Public and Private Life

Ethics in public and private life are deeply interconnected, shaping both
individual behaviour and societal harmony. While distinct, both realms
 influence each other—ethical private conduct fosters moral public behaviour,
and ethical governance upholds societal integrity.
Understanding this relationship is crucial for maintaining a just and
responsible society where individuals and institutions uphold ethical principles
in all aspects of life. It is also important to bring a work-life balance for civil
servants and prevent conflict of interest.

Public Life
Public life refers to the collection of a person’s relationships, interactions
and dealings with the society at large. Different values and ethical standards
are followed in public life.

Importance of Ethics in Public Life:

Ethical framework in the public life helps in achieving the good in the society.
High moral principles based on the constitution help in achieving a welfare
society. It further benefits in the following manner:
 In a democracy, every holder of public office is accountable to the people.
Such accountability is enforced through a system of laws and rules. Ethics in
public life provides the basis for the creation of such laws and rules.
 It is the moral ideas of people that give rise to and shape the character of
laws and rules.
 It strengthens the trusteeship relationship between the public and the
officials.

Nolan Committee
One of the most comprehensive statements of what constitutes ethical
standards for holders of public office came from the Committee on
Standards in Public Life in the United Kingdom in 1994 to promote ethical
conduct in public office. It is popularly known as the Nolan
Committee worldwide.
It introduced the Seven Principles of Public Life—Selflessness, Integrity,
Objectivity, Accountability, Openness, Honesty, and Leadership—to ensure
transparency and accountability in governance:
 Selflessness: Holders of public office should make decisions solely in terms
of public interest. They should not do so in order to gain financial or other
 material benefits for themselves, their family or their friends.

 Integrity: Holders of public office should not place themselves under any
financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organizations that might
influence them in the performance of their official duties.
 Objectivity: In carrying out public business, including making public
appointments, awarding contracts or recommending individuals for rewards
and benefits, holders of public office should make choices on merit.
 Accountability: Holders of public office are accountable for their decisions
and actions to the public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is
appropriate to their office.
 Openness: Holders of public office should be as open as possible about all
the decisions and actions they take. They should give reasons for their
decisions and restrict information only when the wider public interest clearly
demands.
 Honesty: Holders of public office have a duty to declare any private interests
relating to their public duties and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising
in a way that protects the public interest.
 Leadership: Holders of public office should promote and support these
principles by leadership.

Private Life
Private life is integrated with family members, life partners, friends,
colleagues etc. These kinds of relationships are based on emotional
attachments, and personal bonding with them rather than simply a formal
mechanism.
 Ethics in Private Life
Ethics in private life is shaped and affected by the following factors:
 Family: Family is the first foundation where ethical values are seeded into
one’s own mind. If a family encourages and supports you in times of crisis
then you can take any hard decision, which is ethically correct.
 In addition, the parent is the first friend and guide to a child. They teach
him not to be greedy, kind towards others, be empathetic. It will be helpful in
shaping a child’s intellectual ability and cognitive skills.
 Friends: One famous quote says “Our friend circle tells our
character”. The role of friends plays in moulding one’s personality.
For Example – In Mahabharata, though Karna is individually moral and has
greater war skills than Arjuna his decision to fight along with Kauravas’s side
makes him unpopular which leads to his death in Kurukshetra. It’s just
because he promised his friend Duryodhana to help in the war.

Values in Private Life

 Love and care: These emotions are the bedrock of private
relationships and also sustain them. This bond is driven by human
emotions.
 Trust and Truthfulness: Private relations are based upon truth and trust.
Since there are no rules and regulations, trust matters the most.
 Responsibility: Our private life often creates responsibility for us towards
different people. This is because people have some emotional or practical
expectations of each other. For example, spouses, friends etc. expect
certain kinds of behaviour from each other.
 Confidentiality: Private relations require secrecy and privacy, as opposed
to public relationships.
 Perseverance: We must ensure stability and harmony in our private relations.
This often requires persistent effort by both parties during times of discord.
For instance, spouses often get into fights after which they are expected
to cooperate to preserve the relationship.
Ethics in public and private life often complement each other. However, in
various scenarios, they might come into conflict with each other.

Relation between Ethics in Private and

Public relationships:
Ethics in private life lays the foundation for ethics in public life. For
example Epics like Ramayana and Mahabharat a classic examples of ethics
in public and private relationships. For example, Satya Harischandra always
speaks the truth.
 Common ethics for Public and private
relationship
Unethical actions in public life may affect private life. A person who is
unethical in his public life can hardly be expected to be ethical in his private
life and vice versa. For instance, A dishonest civil servant is least expected to
show integrity in his personal relationship.
And therefore, most of the ethical principles apply to both public and private
life. For example:
 Honesty: Both kinds of relationships expect truthful behaviour without
which there is a loss of trust and confidence.
 Interpersonal factors: Both relationships are not mechanical but involve
interpersonal behaviour. Therefore, both require individuals to have basic
sensitivity, empathy, care etc. so that both parties understand each other
better.
 Accountability: We are held responsible for our behaviour in both
relationships. We must answer and account for our actions to maintain trust
and confidence.
 Compassion: Helping others is a good deed that is desirable in both public
and private relationships.

Crisis of Conscience
When there is a difference between ethics in public and private life there is
a crisis of conscience or dissonance. For example, one civil servant may
have an opinion based on personal experience that women should not be
allowed in Sabarimala Temple. However, he has to follow the Supreme Court
verdict in allowing women. This may lead to a crisis of conscience.
A person might portray himself to be secular in public life but actually has a
negative attitude towards others’ religion. This creates a crisis of conscience.

Lesson from a Leader

Once an old lady brought his son to Gandhiji to preach to him stop eating sugar.
But didn’t say anything at that moment and asked that lady to come back after one
month.
During this gap, Gandhiji stopped eating sugar. After one month he was in a moral
position to ask that young boy to not eat sugar.

Difference in Ethics in Private and Public

Relationships:
However, sometimes the principles of ethics apply differently in public and
private relationships.
There are various differences between Private and Public life as follows:

Private Relationship Public Relationship

Public relations are

between the people
A private relationship is between the people we
that we externally
personally connect with, i.e. with relations built
connect out of personal
in a closed space called Family, friends, or
space like community,
spouse.
Colleagues at the
office, govt-citizen

Temporary in nature in
the form of transfers,
Relations here permanent in nature
Nature of moving to a different
Relationship company

Ethics in Public
relationships is
generally based on
Ethics in private relations is based on
societal and personal
personal values, morality and family
norms. These are
values. These are generally not codified and
generally Codified in
are regulated by emotional bonding.
the form of a code of
ethics, norms, rules
and laws.

There are legal, social,

Violation generally goes unpunished but can
and professional
have social consequences e.g. Loss of
implications if norms
Treatment reputation in society.
are violated.
for Violation
Get punished by parents if we hurt others or Penal provisions there
apologise in words for wrongdoings

Nature of There should be a

Engagement desirable way of
There is no limit to expressing our emotions
with Others emotional expression.
here. For example, we can get angry with
For example, there is a
family members.
limit to expressing our
anger on subordinates.

There are expectations between closely Not many expectations

connected people between members of
 the public life

Openness, Honesty
and integrity, Respect,
Important Love and care, Confidentiality, Truthfulness,
Rule of law, Equality
Values Responsibility, Perseverance
and uniformity, and
Accountability.

Need for Separation of Public and Private

Relationships
Due to such marked differences in the nature of these relationships, it is often
required for a person to keep public and private relationships separate.
1. Neither public life should affect private relationships nor private life should
affect public relationships. The negative influence of one might ruin both.
2. Conflict of Interest in Public Life: There should be a separation between
personal and professional life else civil servants might be charged with
favouritism and nepotism, etc. Keeping public and private relationships
separate helps in preventing conflicts of interest.
3. Confidentiality: There are different values to be adhered to in personal and
professional life. For example, confidentiality is a preferred value in personal
life while openness is the prime value in public life.
4. Work-life balance: Separating public and private relationships is essential for
maintaining work-life balance. It reduces stress and enhances efficiency.
Clear boundaries ensure professionalism at work while allowing personal
relationships to thrive without workplace conflicts or undue influence.
Further, Society tends to judge people separately in their public and private
spheres, and hence it is better to keep them separate.

Human values
Human values are values which are very core to the human/ for being
human or the inherent qualities which are desired to be called human
are human values.
Human values deals with values associated with human emotions and
feelings like given below:
63. Integrity
It means having strong moral principles/ value systems in one’s
conduct. It represents honesty, the character of uncorrupted virtues,
uprightness, something ‘whole’, not divisible or breakable &
consistency between what you say and what you do (thought and
action).
People with absolute integrity include Ajit Doval, JM Lyngdoh, TN
Seshan, Porijes Mishra.

Compassion
An emotional urge in a civil servant to serve the downtrodden sections
of society. Showing an act of positive discrimination. In general, it is
about showing respect, care, empathy & emotional support.
Compassion involves a sense of empathy. It does not end with pity. It
involves sensibilities to understand and even feel the pain of others
and motivates one to be truly helpful in overcoming this pain.
Empathy
It is like putting ourselves into other issues and thinking and feeling
the way they think. Thinking and feeling the way others think demands
a wider perspective or 360° thinking. Empathy demands compassion,
tolerance, emotional intelligence & objectivity or impartiality. A
prejudiced mind, stereotyping, patriarchal attitude, being feudal and
egotist are manifestations of lack of empathy.

Sympathy
Empathy 

It is about thinking and perspective.  It is about emotional support and

expressing.
It is action oriented & has an inherent
quality of continuity in behavior.  It is about an act of cooperation/expressing
some concerns which is transient in
nature.


It is an urge which continues.
 It is momentary in nature.

Example: Example:

We extend help to poor people, even if

they don’t seek assistance. Our We have someone when he is in need.
empathy drives us to feel and address Srushti Niyamam, North nuclear Jat.
the problems of others.

Objectivity
Any decision based on facts, merit or observable phenomenon is said
to be objective. Any decision which has objectivity will have
connotations of impartiality, rationality, merit and facts. It is a
manifestation of scientific temper or rationality in decision making.
Rationality
Rationality is about the act of reasoning and logic based on objectivity
which has consistency in human behavior. Rationality can be on the
basis of statements based on facts or knowledge and is expressed in
an objective fashion which has justification. It’s a process which brings
us close to truth and therefore includes objectivity.
Conscience
Conscience is a human intellect/ faculty of sense which gives
understanding about right & wrong. It’s a moral sense in humans.
Humans are not born with the ability to logic, reason & understanding
good or bad things rather there is moral development through the
process of socialization. Therefore, conscience is also developed
through socialization as explained by Kant and Lawrence Kohlberg.
 Collective conscience of society
It refers to the shared set of values, beliefs, norms, and moral
standards that are widely accepted and internalized by members of a
community or society. It represents the collective understanding of
what is considered right and wrong, acceptable and unacceptable
within a particular cultural or social context.
Tolerance
It is having a permissive or receptive attitude towards others’ beliefs,
feelings, views, values, caste, religion etc. Tolerance is respect,
acceptance, and appreciation of the rich diversity of our world’s
cultures, our forms of expression and ways of being human. It is
fostered by knowledge, openness, communication and freedom of
thought, conscience and belief. Tolerance is harmony in difference.
Attitude
Attitude is a learned/acquired predisposition to behave in a favorable
or unfavorable manner against the given object or It is about how
people react to different situations/objects hence attitude is reflected
through reaction or behavior. It is learnt through the process of
socialization. Its quality depends on the nature of socialization.

Scientific Attitude as a Human Value

A scientific attitude involves a set of tendencies in thought and action that
guide the pursuit of knowledge with integrity and consideration for
societal impact. Key characteristics often highlighted in educational
materials found on sites like Slideshare include:

 Curiosity: A drive to seek answers and explore the unknown.

 Intellectual Honesty: Truthfulness in reporting findings and

acknowledging sources.

 Open-mindedness: Willingness to consider alternative viewpoints and

new evidence.
 Skepticism: Doubting claims until they are supported by factual
evidence.

 Objectivity: Making judgments based on facts alone, free from personal

bias.

 Rationality: Believing that events occur for reasoned, explainable

causes.

This value is considered crucial in an age dominated by technology and

information, ensuring that progress is guided by sound reasoning and
verifiable facts.

Respecting Conscience as a Human Value

Conscience refers to an inner moral sense that guides individuals in
determining what is right and wrong. Respecting conscience as a human
value means adhering to this internal moral compass, ensuring that
actions are aligned with one's personal principles and sense of
responsibility.

 Moral Guidance: Conscience provides a basis for ethical decision-

making, particularly when faced with complex dilemmas not explicitly
covered by external rules.

 Integrity: Acting in accordance with conscience helps foster personal

integrity and trustworthiness.

 Responsible Action: It encourages individuals to act responsibly towards

others and the environment, often prioritizing well-being over personal
gain or profit.

Mahatma Gandhi and Ethical Practices

Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy and ethical practices have had a profound impact on
social and political movements worldwide. His principles were deeply rooted in
morality and aimed at creating a just and peaceful society. Below is a detailed
explanation of the key ethical practices associated with Gandhi:
1. Non-violence (Ahimsa)
 Gandhi believed that non-violence was the most powerful weapon for oppressed
people.
 It means not causing harm to any living being through actions, words, or thoughts.
 Non-violence is not passive; it requires courage and active resistance to injustice
without using violence.
2. Truth (Satya)
 Truth was central to Gandhi's life and philosophy.
 He believed in living honestly and transparently, both personally and politically.
 Pursuit of truth involves self-discipline and constant self-examination.
3. Non-hated Love for All
 Gandhi advocated love and compassion even towards opponents.
 He believed hatred only breeds more hatred and violence.
 This universal love promotes harmony and reconciliation.
4. Concern for the Poorest Objective
 Gandhi emphasized uplifting the poorest and most marginalized sections of society.
 He believed true progress is measured by how the weakest are treated.
 His concept of "Sarvodaya" means welfare for all.
5. Nationalism and Education for Man-Making
 Gandhi's nationalism was inclusive and rooted in self-reliance and cultural pride.
 He promoted education that builds character, moral values, and practical skills —
education for "man-making."
 Education should empower individuals to serve society.
6. Relation Between Ends and Means
 Gandhi strongly believed that the means used to achieve an end must be as pure as
the end itself.
 He argued that unethical means corrupt the goal, no matter how noble.
 This principle guided his practice of non-violent resistance (Satyagraha), where the
struggle itself must be ethical.
Summary
Gandhi's ethical practices revolve around living truthfully, practicing non-violence,
loving all without hatred, caring for the poorest, fostering inclusive nationalism, and
ensuring that the means to achieve goals are morally sound. These principles
together form a holistic approach to personal and social ethics aimed at creating a
just and peaceful society.