V What is ethics?

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 m

 

  
  
Oome Definitions of m

V Minquiry into the nature and grounds of morality
where the term morality is taken to mean moral
judgements, standards and rules of conducts,dz

errell,
raedrich &
errell, 2000)
V Well ased standards of right and wrong that
prescrie what human ought to do, usually in
terms of rights.

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u
    
Mm

V is a study of individualǯs personal eliefs aout right
and wrong ehavior.
V Ethical ehavior can vary from one person to another.
V It is relative, not asolute.

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V
amily influence
V Peer influence
V Life experience
V Personal values & morals
V Oituational factors

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V Ôonsequentialist
V Nonconsequentialist

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V àssess the moral worth of a ehavior y looking at its
consequences/results.
V If it is good, the act is right, vice versa.
Q Ôonsequence for whom?
Only for oneself or for everyone affected?
u Egoism
u Utilitarianism

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m 
V Defines right or acceptale ehavior in terms of
the consequences for the individual
V Egoists elieve that they should make decisions
that maximize their own self interest
V In an ethical decisionȂmaking situation, an egoist
will proaly choose the alternative that
contriutes most to his or her self interest.

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V àlso concerned with consequences, ut seeks the
greatest for the greatest numer of people.
V Utilitarian elieve they should make decisions that
result in the greatest total utility, i.e, achieve the
greatest enefits for all those affected y a decision.

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V In making ethical decisions, utilitarians often conduct
a cost enefit analysis, which considers the costs and
enefits to all affected parties.
V E.g any act that can give the most enefit/happiness
are the right one.

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V Ôase involving the explosion of
ord Pinto due to
defective fuel system
V gas tank put ehind the rear axle, vulnerale to
puncture in case of collision.
V Initially done to create more trunk space
V
ord Motor Ôo. defended itself y using
cost/enefit analysis

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V @
 to modify the defect cost $11 a unit for
$137million ($11 x 12.5mil autos = $137 mil)
V Modification only prevent loss of 180 urn deaths,
180 serious urn injuries, 2100 urned vehicles.
V Insurance company value human life at $200,000,
urn injury $67,000 and others value as $700 (in
1970).
V @



 (180 deaths x $200k) + (180 injuries x
$67k) + (2100 vehicles x $700) =$49.15 million.
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u üight & wrong is determined not only y the
consequences of the act Ȃ many factors
u Examine every factor relevant to the moral assessment
of an action
u Nonconsequentialist Ȃ Kantǯs Ethics

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V
ocus on the ’
 
  and on the
  associated with a particular ehavior
rather than on its consequences.
V If an act in a particular manner is suitale to ecome a

’  ’    guiding ehavior, then
committing that act is ethical.

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V e.g universal accepted principles such as the right of
freedom, a person has the right to choose how to live
V Non consequentialist elieve that conformity to
general moral principles determines ethicalness

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V 1st principle
 










 

 

 













 
























 


  
V E.g Iǯm trying to decide whether to fire an
employee ecause I do not like the employeeǯs
race. I musk ask myself whether I would e
willing to e fired myself should my employer
do not like my race.
V Mdo whatever you want others do unto youdz

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V 2nd principle 
 









 





 
















 


 






 






 
 



 








V People must have free choice. Oo, an employee
may legitimately e asked to perform the
dangerous task in a jo if he freely consented to
it and know the risk. It would e wrong if it is
without his knowledge
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V 1. difficult to determine whether one would Ǯe willing
to have everyone to followǯ a certain policy (under 1st
principle)
V 2. some might e ale to agree on the kind of interest
that have the status of moral right, ut there is
sustantial disagreement on the limits of these rights.

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uive example of an action which is 

V Legally and ethically right

V Legally right ut ethically wrong
V Legally and ethically wrong
V Legally wrong ut ethically right

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V uive examples of ethical & unethical ehaviors that
have een practiced in your organization.

Otate reasons for your answers.

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1. Would I want everyone, regardless of the
product eing sold, to e ale to refrain from
disclosing what they know aout a defect in the
product?
2. Does it matter what product is eing sold,
whether it is used car with defective rakes, a
ladder with defective step, or a ookshelf that
lacks support on one of its shelves?

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V àm I treating the other people involved (the uyer) as
an end, according them respect, not as a means (to
achieve a sale and profit for me.)

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