Q7. “Suspicion corrodes trust, and without trust, ethics collapses”. Discuss the ethical role of empathy in sustaining personal and professional relationships. Evaluate the broader ethical consequences of erosion of trust in society and institutions. (10 M)
Difficulty Level: Medium
Reference: NIE
Why the question
Asked in the backdrop of rising domestic conflicts, workplace stress, and institutional trust deficits, highlighting the ethical importance of empathy and the consequences of mistrust.Key demand of the question
The answer must explain how empathy sustains personal and professional bonds, and then analyse how erosion of trust impacts society and institutions at large.Structure of the Answer:
Introduction:
Define trust as the foundation of ethics and introduce empathy as its sustaining force.
Body:
- Role of empathy in personal and professional relationships – mention respect, conflict resolution, teamwork, leadership.
- Broader ethical consequences of erosion of trust – mention social capital decline, legitimacy crisis, corruption, polarisation, democratic weakening.
Conclusion:
End with the need for empathetic leadership and ethical education to restore trust in relationships and governance.
