Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
Ethical Dilemma
(Chapters 2/3)
Arguments Against Business Ethics
§ In perfectly competitive free markets, the
pursuit of profit is sufficient to serve
members of society
§ "Loyal Agent" - duty to serve employer in
whatever ways that will advance the
employer's self-interest
§ Business ethics is essentially obeying the
law.
The Case For Ethics in Business
§ Simple Argument
§ Ethics should govern all human activities.
§ Business is a human activity.
§ Therefore, ethics should govern business too.
The Case For Ethics in Business
§ lying to supervisors
§ falsifying records
§ alcohol and drug abuse
§ conflict of interest
§ stealing
§ gift/entertainment receipt in violation of
company policy
1997 Society for Human Resource Management/
Ethics Resource Center, Business Ethics Survey.
Key Influences On Ethical Behavior...
§ personal values
§ supervisor influence
§ senior management influence
§ internal drive to succeed
§ performance pressures
§ lack of punishment
§ friends/coworker influence
1997 Society for Human Resource Management/ Ethics Resource Center, Business Ethics
Survey.
Why Misconduct Is Not Reported...
Virtue
Justice Care
(Kabutihan ng
(Katarungan) (Kalinga)
kalooban)
http://www.phgfoundation.org/t
utorials/moral.theories/2.html
*UTILITARIANISM: EXAMPLES
§ Child labor
§ Compare the problematic consequences of child
labor to the consequences of alternative decisions.
§ Consider also the consequences to the entire
society.
§ Thus, one might argue on utilitarian grounds that
child labor practices are ethically permissible
because they produce better overall consequences
than the alternatives.
*UTILITARIANISM: LESSONS FROM
EXAMPLES
1-36
*DEONTOLOGY: AN ETHICS OF RIGHTS
AND DUTIES
http://www.phgfoundation.o
rg/tutorials/moral.theories/4
.html
Positive Rights
Shelter
Food
Health
Care
Employment
Education
Negative Rights
Duties others have not no interfere in
certain activities of the person who holds
a given right
Life
Participation
Free
Due Speech Physical
Process Security
Utilitarianism vs. Kantian Duty
Utilitarianism Kantian Duty
Rightness or
wrongness of an Golden Rule:
action is Do unto others what you
want others to do unto
determined by you.
looking at the
consequences of
the action Close relationship to legal
analysis
Close relationship to
economics as a
moral view Because it is my duty, I
have a stringent
requirement which I am
The end justifies the bound to obey even if
means consequences are not
best for me.
Justice and Fairness
§ Justice and fairness are concerned with the
comparative treatment given to the members
of a group
§ when benefits and burdens are distributed
§ when rules and laws are administered, and
§ when people are punished for the wrongs
they have done or compensated for the
wrongs they have suffered.
Justice and Fairness Categories
1-49
Ethics of Care
§ We exist in relationships, and should
preserve and nurture relationships we have,
with specific persons.
§ We cannot exist in isolation from caring
relationships with others.
Ethics of Care
§ Honesty § Integrity
§ Courage § Fairness
§ Compassion § Self-control
§ Generosity § Excellence
§ Fidelity http://www.virtuesproject.co
m/virtuesdef.html
Good points of virtue ethics
3. Identify stakeholders
i. What individuals and groups have an important
stake in the outcome? What is at stake for each?
ii. Do some have a greater stake because they
have a special need (e.g., those who are poor or
excluded) or because we have special obligations
to them?
iii. Are there other important stakeholders in addition
to those directly involved?
*A DECISION-MAKING MODEL FOR
BUSINESS ETHICS REVISITED
1-70
Ethical Dilema
§ It is 1923 and the sheriff in a Central Florida town is protecting a a suspect
of a violent crime against an angry mob who wish to capture him. If the mob
is frustrated, many buildings may be destroyed and people may be killed in
the ensuing riot. Should the sheriff deliver the individual to the mob?
(Please note, this is based on actual events in Rosewood Florida, January
1st, 1923).
1-71