Business Ethics Now Ch. 1

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 practice.

Sleep-test Ethics

a person who has made the right choice can sleep soundly aft erward; someone who has made the wrong choice cannot.

Three catagories of Ethical theories

virtue ethics, ethics for the greater good, and universal ethics

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.

Level 2. Conventional

At this level, a person continues to become aware of broader influences outside of the family.

Ethical Relativism

Concept that the traditions of your society, your personal opinions, and the circumstances of the present moment define your ethical principles.

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.

Intrinsic value

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

Stage 2. Individualism, instrumentalism, and exchange

As a more organized and advanced form of stage 1, a person is focused on satisfying his or her own needs—that is, something is right or wrong because it helps the person get what he or she wants or needs.

Level 3. Postconventional

At this highest level of ethical reasoning, a person makes a clear eff ort to define principles and moral values that reflect an individual value system rather than simply reflecting the group position.

Level 1. Preconventional

At this lowest level of moral development, a person's response to a perception of right and wrong is initially directly linked to the expectation of punishment or reward.

Stage 5. Social contract legalistic orientation

At this stage, a person is focused on individual rights and the development of standards based on criticalexamination—that is, something is right or wrong because it has withstood scrutiny by the society in which the principle is accepted.

Stage 3. "Good boy/nice girl" orientation

At this stage, a person is focused on meeting the expectations of family members—that is, something is right or wrong because it pleases those family members. Stereotypical behavior is recognized, and conformity to that behavior develops.

Stage 6: Universal ethical principle orientation.

At this stage, a person is focused on self-chosen ethical principles that are found to be comprehensive and consistent—that is, something is right or wrong because it reflects that person's individual value system and the conscious choices he or she makes in life. While Kohlberg always believed in the existence of stage 6, he was never able to find enough research subjects to prove the long-term stability of this stage.

Stage 4. Law-and-order orientation

At this stage, a person is increasingly aware of his or her membership in a society and the existence of codes of behavior—that is, something is right or wrong because codes of legal, religious, or social behavior dictate it.

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.

The Golden Rule

Rule Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

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.

Value system

A set of personal principles formalized into a code of behavior.

Ethical Dilemma

A situation in which there is no obvious right or wrong decision, but rather a right or right answer.

Society

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

Utilitarianism

Ethical choices that offer the greatest good for the greatest number of people.

Stage 1. Obedience and Punishment Orientation

A person is focused on avoidance of punishment and deference to power and authority—that is, something is right or wrong because a recognized authority figure says it is.