Chapter 2 LB
Ethic trap of following orders
fear of punishment
All business owners agree that making ethical decisions should encompass more than just making a profit. -True -False
-False
All business owners agree that making ethical decisions should encompass more than just making a profit. -True -False
-False
Proponets of deontological ethics believe that utilitarians
have it wrong and that the RESULTS of a decision are not as important as the REASON for making it.
Which of the following is most likely to be a utilitarian business practice? -An exploratory data analysis -A cost-benefit analysis -A cash flow analysis -A net present value analysis
-A cost-benefit analysis
What is a palter? -Taking the blame for something you did not do -A truthful statement that is nonetheless misleading -Telling a white lie -Lying to protect the greater good
-A truthful statement that is nonetheless misleading
Which of the following terms best represents an ethical trap? -Conformity -Utilitarianism -Deontology -Categorical imperative
-Conformity
H. B. Fuller Co. is a leading manufacturer of industrial glues. Its mission statement says the company "will conduct business legally and ethically." But now it is under attack for selling its shoemakers' glue, Resistol, in Central America because many homeless children in these countries have become addicted to the fumes. Glue manufacturers in Europe have added a foul-smelling oil to their glue that discourages abusers. Fuller fears that the smell may also discourage legitimate users but wants to continue selling its product into Central America. From an ethical point of view, what should Fuller do? -Consider working with retailers in Central America to sell only to professionals. -Add the foul-smelling oil. -Do nothing; it's a Central American problem. -Pull the product from the Central American market.
-Consider working with retailers in Central America to sell only to professionals.
Caleb notices that his co-worker is using his company cell phone to call his wife at lunch every day even though company policy clearly states that company equipment should not be used for personal activities. Which of the following is the most ethical response for Caleb to make? -Take a vocal stand and call the co-worker out at the next staff meeting. -Help the co-worker by showing him how to delete the phone log from the company records. -Don't report his co-worker because the choice to act unethically is the co-worker's alone. -Quit his job and find a new one.
-Don't report his co-worker because the choice to act unethically is the co-worker's alone.
After the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings, how did General Electric (GE) respond? -GE refused to hire anyone who owned a gun. -GE stopped lending funds to shops that sell guns. -GE provided insurance payments to the families of those killed. -GE did not get involved.
-GE stopped lending funds to shops that sell guns.
Kimberly knows that her co-worker Maria is late for work this morning because she stayed out late last night at a party and overslept. When their boss comes by asking where Maria is, what would Kimberly say to her boss if she were employing the Kantian tactic of palter? -I haven't seen her since we left work yesterday. -She said she was going to the post office, maybe she got delayed. -She's late because she overslept. -I saw her a few minutes ago, maybe she went to the bathroom.
-I haven't seen her since we left work yesterday.
All the employees who work for Mr. Blanton at Blanton Accounting decided to decorate his office for his birthday as a joke with decorations making fun of his age. Instead of laughing, Mr. Blanton was furious and threatened to fire everyone who was involved. The custodian, Ben, knows that everyone participated. If he was employing Utilitarian ethics, what would Ben do if Mr. Blanton questions him about the incident? -Lie and tell Mr. Blanton he doesn't know. -Tell the truth and hope he doesn't really fire anyone. -Tell the truth about who did it. -Utilitarian ethics would not apply to this situation.
-Lie and tell Mr. Blanton he doesn't know.
How did Immanuel Kant feel about lies when applying his Kantian theory of ethics? -Lies are always unacceptable. -Kant's theory would not apply to lies. -Lies are acceptable under certain circumstances. -Lies are acceptable if they are for the greater good.
-Lies are always unacceptable.
Chris is walking down a crowded street when he sees someone running with a purse and a woman chasing after him yelling that he has stolen her purse. Chris decides not to stop the thief, even though he had an opportunity to trip him up, because someone else will probably stop the thief before he gets away. What ethical trap has Chris fallen into? -Lost in the crowd -Conformity -Blind spots -Euphemism
-Lost in the crowd
Which Harvard professor has written that CSR often benefits a company? -Milton Friedman. -John Rawls -John Stuart Mill. -Michael Porter.
-Michael Porter.
Madison's boss announced at the staff meeting that he will give a bonus of $20,000 to the salesperson who has the highest profits this year. Madison decides she really needs the money and is willing to cheat and lie to get it. What type of ethical trap has Madison fallen into? -Money trap -Blind Spots -Conflict of interest -Conformity
-Money trap
Bentley lied to her teacher by telling the teacher she had left her homework at her grandmother's house when she had not actually completed the assignment. In which of the following ethical theories would this lie be acceptable? -Utilitarianism. -Kantian evasion. -Deontological ethics. -Moral relativism.
-Moral relativism.
Midtown Motors sponsors a "back to school drive" to help raise money for under-privileged students to have school supplies. Every time someone takes a test drive in a car, Midtown motors donates $25 in school supplies to local schools. Lots of people come test drive the cars and Midtown has developed a good reputation for the campaign, but records show that it has no effect on sales. According to Harvard Professor Michael Porter's views on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), should Midtown Motors continue the campaign? -Yes, because the children need the school supplies. -No, because Midtown Motors should just give the money without the test drive. -No, because it is not profitable to Midtown Motors. -Yes, because it helps the company maintain a good reputation.
-No, because it is not profitable to Midtown Motors.
At lunch, Peyton told her co-worker Emily that she was leaving work early to get a head start on her vacation. Their boss comes to Emily and asks if she knows where Peyton is. Using the theory of moral universalism how would Emily reply to her boss? -I saw her a few minutes ago, I think she went to the bathroom. -She went home because she was feeling sick. -She left early for her vacation. -I haven't seen her since lunch.
-She left early for her vacation.
Employees, communities and customers are considered what part of an organization? -They are not considered a part of an organization. -Consumers. -Stakeholders. -Stockholders.
-Stakeholders.
All the employees who work for Mr. Blanton at Blanton Accounting decided to decorate his office for his birthday as a joke with decorations making fun of his age. Instead of laughing, Mr. Blanton was furious and threatened to fire everyone who was involved. The custodian, Ben, knows that everyone participated. If he was employing deontological ethics, what would Ben do when Mr. Blanton questions him? -Lie and tell Mr. Blanton he doesn't know. -Lie and take the blame himself. -Deontological ethics would not apply to this situation. -Tell the truth about who did it even if everyone gets fired.
-Tell the truth about who did it even if everyone gets fired.
Which of the following scenarios relates to the deontological theory of ethics? -The Pittsburg Pit-vipers and the Detroit Dacoits decide to settle their differences in a match at the Milwaukee stadium, so that neither has the home-ground advantage over the other. -A professional poker player gets his opponent to fold his hand by bluffing through the game. -The chief of the police force of a city orders the arrest of a mafia criminal, even though he has been threatened with repercussions to his family. -The fire squad of a city prioritizes putting out the fire in a building occupied by government officials over an adjacent one with civilians in it.
-The chief of the police force of a city orders the arrest of a mafia criminal, even though he has been threatened with repercussions to his family.
Which of the following statements best differentiates the shareholder model of ethics from the stakeholder model of ethics? -The shareholder model prioritizes ethics over the law, while the stakeholder model prioritizes the law over ethics. -The shareholder model applies to larger companies, while the stakeholder model applies to smaller companies. -The shareholder model proposes commitment toward only company shareholders, while the stakeholder model proposes an obligation toward broader interests such as the society. -The shareholder model is in agreement with the deontological theory of ethics, while the stakeholder model is in agreement with the utilitarian theory of ethics.
-The shareholder model proposes commitment toward only company shareholders, while the stakeholder model proposes an obligation toward broader interests such as the society.
Aaron's primary customer demanded that Aaron give him large gifts in order to keep him as a customer. Which of the following would be the most ethical decision for Aaron to make? -To refuse to give him the gifts even though you might lose his business. -This is not an ethical question, it is a legal one. -To give him the gifts in order to keep the company profitable. -To give him smaller gifts and hope that satisfies him.
-To refuse to give him the gifts even though you might lose his business.
Unethical behavior often is a bar to financial success. -True -False
-True
Unethical behavior often is a bar to financial success. -True -False
-True
Which of the following is a theory of ethics that is illustrated by a wartime strategy of sacrificing a platoon to hold the enemy back to allow the rest of the army time to retreat? -Difference theory -Veil of ignorance -Categorical imperative -Utilitarianism
-Utilitarianism
In a staff meeting, Liam suggest that his company that makes lawn equipment should take a Saturday to mow the lawns of some of the elderly people who live in the town. Liam's boss shares the same attitude about corporate social responsibility as Harvard Professor Michael Porter. Which of the following questions would NOT be one asked by Liam's boss? -Will I have to pay the employee's overtime? -How much gasoline would we have to buy? -Will this improve our reputation? -Will it result in us selling more lawn equipment?
-Will this improve our reputation?
According to the concept of _____, an act is only ethical if it would be acceptable for everyone to do the same thing. -veil of ignorance. -utilitarianism. -categorical imperative. -deontology.
-categorical imperative.
According to John Stuart Mill, a correct decision is one that: -maximizes overall happiness and minimizes overall pain. -maximizes overall productivity and minimizes overall inefficiency. -maximizes overall efficiency and minimizes overall waste. -maximizes overall yield and minimizes overall risk.
-maximizes overall happiness and minimizes overall pain.
Utilitarianism conflicts with deontology in that: -utilitarianism is prone to ethical traps, while deontology offers no such opportunities. -utilitarianism considers the end as the imperative for a deed, while deontology pays no heed to the end. -utilitarianism is closer to natural law as compared to deontology, which abides by legal positivism. -utilitarianism model prioritizes ethics over the law, while deontology prioritizes the law over ethics.
-utilitarianism considers the end as the imperative for a deed, while deontology pays no heed to the end.
Grace is president of Mayweather Farm, one of the largest pork producers in the U.S. A business consultant tells Grace that if she moves the pigs into small pens and feeds them cheap, hormone-filled food, the Farm would gross 20 percent more each year. There is little research about housing pigs in tiny pens, but such a life seems less enjoyable for the pigs, and Grace has read medical studies that say hormones are dangerous to both pork consumers and pigs. Analyze Grace's options using the beliefs of Milton Friedman. a. Friedman would advise following the consultant's advice if it did not violate the law because it would increase shareholder profits. b. Friedman would advise Grace to ignore the consultant's advice because, if the public found out what she was doing, her reputation might be tarnished. c. Friedman would advise Grace to ignore the consultant's advice because it is unethical. d. Friedman would advise Grace to accept the consultant's advice because the medical studies are not supported by enough evidence.
. Friedman would advise following the consultant's advice if it did not violate the law because it would increase shareholder profits
When faced with unethical behavior what are your three choices?
1. Loyalty 2. Exit 3. Voice
Three practices that will help avoid ethic traps
1. Slow down 2. Do not trust your first instinct 3. remember your life principals
If the narrator decides to go to the game but keep his decision a secret, his actions are not supported by
the front page test
Moral Relativism
A belief that a decision may be right even if it is not in keeping with our own ethical standards
Moral Universalism
A belief that some acts are always right or always wrong
optimism bias
A belief that the outcome of an event will be more positive than the evidence warrants
Kantian evasion or a palter
A truthful statement that is nonetheless misleading
moral licensing
After doing something ethical, many people then have a tendency to act unethically
If the company explained to the employees that the new rule was implemented to track any conflicts of interest,
the narrator should report the abundance of small gifts
Both Rebecca and Holly were born in New York City. Rebecca's family was very wealthy. She attended elite private schools, obtained desirable internships from her parents' friends, and was tutored for the SATs by recent graduates of Ivy League colleges. Holly spent a good part of her childhood homeless. She attended some of the worst schools in the city and spent every free minute working minimum wage jobs. Rebecca's grades and SAT scores were much higher than Holly's. Rebecca's parents believe that her high SAT scores were a product of her talent and hard work. Proponents of Rawlsian justice would observe that Rebecca's SAT scores were dramatically affected by
Her life prospects
What are the two types of Moral Relativism?
Cultural and Individual
True/ False Research shows that money can contribute to happiness, but the impact disappears once household income exceeds $500,000.
False
True/ False John Stuart Mill believed that the results of a decision are not as important as the reason for making it.
False
True/False People are objective when comparing themselves to others.
False
Deontology
Immanuel Kant
Rawlsian Justice
John Rawls
Utilitarianism
John Stuart Mill
The fudge factor is an important type of _______.
Rationalization
Difference Principle
Rawls' suggestion that society should reward behavior that provides the most benefit to the community as a whole
Clare is at the Multiplex, a large movie theater, watching the latest summer blockbuster. After the movie, she starts walking to the lobby of the Multiplex but notices that the theater across the hall is about to play another movie that she really wants to see. Clare would love to see the movie without having to buy another ticket, but she stops herself from sneaking into the theater because she knows that if everyone did this, the Multiplex could go out of business. Clare's thinking is most aligned with that of: a. Mill. b. Rawls. c. Kant. d. Friedman.
c. Kant.
It is likely that the Red Sox tickets would influence him less than if Firm A had given him
a pen with the firm A logo
Veil of Ignorance
the rules for society that we would propose if we did not know how lucky we would be in life's lottery
More creative people tend to be less ethical because
they are better at rationalizing their bad behavior
According to a psychology study, which of the following distributions of prizes is a child most likely to choose for himself and another child: a. 1 prize for himself and 0 prizes for the other child: Children value having more than their peers b. 3 prizes for himself and 4 prizes for the other child: Children are fundamentally generous c. 3 prizes for himself and 4 prizes for the other child: Children would rather have 3 prizes than 1, no matter how many the other child has d. 3 prizes for himself and 3 prizes for the other child: Children want the outcome to be fair
a. 1 prize for himself and 0 prizes for the other child: Children value having more than their peers
. Laura believes strongly in the teachings of her religion. However, she does not believe that organized religions should go on missions abroad to convert people because she respects that other communities have their own traditions and beliefs that may be as valid as those of her religion, even if she does not share them. Laura's perspective is an example of: a. Cultural moral relativism b. Individual moral relativism c. The front page test d. Moral universalism
a. Cultural moral relativism
life prospects
The circumstances into which we are born
Life Principals
The rules by which you live your life
True/ False Sometimes ethical decisions can fail the front page test.
True
Risk management and cost benefit analysis are examples of _______.
Utilitarian business practices
. If the narrator concluded that he should use the tickets to take his dad to his first game and thus maximize overall happiness, he would be adhering to
Utilitarian ethics
Executives were considering the possibility of moving their company to a different state. They wanted to determine if employees would be willing to relocate, but they did not want the employees to know the company was contemplating a move because the final decision had not yet been made. Instead of asking the employees directly, the CEO hired a firm to carry out a telephone survey. When calling the employees, these "pollsters" pretended to be conducting a public opinion poll and identified themselves as working for the new state's Chamber of Commerce. They asked the employees if they would move, and if they liked working for the company. Then they reported all the information, including who said it, to the company. The CEO told the firm it must keep this a secret. Would the CEO have conducted the poll if he had considered his behavior under the front page test? a. No, because the company deceived the employees and the CEO asked the firm to keep this a secret. b. Yes, but the company should have contacted the employees directly. c. Yes, because the company was trying to figure out how to keep the employees happy. d. Yes, because the company was trying to receive honest information without alarming the employees.
a. No, because the company deceived the employees and the CEO asked the firm to keep this a secret.
Vikas earns too much for his own children to qualify for free school lunches, but he does not object to the state providing them for children from low income families even though this program increases the taxes he must pay. He recognizes that his and his children's life prospects are very different from those of the families receiving free lunches. He also knows that he would want his children to have free lunches if his family needed them. Vikas' thinking is most closely aligned with: a. Rawlsian Justice. b. Utilitarianism. c. the Difference Principle. d. Moral Relativism.
a. Rawlsian Justice.
Ethic trap of rationalization
almost everyone is willing to cheat on a small scale
Categorical Imperative
an act is only ethical if it would be acceptable for everyone to do the same thing
Corporate Social Responsibility
an organization's obligation to contribute positively to the world around it
Ethics decision
any choice about how a person should behave that is based on a sense of right and wrong
Evidence shows that small gifts from pharmaceutical companies
are surprisingly influential on doctors
Cotton Corral is a large manufacturer of children's clothing based in Detroit, Michigan that recently signed a long-term contract to buy fabric produced by D.D.C., a company that is also based in Detroit. Government investigators recently discovered that D.D.C. has contaminated a local river by dumping dye waste into it. D.D.C.'s behavior has harmed the river and the nearby wildlife. Yet D.D.C. produces beautiful fabric that Cotton's customers love. Ernie, Cotton's CEO, is informed of D.D.C.'s behavior and is unsure if Cotton should continue to use the company's fabric. Ernie believes that a corporation has an obligation to consider the best interests of all company stakeholders, not just the shareholders. What decision is most consistent with his ethical beliefs? a. Cotton should not buy from D.D.C. because the bad publicity may harm Cotton's shareholders. b. Cotton should not buy from D.D.C. until it stops dumping dye because when D.D.C. harms the local environment, it harms Cotton employees and their families. c. Cotton should continue to buy from D.D.C. because the two companies have a contract. Otherwise, D.D.C. may drag Cotton into expensive litigation, which would harm Cotton's shareholders. d. Cotton should continue to buy from D.D.C. as long as customers like the fabric, because this decision will maximize profitability.
b. Cotton should not buy from D.D.C. until it stops dumping dye because when D.D.C. harms the local environment, it harms Cotton employees and their families.
Select the concepts associated with Rawlsian Justice: a. Cultural relativism b. Difference principle c. Life prospects d. Veil of ignorance e. Categorical imperative
b. Difference principle c. Life prospects d. Veil of ignorance
Darby has been working for 14 months at Holden Associates, a large management consulting firm, earning $75,000 a year while her peers at competing firms are typically paid 20 percent more and receive larger annual bonuses. Darby works at least 60 hours a week—more if she is traveling, and she has had to reschedule her vacation or cancel personal plans several times to meet client deadlines. Holden has a policy that permits any employee who works as late as 8:00 P.M. to eat dinner at company expense. Darby is in the habit of staying until 8:00 P.M. every night, whether or not her workload requires it, and ordering enough food for dinner and lunch the next day. She has managed to cut her grocery bill to virtually nothing. Sometimes she invites her boyfriend (who as a student is always hungry and broke) to join her for dinner. Would a utilitarian believe that Darby doing anything wrong? a. No, not at all. Most young consultants behave this way. If the company does not like what she is doing, it should change its policies. b. No, Darby is greatly increasing her happiness while having a minimal impact on the company. c. No, the owners of the consulting firm will benefit from Darby's increased productivity and loyalty. d. Yes, what Darby is doing is wrong.
b. No, Darby is greatly increasing her happiness while having a minimal impact on the company.
An employee would most likely be prevented from being biased by corporate gifts
by always rejecting them
Anand and Eleanor, New Hampshire residents, go on vacation in Amsterdam, the capital city of the Netherlands. They are surprised to discover that prostitution, which is illegal in most of the U.S., is legal in Amsterdam and has been since 1830. Anand is disgusted and thinks the practice is immoral and should be banned everywhere because, in his view, it exploits women. Eleanor thinks that prostitution is immoral, but respects that different cultures have different traditions and beliefs. What type of moral framework is each one applying? a. Eleanor and Anand are both applying the difference principle. b. Anand is applying moral universalism, and Eleanor is applying the difference principle. c. Anand is applying moral universalism, and Eleanor is applying cultural moral relativism. d. Anand is applying cultural moral relativism, and Eleanor is applying moral universalism.
c. Anand is applying moral universalism, and Eleanor is applying cultural moral relativism.
Brooks and Allegra work very hard on a start-up technology company together. The company begins receiving lots of press in various tech magazines, and the articles always emphasize that Allegra's ideas are the driving force behind the company. Brooks is outraged. It is very likely that: a. the articles are inaccurate. b. the articles do not pass the front page test. c. Brooks overestimated his own contributions to the company. d. Brooks has a conflict of interest with Allegra.
c. Brooks overestimated his own contributions to the company
Esteban has been working on his own as an accountant. He is pleased that a major accounting firm downtown has offered him a job. If Esteban leaves his solo practice and joins the large firm, what best describes the impact this change will likely have on him when he is faced with a difficult decision while at work? a. No impact. Esteban will remain unchanged in the face of a crowd. b. Esteban will behave less ethically because he will be earning more. c. Esteban will be less likely to take responsibility because he assumes someone else will, and he will be tempted to go with the flow if he sees multiple people engaging in bad behavior. d. Esteban will behave more ethically because he knows people are watching; he will want to make a good impression and inspire others.
c. Esteban will be less likely to take responsibility because he assumes someone else will, and he will be tempted to go with the flow if he sees multiple people engaging in bad behavior.
Rachael, the wife of one of six physician-partners in a medical group, is the practice manager, earning an under-market rate compensation of $45,000 per year. When the group expands and doubles its staff, Rachael gives herself a raise to $65,000—the typical salary for a practice this size—without informing the partners. She tells another practice manager that the physicians have been talking about raising her salary for awhile, but they've all been too busy to "make it happen." Besides, she reasons, the practice would be impossible to manage without her. Are Rachael's actions justified? a. Yes, because the partners were going to give her raise anyway. b. No, because a $20,000 increase is excessive. c. No, because she did not consult the group partners. d. Yes, because her compensation was below the market rate.
c. No, because she did not consult the group partners.
Which ethical theory asks us to consider what type of rules for society we would want if we faced a "veil of ignorance"? a. Moral Relativism b. Utilitarian Ethics c. Rawlsian Justice d. The Front Page Test
c. Rawlsian Justice
Which of the following are ways to avoid ethics traps? Select all that apply. a. Trust your first instinct b. Conform to the behavior you see around you c. Remember Life Principles d. Rationalize e. Slow down f. Use euphemisms
c. Remember Life Principles e. Slow down
I oversee the internal audit function at my company. Although we always use a Big Four accounting firm, we have no loyalty to any one particular firm. We hold periodic bid competitions to get the lowest price we can. At the moment, we are using Firm A. Recently, one of the partners at A offered me box seats to a Red Sox game. I love the Red Sox, and even more importantly, I could have taken my father who, even though he has always been a big Sox fan, has never been to a game. However, I knew that we would soon be asking A to bid against the other Big Four firms for the right to do next year's audit. Needless to say, I was torn about what I should do. What pitfalls does this person face? Would something as minor as Red Sox tickets affect his decision about which audit firm to use? 1. The Red Sox tickets can best be described as a
conflict of interest
A sports team's owner is given a videotape of his star player physically striking his girlfriend in an elevator, causing her severe injuries. The player has not been accused of any crime. Each player's employment contract states that a player may be terminated for committing battery. If the owner fires the player, the team will win fewer games, which will result in lower attendance and lower revenues for the stadium and the team. The owner may even have to lay off some employees. The owner has always admired the thinking of John Akers, the former chairman of IBM. What would Akers advise? a. Keep the player on the team and try to keep his behavior secret. The owner should announce at a press conference that he plans to donate a large amount of money to a charitable organization for battered women. b. Keep the player on the team and impose no sanctions. Firing the player will cost the team millions of dollars. c. Suspend the player for several games and order the player to take anger management classes. d. Fire the player. The team may suffer financially at first, but if the public has faith in the organization, the team and the league will benefit in the long run. If the owner keeps the tape a secret and the public finds out about his actions, the team - and society - will suffer harm from the loss of public trust.
d. Fire the player. The team may suffer financially at first, but if the public has faith in the organization, the team and the league will benefit in the long run. If the owner keeps the tape a secret and the public finds out about his actions, the team - and society - will suffer harm from the loss of public trust.
One year on Halloween, the Jones family left a big bowl of candy on their doorstep, and put a sign beside it that read, "Take one piece please!" Most children ignored the sign and took several pieces. The next year, the Jones family left the same bowl but added the Ten Commandments to the sign that said, "Take one piece please." Almost every child opted to take just one piece. What ethics concept could best be used to explain this phenomenon? a. Competition b. Conformity c. Cultural moral relativism d. Life Principles
d. Life Principles
Which of the following attributes contributes least to happiness? a. Companionship b. Good health c. Enjoyable leisure activities d. Money
d. Money
Utilitarian thinkers believe that: a. When assessing whether a decision is the most ethical choice, the end result is immaterial. b. The ends do not justify the means. c. You cannot measure happiness. d. Moral actions produce the greatest good for the greatest number.
d. Moral actions produce the greatest good for the greatest number.
Miles thinks recycling is a burden. He almost tosses his empty soda can in the trash, but instead drops it in the recycling bin, thinking, "If EVERYONE stopped recycling it would be terrible for the planet!" This type of reasoning demonstrates: a. The veil of ignorance b. Utilitarianism c. The difference principle d. The categorical imperative
d. The categorical imperative
The CEO of an international cruise line is facing an ethical decision regarding the installation of Man Overboard (MOB) technology on the company's fleet of 42 luxury cruise ships. The technology is not required by law, and the cost to install it will surpass $20 million dollars, with additional maintenance fees of up to $2 million dollars per year. The MOB technology detects passengers falling off the ship, although it is not perfected and only works 75% of the time. It also causes multiple false alarms, which delays the cruise itinerary and inconveniences passengers. The cruise line has had an increase in persons falling overboard in the last year, with an annual average of about two individuals being lost at sea. After much consideration, the CEO decides to install the MOB technology despite the costs and limitations. What ethical standard did the CEO likely apply in making this decision? a. The principle of Rationalization b. The principle of Utilitarianism c. The principle of Rawlsian Justice d. The principle of Deontology
d. The principle of Deontology
Ethics
how people should behave
Front Page Test
how would you feel if your actions went viral
If you were to slip on some ice and injure your knee, and you wanted someone to help you, the best scenario for you would be
if you were on a sidewalk with one other person
A criticism of moral relativism is
it can be used to condone bad behavior
The danger of individual relativism is
it can justify just about anything
Critics of John Stuart Mill argue that
it is difficult to measure and predict benefit and harm accurately
Suppose the narrator's company instituted a policy in which employees have to tell HR any time they receive a corporate gift worth more than $30. Instead of Red Sox tickets, Firm A gives the narrator a selection of little gifts over the course of several months, like notepads, pens, and coffee mugs. 1. It is likely that the small gifts would influence the narrator
more than the Red Sox tickets
Kant believed that
no decision that treats people as commodities can be considered just
Kant felt that any lie
violated his principal of the categorical imperative
To individual relativists,
what is right for me may be wrong for you.
The word "deontological" comes from the Greek word for
obligation
To cultural relativists, what is right and wrong depends
on the norms and practices in each society
Ethic trap of conformity
people are willing to follow the crowd
Ethic trap of money
people believe that more money means more happiness
