(a) All human beings aspire for happiness. Do you agree? What does happiness mean to you? Explain with examples. (b) What does ethics seek to promote in human life? Why is it all the more important in public administration?

(a) Aspiration for happiness

Yes, all human beings aspire for happiness — Aristotle called it eudaimonia, the ultimate end that all other goals serve. But happiness is not the same as pleasure. To me it means a deep, durable contentment that flows from meaningful work, healthy relationships and living in accordance with one's values, rather than fleeting sensory gratification. For example, the satisfaction of helping a distressed citizen, or of a farmer finally securing his entitlement, gives a lasting joy that material acquisition cannot.

(b) What ethics seeks to promote

Ethics seeks to promote human well-being, harmony and justice by guiding conduct towards what is right — fostering trust, cooperation and dignity in social life, and restraining the self-interest that harms others.

It is all the more important in public administration because:

• Civil servants wield public power and resources as a trust; ethics guards against their corruption and abuse.
• Their decisions affect millions, so fairness and impartiality are essential.
• Wide discretion and limited direct accountability must be checked by an internalised moral compass, not by rules alone.

Conclusion

True happiness and ethical public service converge: to serve others well is itself a source of the deepest and most lasting human satisfaction.