Q7. “Economic distress may explain wrongdoing, but it can never justify it”. Discuss this in light of ethical reasoning. How should morality guide choices under severe financial pressure? (10 M)
Difficulty Level: Medium
Reference: Mint
Why the question
A twelve‑year‑old boy was reportedly abducted by a relative in Patna’s Phulwarisharif who wanted to repay his loan of ₹12 lakh.
Key demand of the question
The demand is to critically assess whether financial hardship can morally justify wrongdoing and to outline how ethical principles, theories, and values should guide decision-making in times of financial pressure.
Structure of the Answer
Introduction
Briefly highlight how ethics is tested in adversity and why explanation of acts differs from their justification.Body
- Ethical reasoning against justification: Use thinkers like Kant (duty), Bentham (utilitarianism), Ambedkar (constitutional morality) to show why distress cannot justify wrongdoing.
- Morality guiding choices: Draw on Aristotle’s virtue ethics, Gandhi’s means-ends principle, and ethics of care to suggest how individuals should act responsibly under stress.
Conclusion
End with a crisp futuristic note that true morality lies in upholding dignity and justice even in hardship.
