Conscience refers to the voice within us that guides us to make ethical decisions. Crisis of Conscience refers to the dissonance between the voice of conscience and external realities and responsibilities of individuals. It reflects a state of dilemma and poses difficulties in decision making.
Manifestation of Crisis of Conscience in public domain:
1. Crisis of conscience can occur when there is a conflict of interest between the primary duty of public service and personal duties and responsibilities.
2. It can result when an honest individual is working in a corrupt organisation and is expected to either collude or stay quiet. E.g.: Edward Snowden before he became a whistle-blower.
3. It can also emanate when public officials have to balance the goal of objectivity with fairness and compassion for the poor. E.g.: providing PDS benefits to an old woman who is not a registered beneficiary but in need of help.
4. Crisis of conscience also results when public officials have to prioritise one goal over the other for maximum happiness of maximum number of people. For example, whether to prioritise women or elderly when evacuating during a disaster.
5. Crisis of conscience in public domain can also manifest as taking less ethical decisions due to necessities and compulsions, for example the wars of 1962,1965,1971,1999 did lead to loss of lives but was necessary for national security.
Crisis of Conscience can be addressed with:
• Moral reasoning and courage instead of hasty decisions
• Decisions based on ethical principles and practical knowledge
• Meditation, Yoga, spending time in nature
• Deep connection with the voice of conscience to enable ethical decision making.
In the public domain, a crisis of conscience is inevitable given ethical dilemmas and conflicting priorities. The best method of resolving them is through the spirit of Gandhiji’s Talisman that nudges one to remember the face of Antyodaya, the poorest when making decisions and thinking of its consequences.