Business Ethics Test 1 CSU 2016

etiquette refers to a special code of social behavior or courtesy

To a significant extent, law codifies a society's customs, norms, and moral values.

we cannot say that slavery is wrong if the society in question believes it is right.

can sometimes conflict.

It's necessary for us to try to be virtuous or excellent human beings.

even temporary groups can pressure people to conform.

bystander apathy.

based on facts and acceptable moral principles.

the revision and modification of arguments.

its conclusion must be true, if its premises are

states that the moral rightness of an action is determined solely by its results

you believe that it is morally right to do whatever promotes your self-interest

it maximizes total, net happiness.

Utilitarianism provides an objective way of resolving conflicts of self-interest.

good will is the only thing that is good in itself

we have various moral duties that can't be reduced to a single, overarching obligation.

morality permits each of us a sphere in which to pursue our own plans and goals.

a right is an entitlement to act or to have others act in a certain way.

we should treat people as ends in themselves, never merely as means.

Utilitarians wish to maximize happiness not simply immediately, but in the long run as well.

similar cases must be treated alike except where there is some relevant difference.

rights are certain moral rules whose observance is of the utmost importance for the long-run, overall maximization of happiness.

it would be unjust to coerce people to give food or money to the starving.

property is a moral right.

people in the original position choose the principles on the basis of self-interest

profit sharing

Utilitarians

private property

it might permit an unfair distribution of burdens and benefits

property

the theory that what is right is determined by what a culture or society says is right

simplest form of utilitarianism. Whatever action's consequences bring about more net good than those of any alternative course of action, is the action that is morally right. It is not functionally effective

maintains that the utilitarian standard should be applied not to individual actions but to moral codes as a whole; it asks what moral code a society should adopt to maximize happiness

claim they should pursue their own best interests, but they do not say what others should do

claims that everyone should let self-interest guide his or her conduct

Immanuel Kant

John Stuart Mill and Jeremy Bentham

an obligation that can be overridden by a more important obligation W.D. Ross

you are free from something (ex. Bill of Rights)

you have the right to receive a certain benefit (ex. Education)

rights that assume a corresponding duty and may derive from special relationships, roles, or circumstances in which we happen to be; the rights to life, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion would be examples of fundamental moral rights

rights derived from a specific legal system; also they may be relinquished

rights that are not the result of particular roles, special relationships, or specific circumstances. universal, equal rights, not transferable, cannot be relinquished, are natural rights

Fairness, Equality, Desert and Rights

the proper distribution of social benefits and burdens (particularly economic related)

favored free trade and laissez faire view of Adam Smith that unregulated market relations and free competition best promote the total social good

probably fair to say that few utilitarians believe happiness would be maximized by the traditional view, without any welfare arrangements; the modern utilitarians are not in total agreement concerning economic arrangements but many of them favor worker participation

Liberty (individual freedom) as prime value

Robert Nozick: Harvard professor who built on John Locke's premise that rights are both negative (act in a way that refrains from interfering with others) and natural (independent of any social or political institution)

people are entitled to their holdings (goods, money, and property) as long as they have acquired them fairly

1) All people are entitled to their holdings as long as they have acquired them fairly. 2) People are free to transfer their holdings to others whenever and however they see fit. 3) No one is entitled to a holding except by applications of #1 and #2

Imagine if people could come together to decide the ground rules of our society. The nature of choice - self interest, people choose freely, all people have equal choice

people in the original position know nothing about themselves personally or about what their individual situation will be once the rules are chosen and the veil is lifted; This forces people to be objective and impartial