Business Ethics Now Ch 1 Terms

Instrumental value

The quality by which the pursuit of one value is a good way to reach another value. For example, money is valued for what it can buy rather than for itself.

Applied Ethics

The study of how ethical theories are put into place

Ethical Reasoning

looking at the information available to us in resolving an ethical dilemma, and drawing conclusions based on that information in relation to our own ethical standards

How do we learn Ethics?

-Parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles (we are not inherently good, we have to learn it) -Peers, friends -Educational environment, teachers -Coaches, teamwork -Religion -Media

3 Step Method to solving Ethical Dilemmas

1. Get the facts 2. Analyze the facts 3. Make a decision +1 Empathy (shoes on the other foot)

Value Conflicts

1. Lying is wrong (if you do it to save someone?) 2.Stealing is wrong (to survive?) 3.Killing is wrong (defense, military)

Do the right thing 4 concepts

1. Simple truth- right and wrong (broad, to most people, lying) 2. Personal Character- personal integrity, (what you think is right and wrong, personal, sending emails at work) 3. Rules of appropriate individual behavior (dependent on what we are taught) 4. Rules of appropriate behavior in society

Virtue Ethics

A concept of living your life according to a commitment to the achievement of a clear ideal- what sort of person would I like to become, and how do I go about becoming that person?

culture

A particular set of attitudes, beliefs, and practices that characterize a group of individuals.

value systems

A set of personal principles formalized into a code of behavior

society

A structured community of people bound together by similar customs and traditions.

Universal Ethics

Actions that are taken out of duty and obligation to a purely moral ideal rather than based on the needs of the situation, since the universal principles are seen to apply to everyone, everywhere, all the time

Sleep test

Are you able to sleep after making your decision?

Utilitarianism

Choose what offers the greatest good for the greatest number of people (Example the life boat)

Factors that effect Ethics

Difference between right and wrong Varies from person to person Cultural or locational environment Family

The Golden Rule

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you

How can religion effect ethics?

Many different kinds. -Buddhism and Hinduism believe in peace & reincarnation. -Judaism (believe in God) -Christianity (God, Jesus) -Islam-Allah (not peaceful)

Ethical dilemma

No right or wrong answer, basically only right or right

Lawrence Kohlberg's Stages of Ethical Reasoning (LEVELS)

Preconventional, Conventional, Postconventional

Preconventional Level

Stage 1. Obedience and punishment orientation (Ex. 2 year old) Stage 2. Individualism, instrumentalism, and exchange (learn to get what you want and need)

Conventional Level

Stage 3. Good/boy nice girl orientation (wanting praise from others for good behavior) Stage 4. Law and order orientation (rules of classroom)

Postconventional Level

Stage 5. Social contract legalistic orientation (how you behave in mixed company, a date, job interview) Stage 6. Universal ethical principle orientation

Ethics

The manner by which we try to live our lives according to a standard of "right" or "wrong" behavior- in both how we think and behave toward others and how we would like them to think and behave toward us.

Intrinsic value

The quality by which a value is a good thing in itself and is perused for its own sake, whether anything comes from that pursuit or not.