Probity in Governance - Introduction
The term “Probity” has its roots in the Latin word “probitas,” which means “good.” It is widely accepted as a confirmation of integrity, and it is generally considered to be beyond corruption. Probity represents a set of moral principles that individuals strictly adhere to, including honesty, uprightness, transparency, and incorruptibility. In the context of governance, probity is concerned with the propriety and character of different governmental bodies, regardless of the people who run them, to ensure that they uphold procedural uprightness. It requires adopting an ethical and transparent approach that can withstand scrutiny. Probity extends beyond avoiding dishonesty because it is determined by intangible factors such as personal and societal values.
The importance of ethical considerations in governance has been highlighted extensively in Indian texts and other literary works, including but not limited to Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagvad Gita, Buddha Charita, Arthashastra, Panchatantra, Manusmriti, Kural, Shukra Niti, Kadambari, Raja Tarangani, and Hitopadesh. Chinese thinkers, including Lao Tse, Confucius, and Mencius, also played a significant role in the development of theoretical principles related to ethical governance.
There are three main philosophical perspectives on ethics and governance.
1. The first, inspired by Aristotle, posits that virtues such as justice, charity, and generosity are qualities that lead individuals to act in ways that benefit both themselves and the society they belong to.
2. The second perspective, put forth by Immanuel Kant, places the concept of duty at the center of morality. In other words, humans have a duty to obey the categorical imperative to respect other rational beings they interact with based on their knowledge of their duty as rational beings. Kant believed that applying the same reasoning methods would be successful in solving moral philosophical problems.
3. The third perspective is utilitarianism, which asserts that the principle guiding conduct should be the greatest happiness or benefit of the greatest number. Utilitarianism is a form of consequentialism, meaning the “end justifies the means.”
David Hume was another philosopher who developed an ethical theory of governance. Hume maintained that moral distinctions stem from feelings of pleasure and pain, rather than from reason, as held by many Western philosophers since Socrates. Based on the empiricist principle that the mind is essentially passive, Hume claimed that reason alone cannot produce or prevent any action or affection. However, since morals relate to actions and affections, they cannot be based solely on reason.
