Please Login To Continue

What will you pick, law or ethics?

Lesson 6 of 7 • 9 upvotes • 10:36mins

Avatar

Faizan Khan

Solution- Laws are part of ethics and purpose of making any law is enforcement of societal morality. But sometime laws may come in conflict with the prevailing morality and this creates ethical dilemma. If Edward Snowden followed the Espionage act of 1971 and did not leak state secret then – a)      He would have followed professional ethics and contract. He would be loyal to his organisation, CIA. b)      He would have not allegedly put national security in jeopardy. c)       International reputation of his government would not have been marred. However stand of Snowden can be justified based on following ethical principle – a)      Gandhiji advocated for breaking the unjust law. He said, “An unjust law is itself a species of violence”. b)      As per the Rousseau’s social contract theory people do give up some of their rights to the sovereign power to protect rest of their rights. However how much right has to be given up will be decided by people. In this case permission of surveillance will have to be taken by government; otherwise social contact will be broken. c)       Socrates also advocated for “speaking truth to power” if sovereign authority is using power unjustly. d)      As per third Principle of Kant’s categorical imperative one has to behave like a “creature of kingdom of ends”. This means that one has to impose moral principle on oneself. e)      This will also enable value of transparency and accountability in administration.   Based on above analysis I agree that Snowden’s actions were ethically justified even if legally prohibited. Government cannot beak the trust reposed by people. Even Chanakya has mentioned ‘Spy System’ in ‘Arthashastra’, but it was declared state policy. If such surveillance is in national interest then government must pass a law on it and inform people. This will ensure apolitical use of it, only for national interest.

Continue on app
1

Criterion, Old Couple don't Meet; Will U Still give them Scheme's Benefit?

14:45mins

2

Minister Want Manipulation in Project, Will U be party or U Will Reject?

13:39mins

3

Illicit liquor Seen as law and Order issue; what's right approach according to U

14:39mins

4

Chemical Factory Polluting Environment, Loss to Health and Crop; as a senior officer what's ur job?

11:36mins

5

Will you follow the rule strictly, even when there is no benefit visibly?

9:33mins

6

What will you pick, law or ethics?

10:36mins

7

What will you pick, law or ethics?

8:05mins

Crack UPSC CSE - GS with Unacademy

Get subscription and access unlimited live and recorded courses from India's best educators
Structured syllabus
Structured syllabus
Daily live classes
Daily live classes
Ask doubts
Ask doubts
Tests & practice
Tests & practice

Similar Plus Courses

thumbnail
ENROLL
HinglishPolity, Governance & IR

Comprehensive Governance for UPSC CSE 2025 - 26

Dr Sidharth Arora

Unacademy is India’s largest online learning platform. Download our apps to start learning


Starting your preparation?

Call us and we will answer all your questions about learning on Unacademy

Call +91 8585858585
Company
About usShikshodayaCareersBlogsPrivacy PolicyTerms and Conditions
Products
Learner appLearner appEducator appEducator appParent appParent app