UHV-II: Universal Human

Values – Understanding
Harmony and Ethical Human
Conduct
Module 5 – Implications of the Holistic Understanding – a Look at Professional Ethics
Module 5 – Implications of the Holistic Understanding – a Look at Professional Ethics
(6 lectures and 3 tutorials/ practice sessions)
Lecture 23: Natural Acceptance of Human Values
Lecture 24: Definitiveness of (Ethical) Human Conduct
Tutorial 12: Practice Session PS12 Exploring Ethical Human Conduct
Lecture 25: A Basis for Humanistic Education, Humanistic Constitution and Universal Human Order
Lecture 26: Competence in Professional Ethics
Tutorial 13: Practice Session PS13 Exploring Humanistic Models in Education
Lecture 27: Holistic Technologies, Production Systems and Management Models-Typical Case Studies
Lecture 28: Strategies for Transition towards Value-based Life and Profession
Tutorial 14: Practice Session PS14 Exploring Steps of Transition towards Universal Human Order

It may be pertinent to mention that this course also presents a rather ‘unconventional’, but more fundamental
approach to professional ethics where the major focus is on the development of the ethical competence of the
individual rather than relying only on codes of conduct, oaths, whistle-blowing etc.

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Placement of Module 5
Understanding Harmony
Modules
Feeling of relationship 1-4
mutual fulfilment, values

Thought Principles and

Guidelines for
Ethical Human Conduct
Module 5
Behaviour Ethical behaviour
Work and Ethical work (examples and
Participation Ethical participation case studies…)

Outcome Continuous happiness at individual level and

expected Fulfilment of human goal at societal level

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For more details
UHV-II: Universal Human Values – Understanding Harmony and Ethical Human Conduct
A one-semester 3-credit mandatory course in the AICTE Model Curriculum 2021

Presentations, Handout of Class Notes:

https://fdp-si.aicte-india.org/download.php#1

Recordings on YouTube: Professional Ethics lectures of UHV-II Lectures 23-28

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BikdYub6RY0&list=PLWDeKF97v9SPFYVPis99l9eD-
wZf0RypK

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Lecture 23: Natural Acceptance of
Human Values
Basis for Universal Human Values
Recap
• In previous lectures, we concluded by identifying co-existence in the entire
existence.
• In the following lectures, we will try to understand how right understanding
provides the basis for universal human values enabling their natural
assimilation.

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Natural Acceptance of Human Values
• Based on our understanding of harmony, we participate in the larger order.
• Our participation at different levels is our value.
• The identification of values is based on realisation and understanding.
• The participation of the human being is in the form of behaviour and work.

• We studied about the values of behaviour as the nine values in relationship:

trust, respect, affection, care, guidance, reverence, gratitude, glory and love.
• It results into mutual happiness

• Likewise, work with material things, ensuring their right utilisation, enrichment
and protection is our value.
• It results into
prosperity for human being and
preservation of the rest of nature (enrichment, protection and right utilisation)
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Consolidated List of Human Values
1. In the Self – Continuous happiness- Happiness, Peace, Satisfaction, Bliss
2. In Human Being- with Body- Feeling of self-regulation in self, health in body
3. In Human-Human Relationship – Justice
(established values- trust,… love + expressed values- … compassion)
4. In Human-Rest of Nature Relationship – Prosperity in human being, preservation (enrichment,
protection and right utilisation) of rest of Nature
5. In Universal Human Order – participation in different systems -Perseverence, Bravity, Generosity,
Kindness, Beneficience, Compassion –

The value of a human being is something definite

In that sense, human values are definite
The participation of a human being living with human consciousness is definite – in the Self, in human-
human relationship, in human-rest of nature relationship and in the human society (universal human
order)

NOTE: That definite participation can be described in multiple ways

This is one description of that definite participation (human values)

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Implications of Value-based Living
• At the level of individual:
▪ Transition towards happiness and prosperity, slowly getting rid of the contradictions and
conflicts within through self-exploration and thus getting rid of the tension, frustration,
depression, one-upmanship, psycho-somatic disorders etc. facilitating definite human
conduct.
▪ The feeling of self-regulation will reduce the occurrence of diseases and in turn the feeling
of insecurity. This will help the individual lead a more fulfilling life.
• At the level of family:
▪ Value-based living facilitating peace and harmony in the family, with more occurrences of
just and fulfilling behaviour raising the feeling of togetherness in the families and reducing
the family feuds.
▪ People will feel prosperous and the feeling to nurture others will grow in the families.
▪ Such harmonious living will also help reduce the consumerist behaviour in family
celebrations like marriages, parties and other social functions.

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Implications of Value-based Living…
• At the level of society:
▪ Mutual trust and fearlessness developing in the society, reduction of discrimination on the
basis of body (in terms of gender, age or race), physical facility (in terms of wealth or posts)
and beliefs (in terms of isms, sects, etc), solution emerging to problems like terrorism,
communalism and international conflicts etc.
▪ The feeling of undividedness will grow in the society.
▪ Fulfilment of human goal will start getting to the fore in our plans and projects at all levels
and gradually a human order based on trustful relationships will slowly emerge.
• At the level of nature:
▪ Human order fulfilling all the other three orders of nature, problems of pollution and resource
depletion being handled smoothly when people are able to judge appropriately their needs
for physical facility themselves and the mode of fulfilment is eco-friendly.
▪ Better methods of farming and production will help cut down problems of greenhouse gases,
ozone depletion, ecological imbalance, etc.
▪ The various species of animals and birds can be saved from extinction and forests can be
replenished.

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Key Takeaways
• Human Values are naturally acceptable

• Living with Human Values leads to mutual happiness and mutual prosperity
• Value-based living is a natural outcome of the right understanding.

• Its implications can be seen at all levels of living of human being.

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Lecture 24: Definitiveness of (Ethical)
Human Conduct
Definitiveness of Ethical Human Conduct
Harmony at Different Levels Expression & Achievement
Harmony at the level of Self Happiness
Harmony of the Self with the Body Feeling of self-regulation at the level of Self
and
Health at the level of body
Harmony in the family, in human-human Mutual happiness, trust, fearlessness…
relationship justice

Harmony with rest of nature Mutual prosperity – prosperity in human

being and preservation of rest of nature

Harmony with the whole of nature/ Co-existence (mutual fulfilment) with entire
existence Nature

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Definitiveness of Ethical Human Conduct- View 1

vuqHko& Lo;a esa

Realization- Within

Human Tradition
ekuoh; ijaijk
Mutual Happiness Mutual Prosperity Fulfillment of Human Goal
mHk; lq[k mHk; le`f) Ekkuo y{; dh iwfrZ
Undivided Human Society vfHkO;fDr& ckgj Universal Human Order
v[k.M ekuoh; lekt Expression- Outside lkoZHkkSe ekuoh; O;oLFkk 21
Definitiveness of Ethical Human Conduct- View 2
The ethical human conduct can be further grasped in terms of
• Values,
• Policy and
• Character

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Values, Policy and Character – Ethical Human Conduct
• Human Values – Understanding "What to do as a human being" and
"What not to do as a human being"

• Policy – Detail, thought of "how to do" Human Constitution

Includes plan, program, implementation, results, evaluation
− Policy for enrichment of Self (I), Body, Physical Facility (Human Economics)
− Policy for protection of Self (I), Body, Physical Facility (Human Politics)
− Policy for right utilisation of Self (I), Body, Physical Facility (Human Sociology)

• Character –
− Compassionate behaviour, work and participation in larger order
− Rightfully acquired wealth
− Chastity in conjugal relationship

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Values
• Understanding "What to do as a human being" and "What not to do as a human
being" *1
• Understanding of role of Human Being in Existence
• Once we have the right understanding (of relationship, harmony and co-
existence), we are able to see our natural participation or values at all levels of
being – from individual, to family, society, nature/existence.
• This participation or the human values are definite and form the basis of our
ethical human conduct.

*1 To be able to distinguish between “source of continuous happiness and

temporary excitement”…
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Policy
• Thought of how to express (live with) Human Values
• Detail, thought of "how to do" Human Constitution
Includes plan, program, implementation, results, evaluation
o Policy for enrichmentof Self (I), Body, Physical Facility
(Human Economics)
o Policy for protection of Self (I), Body, Physical Facility
(Human Politics)
o Policy for right utilisation of Self (I), Body, Physical Facility
(Human Sociology)

Priority
Right utilization
Protection
Enrichment

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Character
• Expression of Human Values in Behavior, Work and Participation in the Larger
Order
• This can be understood in terms of the following:
▪ Rightful acquisition and utilization of wealth – by way of labour, using cyclic and
mutually enriching production processes.
▪ Compassionate behaviour, work & participation in larger order on the basis of
human values
Behaviour– ensuring justice, mutual happiness (while filling the gaps created in ignorance)
Work – ensuring preservation, mutual prosperity (while filling the gaps created in ignorance)
Participation in larger order- leading to fulfilment of the comprehensive human goal
(while filling the gaps created in ignorance)

▪ Chastity in conjugal relationship i.e. chastity in husband-wife relationship.

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Rightfully Acquired Wealth
Production- through labour on rest of nature (using cyclic and mutually enriching
production processes) or physical facility obtained in exchange of service

Gift – wealth shared willingly / happily (with the feeling of relationship) from one’s
rightfully acquired wealth on various occasions like festivals (ex. gift in
relationship)

Award – physical facility / wealth given with joy in a function to recognise one’s
contribution to society (participation in the societal order) and for motivating
others

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Understanding Harmony Preconditioning Conflict…

Feeling of relationship VALUES Feeling of opposition,

mutual fulfilment competition…

Thought how to be mutually POLICY Thought Mixed,

fulfilling how to maximise my gains...

Behaviour Ethical behaviour Behaviour Indefinite behaviour

Work and work CHARACTER Work and work
Participation participation Participation participation

Promotion Self discipline, Complementarity Promotion Discipline

(Human Constitution) Fear of punishment
Incentive of reward…
Outcome Mutual happiness codes of conduct,
Prosperity in human being oaths, whistle-blowing…
Preservation of rest of nature
Outcome Mixed 33
Ethical Human Conduct
Further
• ‘Ethical conduct’ implies that it is naturally acceptable to me and does not give
rise to conflict within
• ‘Ethical conduct’ implies that it is in consonance with the right understanding of
the reality – the underlying harmony at all levels.
• ‘Ethical conduct’ implies that it leads to mutual fulfilment with other people and
mutual enrichment with rest of nature

Thus, the ‘ethical conduct’ is self-satisfying, people-friendly and eco-friendly for all
time, place and individual.

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Key Takeaways
• Ethical human conduct emerging out of right understanding leads to harmony at
all levels of being – from oneself to family, society and nature/ existence.
• It is definite for all time, place and individual.

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Lecture 25: Professional Ethics in the
light of Right Understanding
Profession – In Context of the Comprehensive Human Goal
• A profession is a mode of participation by human beings in the larger order in
pursuance of comprehensive human goal-individual & collective.
• The excellence or the success of any professional activity is to be judged from this
comprehensive point of view only and not in terms of merely wealth generation.
• The profession is not only a means of earning one’s livelihood, but also a means of
one’s evolution by appropriate participation in the larger order.
• It is an important activity to authenticate one’s understanding, whereby we interact with
other human beings and with rest of nature in a mutually fulfilling manner.

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Professional Ethics
• Professional ethics can be seen as the code of ethical conduct of the profession (as defined
above).

• Ethical conduct of profession implies the right utilization of one’s professional skills for
participation in the larger order towards the fulfillment of comprehensive human goal.

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Salient Features Characterizing Professional Ethics
1. Clarity about the comprehensive human goal

2. Confidence in oneself as well as confidence in the harmony, coexistence and self-regulation

prevailing in entire existence

3. Competence of mutually fulfilling behaviour

4. Competence of mutually enriching interaction with nature

5. Holistic vision about technologies, production systems and management techniques.

6. Understanding of one’s societal responsibility

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Issues in Professional Ethics – The Current Scenario
• The issues in professional ethics are becoming very complex in the current scenario.

• The unethical practices are rapidly increasing and their impact is also becoming far-reaching.

• As a result of this ‘epidemic’ of unethical practices, we are frequently coming across serious
scams, major economic offences, kickbacks in large scale purchases etc.

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Some Salient Categories of Unethical Practices Today
• Corruption in multiple forms and at various levels
• Tax evasion, misappropriation and misuse of public funds
• Misuse of political power and bureaucratic authority
• Misleading propaganda, unethical advertisements and sales promotion
• Cut-throat competition
• Exploiting the weakness of consumers through various enticements, bewildering
advertisements
• Adulteration and spurious production
• Endangering the health and safety of public at large
• Hoarding and over-charging etc.

The list could be much longer…

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Prevailing Approaches towards Promotion of Professional Ethics
• Promoting awareness about professional ethics by introducing new courses, refresher
programs and case studies
• Administering oaths and prescribing codes of ethical conduct for specific professional
disciplines
• Setting up mechanisms for intensive audit inspection and monitoring the activities
• Framing more stringent laws and devising harder punishments for offences Promoting
transparency in working systems through mechanisms like RTI (Right to Information Act), etc.
• Carrying out ‘sting operations’ and widely publicising serious lapses in ethical conduct of
profession through media
• Encouraging whistle blowing by individuals or groups
• Setting up Lokpals, vigilance commissions, ethics committees, tribunals, consumer protection
forums, etc.
• Filing public interest litigations (PIL), etc.

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Inadequacy of Prevailing Approaches
• Looking at the various methods and mechanisms which are being presently employed to
check these trends and their effectiveness, one can see that most of the methods being
adopted are either of symptomatic nature or punitive measures or crisis management
techniques rather than real solutions to the whole problem.

• The focus in these methods is primarily towards curbing the ill effects rather than rectifying the
root cause, namely the faulty world-view which continues to remain dominant (managing the
disease rather than ensuring health).

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Inherent Contradictions and Dilemmas
• We can understand more clearly through examples how the contradictions and dilemmas are
inherently generated by the prevailing worldview in which wealth maximization is perceived to
be the prime objective.
• Thus, the other person’s happiness (assumed to be related to wealth accumulation) seems to
be in conflict with my happiness.
• In that case, the other people have to be exploited for one to gain affluence and there is no
possibility of mutual fulfillment in a sustainable way.
• In the same way, exploitation of nature also becomes inevitable as it helps a person to
accumulate wealth easily and there is no limit to this.
• Take the example of business circles, whenever there is a scarcity of commodity due to say –
monsoon failure or other natural disturbances or wars etc., the people in general are in
distress and need support. However, in such a situation, the businessmen endowed with
prevailing (inhuman) world view will feel elated and look at it as an opportunity to make
maximum profit.

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The Way Ahead
• To resolve the situation, sincere effort towards building up the ethical
competence of human beings in general and professionals in particular through
human education [starting with value education and value based education
leading to value-based living]
• It can be an effective way to safeguard professional ethics.

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Practice Sessions
For Module 5 (Lectures 23-25)
Practice Session after Lecture 24
Tutorial 12: Practice Session PS12 Exploring Ethical Human Conduct

1. Watch the video “Hiware Bazaar”. It is a documentary about a progressive village in

Maharashtra, India about how good governance, along with the people of the village have
made significant change in their society
(Source: https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=cb0Qvh9BJ0s). Discuss:
a. The goal of this village and the systems that they have to fulfil these goals
b. The outcomes – achievements and areas of improvement You can additionally pick
current social problems in the campus or neighboring community and discuss how they
can be solved with the involvement of the students and teachers.

2. Recollect any situation in your life when you had to face a strong ethical dilemma. Explain
how, with the help of proper self-exploration and understanding, the dilemma could be
resolved.

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Expected Outcome
The students are able to clearly visualise the corelation between lack of Human
Values and the prevailing problems. They are also able to visualise tangible
steps and a roadmap for moving in the cherished direction – for a humane
society.

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FAQs for Lectures 23-25
Ethics
Questions
• What can be a sustainable solution to the problem of corruption?

• The planet has already entered the state where so much of destruction has
taken place. How to recover the damage done already?
• ...

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Quiz
Self Reflection