Universal Human Values and Professional Ethics

 Ans 1 Value Education? Value-based education lays emphasis on the personality development of individuals in order to shape their future and tackle difficult situations with ease. It moulds the children so they get attuned to changing scenarios while handling their social, moral, and democratic duties efficiently. The importance of value education can be understood through its benefits as it develops physical and emotional aspects, teaches mannerism and develops a sense of brotherhood, instils spirit of patriotism as well as develops religious tolerance in students. Let’s understand the importance of value education in schools as well as its need and importance in the 21st century.

Need and Importance of Value Education

Value education should not be seen as a separate discipline but as something that should be inherent in the education system. Merely solving problems must not be the aim, the clear reason and motive behind must also be thought of. There are multiple facets to understanding the importance of value education.

Here is why there is an inherent need and importance of value education in the present world:

It helps in taking the right decisions in difficult situations thus improving decision-making abilities.

It inculcates students with essential values like kindness, compassion and empathy.

It awakens curiosity in children developing their values and interests. This further helps in skill development in students.

It also fosters a sense of brotherhood and patriotism thus helping students become more open-minded and welcoming towards all cultures as well as religions.

It provides a positive direction to a student’s life as they are taught about the right values and ethics.

It helps students find their true purpose towards serving society and doing their best to become a better version of themselves.

With age comes a wide range of responsibilities. This can at times develop a sense of meaninglessness and can lead to a rise in mental health disorders, mid-career crisis and growing discontent with one’s life. Value education aims to somewhat fill the void in people’s lives.

Moreover, when people study the significance of values in society and their lives, they are more convinced and committed to their goals and passions. This leads to the development of awareness which results in thoughtful and fulfilling decisions. 

The key importance of value education gets highlighted in distinguishing the execution of the act and the significance of its value. It instils a sense of ‘meaning’ behind what one is supposed to do and thus aids in personality development.

Purpose of Value Education

In the contemporary world, the importance of value education is multifold. It becomes crucial that is included in a child’s schooling journey and even after that to ensure that they imbibe moral values as well as ethics.

Here are the key purposes of value education:

To ensure a holistic approach to a child’s personality development in terms of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects

Inculcation of patriotic spirit as well as the values of a good citizen

Helping students understand the importance of brotherhood at social national and international levels

Developing good manners and responsibility and cooperativeness

Promoting the spirit of curiosity and inquisitiveness towards the orthodox norms

Teaching students about how to make sound decisions on the basis of moral principles

Promoting a democratic way of thinking and living

Imparting students with the significance of tolerance and respect towards different cultures and religious faiths

Need for incorporating value education in contemporary educational system

Current ‘conventional’ education is facing a major issue of implication. Although it is playing a significant part in passing on information, it gloomily fails in enforcing positive human values in students. It seems to overload their minds with information relevant as well as irrelevant, aiming at training students for their potential workplaces. Students are instilled with a feeling of cut throat competition, self-centeredness, aping the Western culture and never ending materialism. The ability to make ethical decisions based on sound reasoning is a vital aim of value education and has to be consciously cultivated. It also guides a person to act as it should be in society.

Constructive values, for instance societal concern predominantly the deprived, affection, sharing, coping with relationships, overcoming insecurity, accepting failure, rejection and managing interpersonal and intrapersonal conflicts, admiration for cultural and religious variety, compassion for the environment and so on, are given little or no attention. If at all these values are instilled in a mind-numbing and monotonous fashion, isolated from the rest of the educational structure, it does not succeed to make much of an impact. How values should be incorporated into contemporary education thus remains a burning tight spot.

There is a call for promoting morals in the students and the responsibility of the mentor in imparting value education to students, chiefly in the Indian context. India has a splendid status for being the land of judicious and morally strengthened spirits. To serve this motive the Indian government has decided to provide value education from the school level. The existing form of education adds to the unbalanced progress of students. There are two ways of delivering value education.

Explicit values education is linked with those different methodologies that mentors or instructors employ in order to generate learning experiences for students in terms of value education. Implicit value education is self-learning in a systematic and scientific way through formal education.

Institutions imparting higher education must create students who will be responsible citizens. It is seen that they are often shaped into individuals who can contend professionally, but cannot accept failure. They become persons who can only condemn, but cannot take criticism in its true sense; they easily become men and women who can appreciate materialism but cannot perceive the inherent righteousness of the other person; they have deep patriotism for their country, but they abhor those who live in other countries. They cannot empathize with others in their grief and agony.

Educators in India need to realize the most valuable task of teachers, that is, revitalization of minds and hearts of the students and better wakefulness about the powers of their values. Curriculum designers must become responsive to this aspect of education. As a matter of fact, these values are gradually becoming incomprehensible in the growing materialistic mindset of the young workforce.  Value Education endorses broader skills, attitudes and skills are important not just in schools but also life beyond school and college, making universe a better place not just for themselves but also for their family, friends, peers and others. Trainers in India must be handed the task of molding the moral fiber of students. This accountability involves many meticulous exercises for the instructor. Teachers who help students must become skilled at listening to the explicit remarks they make. Students who are lethargic and indifferent should become more focused after being trained in value education. Every teacher should seek to reinforce students’ minds, strengthen their hearts, buoy up their thoughts, and help them shape up their principles. Trainers must assist students to make wise choices when confronted with dilemma.  Colleges must become the platforms for students to become adaptable broadminded and sociable citizens. This should also be augmented by professional direction and counseling.Education must focus on holistic development of child because ethical values help in making complete human beings not just persons. It prepares them for their future role.

ANS 3 Environment is the surrounding of an Organism. This Environment in which an Organism lives is made up of various components like Air, Water, Land, etc. These components are found in fixed proportions to create a Harmonious Balance in the Environment for the Organism to live in. Any kind of undesirable and wanted change in the proportions of these components can be termed as Pollution. This Issue is increasing with every passing year. It is an Issue that troubles Economically, Physically and Socially. The Environmental problem that is worsening with each day needs to be addressed so that its harmful effects on Humans as well as the planet can be redressed. 

Environmental Issue

Our green world is now in Jeopardy. Humans depleted Natural Resources by polluting Water, Soil, and Air. We must tackle the challenges we have created by opening our eyes. The Environment has been profoundly impacted by Industrial Growth. People emit more Pollution for more convenience. Human actions have an impact on the Environment, both directly and indirectly. As a result, there is a symbiotic link between a creature and its surroundings. Let’s discuss some major Issues our Environment Issues which our Environment is facing nowadays:

Global Warming:

Foremost symptom of natural imbalance is Global Warming. When Greenhouse Gasses accumulate and cause the temperature to rise, we see the Greenhouse effect. It has an impact on the rising of the World Ocean level and the melting of Arctic ice. According to specialists, coastal countries and certain islands could be overwhelmed by water over several decades.

Increasing Population:

People require greater space and resources as their population grows, in order to meet all of their food and housing needs. To make room for pastures and agricultural fields, people began cutting down trees. Forests serve as the Earth's main lungs and the primary habitat for a wide range of animals, birds, and insects. Deforestation and Human activities have put a lot of forest species in Jeopardy.

Ozone Layer Depletion:

Depletion of the Ozone layer is a complex Issue that Humanity is grappling with. The Ozone layer absorbs UV radiation, which is damaging to Humans. Increased Ozone hole numbers result in more intense solar radiation and a rise in skin cancer.

Deforestation: 

Plants and trees are essential components of Human life. Everyone benefits from trees because they give air, food, and medicines. Forests are being cut down to meet rising demand. During the summer, natural wildfires are common. To maximize profit, people take down trees in an unethical manner.

Climate:

Climate change is occurring at a faster rate than it was a century ago. The weather change has an impact on industrial advancement. Climate change has resulted in disastrous hurricanes, floods, and droughts. In recent years, many countries have been hit by a slew of natural disasters.

Pollution:

Polluted Environments can cause a variety of illnesses. Many species of flora and wildlife that are important to flora are threatened with extinction. Nature preserves balance, and all Organisms' feeding habits are linked in a food chain, as we all know. In areas with petroleum refineries, chemicals, iron and steel, non-metal products, pulp and paper manufacturers, and textile industries, the problem of industrial Pollution is often severe.

Causes of Environmental Issue

With the rise of the industries and the migration of people from villages to cities in search of employment, there has been a regular increase in the problem of proper housing and unhygienic conditions of living. These reasons have given rise in factors for Pollution. Environmental Pollution is of five basic types namely; Air, Water, Soil and Noise Pollution.

Air Pollution: 

Air Pollution is a major Issue in today’s world. The smoke pouring out of factory chimneys and automobiles pollute the air that we breathe in. Gasses like Carbon dioxide, Carbon Monoxide and Sulphur Dioxide are emitted which mix with air and cause great harm to the Human body, Flora and Fauna. The dry farm waste, dry grass, leaves and coal used as domestic fuels in our villages also produce harmful Gasses. Acid rain occurs due to excess Sulphur Dioxide in the Air. 

Water Pollution: 

Water Pollution is one of the most serious Environmental Issues. The waste products from the growing industries and sewage water are not treated properly before disposing into rivers and other water bodies, thus creating Pollution. Agricultural processes with excess fertilizers and pesticides also pollute the water bodies.

Soil or Land Pollution: 

The next source of Environmental Pollution is soil. Waste materials such as plastics, polythene, bottles, etc. cause land Pollution and render soil infertile. Moreover, dumping of dead bodies of men and animals, washing of clothes and utensils add to this Issue. It is a very dangerous aspect of Environment since it affects the fertility and food production of the area and the country.

Noise Pollution: 

This Issue is a very subtle form of Pollution. All Human activities contribute to noise Pollution to a large extent. Horns of the vehicles, loud speakers, music system, industrial activities contribute towards this Issue.

Problems like Ozone depletion, Global Warming, Greenhouse effect, change in climatic and weather conditions, melting of glaciers etc. are some more Issues in the Environment.

How to Minimize Environmental Issues?

To minimize this Issue, preventive measures need to be taken.

Principle of 3R’s: 

To save the Environment, use the principle of 3 R’s; Reuse, Reduce and Recycle. 

Reuse products again and again. Instead of throwing away things after one use, find a way to use them again.  Reduce the amount of waste products generated. 

Recycle: 

Paper, plastics, glass and electronic items can be processed into new products while using fewer natural resources and lesser energy.

To prevent and control measures of air Pollution including better-designed equipment and smokeless fuels should be used in homes and industries. 

More and more trees should be planted to balance the ecosystem and control Greenhouse effects.

Noise Pollution can be minimized by better designing and proper maintenance of vehicles. Industrial noise can be reduced by sound proofing equipment like generators, etc. 

To control soil Pollution, usage of plastic bags must be stopped. Sewage should be treated properly before using it as fertilizers and as landfills.  

Several measures can be adopted to control water Pollution. Some of them are that the water requirement can be minimized by altering the techniques involved. Water should be reused with treatment. The quantity of water waste discharged should be reduced. 

Conclusion

People, unfortunately, forget that we are a part of nature. We must live in harmony with nature and take care of it. We need to rethink how we consume natural resources. People must be aware that the natural world is on the verge of collapse. People must recognise that they are not the primary users of the Environment and construct Environmentally suitable homes. We must consider future generations and what will be left behind after we are gone. People come up with remedies to Environmental Issues. We recycle trash, develop electric automobiles, reduce air, water, and soil Pollution, and restore land erosion by planting new trees. But it is not enough; people must drastically alter their lifestyles until nature takes the last drastic measures.

Saving our planet from these Environmental Issues is the responsibility of every individual. If preventive measures are not taken then our future generation will have to face major repercussions. Government is also taking steps to create public awareness. Every individual should be involved in helping to reduce and control Pollution.

Ans 1 What is environmental sustainability?

According to the U.N. Environment Programme, environmental sustainability involves making life choices that ensure an equal, if not better, way of life for future generations.

Environmental sustainability aims to improve the quality of human life without putting unnecessary strain on the earth's supporting ecosystems. It’s about creating an equilibrium between consumerist human culture and the living world. We can do this by living in a way that doesn’t waste or unnecessarily deplete natural resources.

Why is sustainability important?

Environmental sustainability is important because of how much energy, food and human-made resources we use every day. Rapid population growth has resulted in increased farming and manufacturing, leading to more greenhouse gas emissions, unsustainable energy use, and deforestation.

In other words, we need more energy and materials than ever before. Despite this, our planet can only provide so many resources before they begin to deplete. For this reason, businesses must step in and do their part. They have more power than any group of individuals, and they can help secure a livable future by investing in sustainable and responsible practices like reducing waste, using commercial clean energy, and paying fair wages.

What are the 3 pillars of sustainability?

Aside from benefiting the planet and its inhabitants, environmental sustainability can offer plenty of benefits. The three pillars of sustainability involve economic, social and environmental development.

Economic sustainability is the responsibility of businesses and communities. Here, they are encouraged to use their resources responsibly and efficiently. Economic sustainability is designed to support long-term economic growth without harming environmental, social and cultural aspects of our global community.

Social sustainability benefits people. Living sustainably as individuals, families, communities and countries means healthier air and less money needlessly spent on healthcare. Using renewable energy sources can reduce droughts as they require less water and energy to maintain. The eventual goal is that sustainable development will also reduce hunger, poverty and generally provide a better global quality of life, promoting fairly distributed education and healthcare.

Environmental sustainability focuses on the state of the planet we leave it in. It encourages individuals to live in a way that creates minimal waste and even regenerates some of the resources we use every day.

Why do we need sustainability?

The general goal of environmental sustainability is to evens things out. As we’ve seen, environmental sustainability provides huge benefits for human health and that of all other species. It reduces our global carbon footprint and reduces our reliance on fossil fuels and other harmful energy practices. But does it benefit us in other ways?

Sustainability can increase life expectancy by providing healthier living conditions and better healthcare, which could also lessen the divide between the rich and poor. Sustainable development encourages more responsible manufacturing and production, covering the industrial side of waste and pollution. It also encourages companies, industries, and governments to make decisions based on long-term consequences, rather than taking the easiest, cheapest option.

Ans 2 Business Ethics: 

“Business Ethics is generally coming to know what is right or wrong in the work place and doing what is right. This is in regard to effects of products/services and in relationship with the stake holders.” —Cater Mcnamara

“Business ethics in short can be defined as the systematic study of ethical matters pertaining to the business, industry or related activities, institutions and beliefs. Business ethics is the systematic handling of values in business and industry.” —John Donaldson

There is no unanimity of opinion as to what constitutes business ethics. There are no separate ethics of business but every individual and organ in society should abide by certain moral orders.

Importance of Business Ethics:

1. Corresponds to Basic Human Needs:

The basic need of every human being is that they want to be a part of the organisation which they can respect and be proud of, because they perceive it to be ethical. Everybody likes to be associated with an organisation which the society respects as a honest and socially responsible organisation. The HR managers have to fulfill this basic need of the employees as well as their own basic need that they want to direct an ethical organisation. The basic needs of the employees as well as the managers compel the organizations to be ethically oriented.

2. Credibility in the Public:

Ethical values of an organisation create credibility in the public eye. People will like to buy the product of a company if they believe that the company is honest and is offering value for money. The public issues of such companies are bound to be a success. Because of this reason only the cola companies are spending huge sums of money on the advertisements now-a-days to convince the public that their products are safe and free from pesticides of any kind.

3. Credibility with the Employees:

When employees are convinced of the ethical values of the organisation they are working for, they hold the organisation in high esteem. It creates common goals, values and language. The HR manager will have credibility with the employees just because the organisation has creditability in the eyes of the public. Perceived social uprightness and moral values can win the employees more than any other incentive plans.

4. Better Decision Making:

Respect for ethics will force a management to take various economic, social and ethical aspects into consideration while taking the decisions. Decision making will be better if the decisions are in the interest of the public, employees and company’s own long term good.

5. Profitability:

Being ethical does not mean not making any profits. Every organisation has a responsibility towards itself also i.e., to earn profits. Ethical companies are bound to be successful and more profitable in the long run though in the short run they can lose money.

6. Protection of Society:

Ethics can protect the society in a better way than even the legal system of the country. Where law fails, ethics always succeed. The government cannot regulate all the activities that are harmful to the society. A HR manager, who is ethically sound, can reach out to agitated employees, more effectively than the police

Ans3 In today’s world, the role of science and technology is indispensable. We need Science and Technology in every sphere of our life like to treat diseases such as cancer or even to book a cab or train/flight ticket.

In fact, without technology (integrated with science), we cannot imagine our life per se.

One of the most important aspects of Science and Technology is that it has solution to the difficult of the difficult problems, the problems which have the potential to become major bottlenecks to the overall growth of the country. Some of these problems could be −

Health aspects

Standard of education

Availability of healthy food and safe drinking water

Infrastructure

On the other hand, once mitigating solutions are found for these problems, then the second major issue is the under-development in the field of scientific research and technology that directly affects the development of the country’s economy, infrastructure, higher education, and a few other fields listed below −

Development of nuclear technology

Defense technology

Development of satellites

Biotechnology

Meteorological science

Space technology

Nanotechnology

Wireless communication, etc.

All these technologies, in turn, provide favorable conditions for the country’s growth and increase healthy competition nationally and also internationally.

In today’s world, more often, we get to read or listen that developed countries, developing countries, underdeveloped countries, or even third-world countries, all these designate the level of development of Science and Technology in other countries, they have the influence on.

Government has also created an exclusive department to emphasize on the development of Science and Technology and a separate budget is also allocated for the same.

Nature of Science & Technology

Let us now discuss the nature of Science and Technology. There are normally two types of knowledge required for the overall development of a country −

Technical Knowledge

It can be defined in the simplest term as – ‘know-how’. It includes ranges of basic skills such as advancement in agriculture, development of chemical industries, medical technology, software engineering, etc.

Understanding of the attributes or elements

It means, knowledge and understanding of the intelligence of workers, quality of products, value of a firm, effectiveness of market, etc.

The uncompetitiveness of any of the attributes or elements leads to knowledge gap and information deficiency, which is directly related to the under-development of the respective country.

Likewise, Science and Technology is directly related to the overall development of the country. As a matter of fact, Science and Technology facilitates healthy competition between the different attributes and elements and acts like a platform for a better life.

Therefore, in order to alleviate the basic problems of food and supply, safe drinking water, health problems, education, infrastructure, etc., the emphasis and gradual development of Science and Technology is essential.

Ans 5 The title may sound like some fantasy, or a overly utopian idea, but actually this is the premise of the Vedic teachings. That is why there is the saying in Sanskrit, Vasudhaiv Kutumbikam, “the world is one family”. Certainly we can see that the whole world is populated by people who are working to attain the same things: happiness, peace, security, resources like food and shelter, and a hopeful future. How much easier it could be if we focused on our similarities instead of our differences. And with that, how much easier it would be to find the necessary cooperation that would pave the way for global assistance in helping everyone acquire what they need.

            Yes, we are all born in certain parts of the world and may have different physical or cultural characteristics. You may be born a Caucasian in America, or a black person in Africa, or an Arabian, or German, or in an Islamic family or Christian, etc. But did you make a decision that this was what you were going to be? Or did you just sort of find yourself in this situation? Did you just happen to have a family that taught you what you should accept yourself to be? Or did you really make a deliberate decision that this was the identity you wanted to accept? Or, on the other hand, would you really like to see more deeply than this identity and discover what you are above and beyond the temporary and changing body? The fact of the matter is that we are all hoping and struggling to find the same basic needs as everyone else. So this means that whatever the appearances of the body may be, we all have many of the same aspirations. And we share the planet similar to the way a family of brothers and sisters share the same home.

            By having a solid understanding of such spiritual knowledge, there is automatically a respect for all others regardless of race, sex, or species. This brings a moral and peaceful social behavior in everybody toward everyone. By having respect for everyone’s spiritual identity, parts and parcels of the Lord, this also brings an innate happiness in us all. We can understand that we are only visiting this planet for a short time, and that we are all in this together. In other words, my contribution to your well-being, especially spiritual well-being, will be an automatic contribution to my own existence. In this way, society at large is in a state of constant improvement. That is the goal of the Vedic way of life.

Ans 1 What is Trust?
Trust, the fiduciary relationship between a trustor and trustee, is created by any settler with its lawyer. The settler will decide the method of transferring the assets. Either the whole or some parts of an asset get transferred. The guidelines and rules for any trust depend upon the conditions and terms on which it was built. It helps determine the method of distributing money to a person during his life or after his death. Moreover, they also help in avoiding taxes. However, it takes significant time and money to create it.

Ans2 The aggregate of all the mutually interacting units — big or small, sentient or insentient together can be called nature. These units are infinite in number and we could easily observe that there exists a dynamic balance, self regulation among all these units. This self regulation is harmony or balance in nature. The law of nature has a unique cause and effect system which must be understood in order to be in harmony with the natural law of things.

Natural harmony is necessary for the following reasons:

Natural harmony is necessary to solve the problem of global warming and depletion of non-renewable natural resource can be aboided.

Natural harmony with tees cure all problems like — reduction of wind velocity, energy savings, doing companion planting, development of an eco-subsystem in terms of establishing a forest garden, reduction of building heat.

Ans3 Meaning-Wealth refers to the state of being rich or having an abundance of material assets and money.

Prosperity refers to the state of having an abundance of material assets and money as well as other contributing factors like health and happiness.

Ans 4 Burning of fossil fuels gives out all kinds of gases in the atmosphere causing air pollution and green house effect. Building of dams causes large areas to submerge. Various industries release various pollutants into the air, water and soil. Thus, the main damage caused to the environment of use of natural resources is environment pollution. Thus, on the one hand our natural resources are getting depleted and on the other hand, we are polluting the earth's environment which can regenerate those natural resources to some extent. It can be said that this is a double blow that we are inflicting on ourselves.

Ans 5 At the level of society, individuals aspire to ensure harmony and integration among four levels - Individual, Family, Society and Nature.

1 At the level of the individual – Rising problems of depression, psychological disorders, suicides, stress, insecurity, psycho-somatic diseases, loneliness etc.

2 At the level of the family – Breaking of joint families, mistrust, conflict between older and younger generations, insecurity in relationships, divorce, dowry tortures, family feuds, wasteful expenditure in family functions etc.

3 At the level of the Society – Growing incidences of terrorism and naxalism, rising communalism, spreading casteism, racial and ethnic struggle, wars between nations, attempts of genocide, fear of nuclear and genetic warfare, etc.

4 At the level of nature – Global warming, water, air, soil, noise, etc. pollution, resource depletion of minerals and mineral oils, sizeable deforestations, loss of fertility of soil.

It therefore, calls for an urgent need for human beings to correctly understand happiness and prosperity as well as the sustainable way to achieve these.