What you will learn

• Value education
• Happiness vs prosperity
• Choice making
• Types of values
• Nine universal values
• Harmony in family
• Harmony in society
• Coexistence in nature
• Four orders of nature
• Indian Ethos
• Vedanta
• Karma Yoga
• Dharma
• Trusteeship
• Professional integrity
• Workplace ethics
• Cybercrime
• Plagiarism
• POSH Act
• Fraud prevention

Course content (18 lessons)

1. Course Introduction: Human Values and Ethics — Course Introduction: Human Values and Ethics Human values are the deeply held beliefs and principles that guide our personal choices and our interactions with other people,…
2. 1.0 Unit 1 Overview: Introduction to Human Values — Unit I — Overview: Introduction to Human Values Unit I lays the foundation for the entire course. Topics: 1. The need for value education 2. Basic guidelines for value education…
3. 1.1 Need, Guidelines & Process of Value Education — 1.1 Need, Guidelines and Process of Value Education What is Value Education? Value education is the process of becoming aware of one's own values — what they are, where they come…
4. 1.2 Happiness, Prosperity & Right Understanding — 1.2 Happiness, Prosperity & Right Understanding The Two Most Wanted Things If you ask any human being, anywhere in the world, what they want — the deeper answers converge on two…
5. 1.3 Choice Making — Choosing, Cherishing & Acting — 1.3 Choice Making — Choosing, Cherishing & Acting Life is a Series of Choices Every moment, you make choices — what to eat, who to spend time with, what to study, how to react to…
6. 1.4 Types of Values & Self-Exploration — 1.4 Types of Values & Self-Exploration Classification of Human Values Values can be classified in several ways. The IPU-style curriculum mentions four broad categories : Type…
7. 2.0 Unit 2 Overview: Harmony in Family, Society & Human Relations — Unit II — Overview: Harmony in Family, Society & Human Relations Unit II expands outward from the self (covered in Unit I) to relationships — first family, then society, then…
8. 2.1 Harmony in Family — The Basic Unit of Human Interaction — 2.1 Harmony in Family Why the Family? The family is the first and most fundamental school of human values . Before any formal education, every child learns about love, trust,…
9. 2.2 Values in Human-Human Relationships — The Nine Universal Values — 2.2 Values in Human-Human Relationships Every Relationship Needs the Same Set of Values Whether the relationship is parent-child, husband-wife, friend-friend, teacher-student, or…
10. 2.3 Harmony in Society — Universal Order & Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam — 2.3 Harmony in Society & Universal Order From Family to Society Society is the larger context in which families exist. Just as values shape family harmony, they shape society. A…
11. 3.0 Unit 3 Overview: Coexistence & Indian Ethos — Unit III — Overview: Coexistence and Role of Indian Ethos Unit III draws on Indian philosophical traditions — particularly Vedanta — and applies their insights to modern life and…
12. 3.1 Four Orders of Nature & Interconnectedness — 3.1 The Four Orders of Nature The Big Picture — All of Nature in Four Orders Indian philosophy and modern science both recognise that nature can be divided into four orders , each…
13. 3.2 Ethos of Vedanta — Core Insights of Indian Philosophy — 3.2 Ethos of Vedanta What is Vedanta? Vedanta (Sanskrit: वेदान्त , literally "end of the Vedas") is the philosophical school that explores the deeper teachings of the Upanishads —…
14. 3.3 Indian Ethos in Modern Management — 3.3 Indian Ethos in Modern Management Why Indian Ethos for Management? For most of the 20th century, business management theory came overwhelmingly from the West — Taylor,…
15. 4.0 Unit 4 Overview: Professional Ethics — Unit IV — Overview: Professional Ethics Unit IV is the most directly career-relevant unit — translating the principles from Units I-III into specific workplace ethics . Topics: 1.…
16. 4.1 Professional Integrity, Respect, Trust & Cooperation — 4.1 Professional Integrity, Respect, Trust & Cooperation Professional Integrity Professional integrity is the practice of doing the right thing in your professional life — even…
17. 4.2 Workplace Ethics — Cybercrime, Plagiarism, Sexual Misconduct & Fraud — 4.2 Workplace Ethics — Cybercrime, Plagiarism, Sexual Misconduct & Fraud This lesson covers the four most serious workplace ethical violations that modern professionals —…
18. 4.3 Initiative, Openness, Loyalty & Universal Human Order — 4.3 Initiative, Openness, Loyalty & Universal Human Order This lesson covers the proactive virtues of professional conduct — what to actively cultivate, not just avoid. --- Taking…

Course Introduction: Human Values and Ethics

Course Introduction: Human Values and Ethics

Human values are the deeply held beliefs and principles that guide our personal choices and our interactions with other people, society, and nature. Ethics is the practical application of values to real situations — particularly in professional life.

Every other subject in your course equips you with skills. This subject equips you with judgement — the ability to make wise decisions in situations where the right path is not obvious, especially when shortcuts, dishonesty, or self-interest seem tempting.

This course is structured into four units:

• Unit I — Introduction to Human Values: what values are, why they matter, types of values, the process of self-exploration
• Unit II — Harmony in Family, Society & Human Relations: how values shape relationships and the path from individual to "world family"
• Unit III — Coexistence and Indian Ethos: the four orders of nature, Vedantic insights, and their relevance to modern management
• Unit IV — Professional Ethics: integrity, trust, workplace conduct, and emerging workplace issues — cybercrime, plagiarism, sexual misconduct, fraud

By the end of this course you should be able to evaluate your own values, recognise ethical dilemmas in everyday and professional situations, apply ethical principles to resolve them, and contribute consciously to harmony at every level of your existence.

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Why Human Values and Ethics Matter

You can be technically brilliant and still cause harm — through dishonesty, selfishness, ignorance of consequences, or simply by not thinking carefully. Conversely, you can be technically average and still have a life and career of deep impact — through integrity, empathy, and a clear sense of purpose.

The most respected leaders, scientists, and engineers — both globally and in India — are remembered as much for their values as for their work.

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The Four Units at a Glance

| I | Introduction to Human Values | Need, guidelines, process, happiness, types of va

Continue reading: Course Introduction: Human Values and Ethics →

Frequently asked questions

Is the Human Values and Ethics course really free?

Yes. The entire Human Values and Ethics course on Siksha Sarovar is free to read with no account required. You can optionally sign in with Google to save your progress.

Do I get a certificate for Human Values and Ethics?

Yes — finish the lessons and pass the quiz to earn a free, verifiable certificate you can share on LinkedIn or with recruiters.

Can I run code while learning?

Yes. The built-in online compiler runs C, C++, Python, Java, PHP, JavaScript, C# and SQL directly in your browser — no installation needed.