ABSTRACT
This chapter examines several "false starts" in the approach to the study of ethics. It argues that resignation is the proper solution, and recourse to the principles of civil disobedience is never justifiable for an American bureaucrat. Conflict of interest is such an important ethical issue that the term is frequently used as a surrogate for broader questions of ethics in government. Ethical considerations that aim at developing a sense of professional commitment in the career civil service must include the more positive aspects of the opportunities for public service. To stress such universal human values as consideration for, and sensitivity to, the needs of others runs the risk of ignoring the distinctive qualities of government employment that must be stressed in meaningful reflections on professional ethics. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
