Quote by Gandhi, Essay Example

“The things that will destroy us are: politics without principle; pleasure without conscience; wealth without work; knowledge without character; business without morality; science without humanity; and worship without sacrifice.”

There is a definitive relationship between that of law, ethical codes and professional practice. The law is essentially a legal framework for the maintenance of law and order in society. It is a mandatory requirement for all citizens and is punative for those who chose to break the law. Ethical codes, as normally administered by the professions e.g. accounting, law, medical etc. are sets of guidelines for conducting professional behavior within a specific field. A breach of ethics is also punative in that it may result in a disciplinary hearing, whereby in worst cases you may be disbarred from the profession. Professional practice is an extension of ethics but equally has legal connotations in that you are expected to conduct yourself in a professional way in accordance with the ethics and standards of your profession e.g. Doctors and Nurses.

In Wealth without work Gandhi was referring to people getting something for no effort. A reference to the lack of ethical values amongst people. Pleasure without conscience was Gandhi’s reference to avarice or greed and the lack of responsibility for ones’ actions. Gandhi referenced business without morality. An example being selling arms to third world nations where such weapons are used for acts of genocide, the production of landmines etc. All of these are business without moral considerations they are both unethical and in many cases illegal acts. This equally equates to politics without principle. The selling of such arms to immature nations may be an example of politics without principle. You may gain large revenues for selling to a warlord but indirectly you may be considered responsible for crimes against humanity. Consider the situation of those who sell arms to the Assad regime in Syria and then such weapons are used in order to kill his own people.

Gandhi referred to these as seven deadly sins or habits and much of this is covered in Christianity within the framework of the Ten Commandments.