CHAPTER XII: Providing The Basis For Universal Human Values And Ethical Human Conduct 

HUMAN VALUES AND PROFESSIONAL ETHICS

LECTURE NOTES

UNIT –V : CHAPTER XII 

               VALUES IN DIFFERENT DIMENSIONS OF HUMAN LIVING

The participation of human beings at different levels in the larger order is our “Value”. This participation is seen in two forms: Behaviour and Work.

VALUES PERTAINING TO BEHAVIOUR

These are the nine values in a relationship namely trust, respect, care, affection,guidance, reverence, glory and love.

VALUES IN THE INTERACTION OF HUMAN BEINGS WITH MATERIAL THINGS

Material Things have two Values:

1.       Utility Value (Upayogita Mulya) and

2.       Artistic Value (Kala Mulya)

Anything useful to us has utility value like a shirt, pen etc. The way these things are designed for convenience, attractive look etc. constitutes their Artistic Value.

Universal Values Naturally Emerging from the Right Understanding

 There is an innate harmony and orderliness in the existence. Human beings just need to understand it (not create). This Right Understanding of the harmony helps in inculcating the universal values.  The Universal Values are the truths of existence and are always there. They should not be enforced through fear, greed or blind faith/belief. The values are naturally acceptable and there is no need for imposition or enforcement.

ETHICAL HUMAN CONDUCT

Values: desirable or useful qualities in a person

Morals : knowing what is right and what is wrong after reading/observing/experiencing something

Moral Values: the relative values that give us protection and respect if used correctly.

Example: courage, commitment etc.

Ethics = moral values in action

(knowing the difference between right/ wrong usage of morals and doing the right thing even if it is risky or painful)

Ethical Human Conduct = Behaviour which is ethically correct. It is  self-satisfying, people-friendly, eco-friendly and universal.

Examples of Ethical Values = eg. Keeping promise,  honesty, loyalty, fairness, concern for others, commitment, abiding by law etc.

Good Professional = A person having Ethical Human Conduct + requisite Professional Skills

Professional Ethics = The personal, official or business rules that govern our behaviour within the context of a particular situation

Eg. Ethics in border security, lawyers, doctors in the gender testing of the foetus etc

The Right Understanding gained through Self Exploration enables us to identify the definitiveness of human conduct, also called, the Ethical Human Conduct.  

DEFINITIVENESS OF ETHICAL HUMAN CONDUCT

            
 The definitiveness of ethical human conduct is understood in terms of definiteness of              

               values, policies and character and it is universal.

1.       Values(Mulya) – they are part of our Ethical conduct and are the outcome of our realization and understanding. They are always definite(30 in number).

There are 30 Values in all for a human being:

·         Within the Self (in “I”) – 4 Values

Sukha(Happiness), Santi(Peace), Santosa(Satisfiction), Ananda(bliss)

·         As a human being, in participation in the universal order – 6 Values

Perseverance( Dhirata), Bravery( Virata), Generosity( Udarata), Kindness( Daya), Beneficience( Kripa), Compassion( Karuna)

·         In human relationships with other human beings – 18 Values

Trust( Viswasa), Respect( Sammana), Affection( Sneha), Care( Mamata), Guidance(Vatsalya), Reverence( Shraddha), Glory( Gaurava), Gratitude( Kritagyata), Love( Prema), Complimentariness( Soujanyata), Compliance (Souhardra), Commitment (Nista), Generosity(Udarata), Spontaniety( Sahajata), Obedience(Pujyata), Ease( Saralata), Self-restraint( Saumyata), Unanimity( Ananyata)

·         Human beings in interaction with rest of the nature – 2 Values

Utility Value( Upayogita mulya), Artistic Value( Kala mulya)

2.       Policy(Neethi) – It refers to developing an ethical sense in all our pursuits and think, behave and work towards nurturing this harmony. It is a manifestation of right understanding in deciding upon the enrichment, protection and right utilization of the three resources namely, Mana (mind), Tana (body) and Dhana (wealth).( 3 in number)

·         Economic Policy (Artha niti) – policy for enrichment of wealth

·         Political Policy (Rajya niti) – policy for protection of body and wealth

·         Policy for Universal Human Order (Dharma niti) – policy for the right utilization of mind, body and wealth.

3.       Character( Charitra) – definiteness of our living and character(3 in number)

·         Chastity in Conjugal relationship( husband-wife relationship)

·         Rightful production, acquisition and utilization of wealth

·         Humane behaviour and work with kindness

              

This definitiveness of human conduct in  terms of values, policies and character is termed as Ethics.

A human being with ethical human conduct coupled with requisite professional skills becomes a good professional like a good doctor, a good teacher etc.

·         Ethical conduct should be naturally acceptable to us and should not give rise to conflicts within.

·         It should be in consonance with the right understanding of the reality.

·         It should lead to mutual fulfilment with other people and mutual enrichment with rest of the nature.

·         It should be self-satisfying, people-friendly, eco-friendly and universal.

IDENTIFICATION OF SVATVA LEADING TO SVATANTRATA AND SVARAJYA

The process of Self Exploration which starts as a dialogue within us, helps us in getting rid of our preconceived notions, dilemmas, contradictions, compulsions, both internal and external. This helps us to explore our Svatva( Natural Acceptance) at different levels of our living. Living according to our Svatva, we become Svatantra. When we are able to live in harmony with others, we participate in Svarajya.

 DEVELOPMENT OF HUMAN CONSCIOUSNESS

                Right understanding helps the human beings to transform from animal consciousness to human consciousness. Self exploration leads to a development in our consciousness and brings about a change in our goals , priorities and selection criteria. This brings about positive changes in the lives of human beings at the levels of individual, family, society and nature.

IMPLICATIONS OF VALUE-BASED LIVING

1.       At the level of Individual: Getting rid of frustration, depression, conflicts etc. and developing good health, happiness and prosperity

2.       At the level of Family: reduced family feuds, feeling of togetherness,  the feeling to nurture others, living on the basis of human consciousness and not on the basis of animal consciousness.

3.       At the level of Society: relationships get higher priority over physical facilities leading to increase in fearlessness and mutual trust, differentiations based on the body, physical facilities, beliefs will get reduced, conflicts between communities, nations, races etc. will get reduced, problems of naxalism, terrorism, war etc. will be solved, feeling of undividedness will be developed leading to the fulfilment of the common  human goal.

4.       At the level of Nature: Problems of pollution, resource depletion, ecological imbalance etc. will be solved, better methods of farming and production will be found, afforestation will be done and animals will be protected from being extinct.