Moral Values
V.
Constitutional Values
Dr. Pawan Kumar Singh
Professor; IIM Indore
pawan @ iimidr.ac.in
Objectives
• To Understand Moral Values
• To Discuss Constitutional Values
• Upholding Moral and Constitutional Values and Aligning the Two in
Judiciary
Moral Values
• Moral: Personal standards of thoughts and conduct that indicate how one should
behave based on duties and virtues arising from principles about right and wrong.
• Moral Reasoning: Process by which we transform our values and beliefs into
action. This reasoning affects the way one make decisions.
• Ethics: Social norms of standards of conduct that indicate how one should behave
based on duties and virtues arising from principles about right and wrong.
• Values: Core belief or desires that guide or motivate attitudes and actions.
Alternatively, basic convictions that a specific mode of conduct or end-state of
existence is personally or socially preferable to an opposite or converse mode of
conduct or end-state of existence
Values quips
• The things which are most valuable are priceless.
• The things in life that count most are the things that can not be
counted.
• Man possessing riches is ok but riches possessing man is not
ok.
• My purse is full but soul is suffering starvation!
• When money is chased wrongly we loose the things that
money can not buy.
• Do not reject something merely because it is old-fashioned
otherwise the sun and the moon and mother’s love would be
ruled out.
• The things of greatest value in life are those things which
multiply when divided.
• If interest is not paid on moral obligation, spiritual bankruptcy
is inevitable.
Moral Values:
an exercise
• Value System shows intensity of Values (Activity: Rank from 1 to 7, 1 being most
important)
• Prosperity
• Contribution
• Peace
• Freedom
• Respect
• Recognition
• Wisdom
Stages of Moral Development
• Sticking to rules to avoid physical punishment
• Following rules only when it is in your immediate interest
• Living up to what is expected by people close to you
• Maintaining conventional order by fulfilling obligations to which you
have agreed
• Valuing rights of others, and upholding values and rights regardless of
the majority’s opinion
• Following self-chosen ethical principles even if they violate law
A Discussion on Constitutional Values
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Sovereignty
Socialism
Secularism
Democracy
Republican Character
Justice: social, economic, political
Liberty: thought, expression, belief, faith, worship
Equality: status, opportunity
Fraternity
Dignity of individual, and
Unity & integrity of nation
Conflict between Societal Norms and
Organisational Counternorms:
Example from Management Field
• Be open and honest :---------: Be secretive and deceitful
• Follow rules at all costs :---------: Do anything to get job done
• Take responsibility :---------: Pass the buck
• Be a team player :---------: Take credit for own and others’ actions
Resolving Dilemma
• Abate: Reduce the number of situations being counted as situation of ethical dilemma. Where
choice is as clear as between black and white, choose the white.
• Negate: Do not arrive logically to a ‘no’, if you want to say no to an offer. First say ‘no’, and then
substantiate, if required.
• State: In the given episode, do adequate communications.
• Debate: In many situations, choice is not as clear as between black and white. There is gray area
also in the realm of choice of action. Create healthy atmosphere to discuss the issues for more
clarity.
• Relate: Relate your choice of action to your past experience and to the past and present
experiences of others. Empathize and see yourself keeping in the position of others.
• Contemplate: Ponder over the dilemma you are facing. Visualize the outcomes of the chosen
action. Ask if the chosen action strengthens you in the long-run or it weakens you. Actions should
make an individual stronger and further stronger.
• Meditation: Meditation word has become fashionable though as a complete process it is difficult
to practice. Let us take meditation as being with oneself. Hours and hours in a day we devote to
others (without). Few minutes if reserved for oneself by being merely with oneself without doing
anything (being within) cleans the conscience which is the seat of making choice of action.
• Operate: Make a choice of action and implement it in life, or in organisation.
• Perpetrate: Once an action has been finalized, satisfying your parameters of ethical choice, stick to
your gun. Stick to your gun not for the sake of proving yourself special but with sense of humility
for the sake of broader issues.