In the murky realm of decision-making, Abraham Lincoln proposes a nuanced lens. Rather than seeking absolutes of pure good or evil in any course of action, he urges us to embrace the inherent complexity of existence. For Lincoln, the world is rarely black and white; it’s a tapestry woven with threads of both, demanding a constant evaluation of the “preponderance” between light and shadow. Whether navigating the intricate landscape of governmental policies or weighing personal choices, our judgment leans on this delicate dance between what uplifts and what harms. In this twilight zone, where most things harbor elements of both, lies the true test of discernment: discerning the greater good amidst the inevitable presence of its opposite. This is the challenge Lincoln lays before us – to become skilled alchemists, extracting and amplifying the good while recognizing and mitigating the ever-present evil that shadows every choice.
Tag: Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators.
Decoding the Question:
- In the Introduction, try to write a brief about Abraham Lincoln.
- In Body,
- Explain the statement with examples.
- Discuss it in the present context.
- In Conclusion, try to write your opinion.
Answer:
Abraham Lincoln was an American statesman and lawyer who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. He is regarded as one of America’s greatest heroes due to his role as savior of the Union and emancipator of enslaved people. In this above statement, Lincoln strikes at the heart of our beliefs in modern values of good or bad, right or wrong as absolute. He meant that actions, policies and programs, however good they seem to be, produce negative impacts.
For Example: If we take an example of Aadhaar. As a technological tool, it can bring various socio-economic changes through Direct Benefit Transfer, rapid poverty alleviation, tracking /prevention of crime/criminals, greater coordination in governance apart from other social good, etc. However it also has challenges like privacy curtailment, authoritarianism, targeting of minorities.
Relevance of the quote in the present context:
- This statement rightly points out that we have to weigh both pros and cons not as a unique policy but as a process. Though today we have considered using Aadhar for social good, in the future if we find it a threat to individual rights we should be ready to change the policy.
- Lincoln’s statement (1848) is relevant for the present-day world. The world is not just black and white; there are shades of grey, thus public policies and decision-making have to be accordingly adjusted.
- Nothing is completely evil or totally good. One has to apply mind and find out if something has more bad (evil) in it or good in it. Most things have both bad and good in them and a good administrator must continuously examine them.
- Fore example in a recent judgment, the Supreme Court declares practices like Triple Talaq and restriction of women to Sabarimala temple illegal, because although religious groups have right to manage their own affairs (Article 26), but still such derogatory practices were against right to equality (Article 14) and right to dignified life (Article 21). Thus, these are quashed by the Supreme Court.
- Other examples – Loan waivers to farmers, construction of large dams, interference in Personal laws of the community; all these have pros and cons. It is upto us to weigh them and use them accordingly is what the statement means to me in today’s context.
- Lincoln’s statement could also be seen in the light of dams and hydro-electric power projects in India. On one hand, they displace the tribals and uproot forests but on the other hand they bring electricity, infrastructure, employment and development. If the damages are more and cannot be offset by the possible good development then it is likely a bad course of action. Most public policy decisions could be analyzed in this light.
Government policy is neither wholly good nor wholly bad. In that it could be good for many and bad for some and so on. Policymakers must analyze it, to find out what dominates. If the evil content is more than the good then such a policy course should be rejected; but if the good dominates, then it could be adopted or embraced.
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