Ethics Basics for UPSC GS IV | Core Theories, Thinkers & Concepts - Approaches to Ethical Decision Making – GS 4 UPSC Ethics Case Studies Explained | KM Pathi

How do you ethically resolve a moral dilemma—especially in a UPSC case study? In this session, KM Pathi explains the prescriptive approach to ethical decision making, one of the most important tools for tackling GS-IV case studies. Learn how philosophers like Kant and Aristotle, and frameworks like stakeholder analysis, help civil servants take justifiable action when values collide. In This Video, You’ll Learn: • What ethical dilemmas are and how UPSC frames them in case studies • The three prescriptive approaches: 1. Consequentialism – judging actions by outcomes 2. Deontology – acting from duty or obligation 3. Virtue Ethics – guided by character and moral integrity • How stakeholder analysis helps in utilitarian thinking • Why duties and obligations are central to administrative ethics • The role of personal and professional integrity in decision-making • How to apply all three approaches in complex case studies Who This Video Helps: • UPSC GS-IV aspirants preparing for Ethics case studies • Students mastering ethical decision frameworks • Public administration learners and ethics enthusiasts • Anyone aiming to handle dilemmas using structured moral reasoning #Ethics101 #KMPathi #GS4Ethics #EthicalDecisionMaking #UPSCprep #CaseStudyEthics #IASethics #MoralPhilosophy Timestamp 00:00 – Introduction: Ethics as a Daily Decision-Making Process 01:05 – Case Studies in GS-IV: Two Approaches to Resolution 01:40 – What Is the Prescriptive Approach? 02:10 – Three Philosophical Approaches to Dilemma Resolution 03:00 – Consequentialism: End-Focused Thinking 04:00 – Ethical Egoism vs. Utilitarianism 05:10 – Stakeholder Analysis in Ethics 06:10 – Why Policymakers Favor Consequentialism 06:45 – Deontology: Duty and Obligation-Based Ethics 08:10 – Role of Duties in Civil and Personal Life 09:00 – Virtue Ethics: Integrity, Moral Qualities, Aristotle 10:00 – Applying All Three to a UPSC Case Study 11:25 – Final Recap: Duties, Virtues, and Consequences