Final Flashcards
prep for final
Deontology
Actions judged by the motives and intentions of the actor. Based on thoughts of actor.
A person asking for money could be both ethical and unethical. If you see beggar on street, you will give him money if you think he’ll buy food; won’t if you think he will buy drugs
Teleology
Action judged by its likelihood of achieving good and proper results; Something done in the best interest of the company (firing 30% of work force) could save the company from collapse; Do harm to some, but best for the whole. Judgment by result of action
Relativism
All actions are judged in relation to time, place, and circumstances. There are no objective standards of right or wrong. A person stealing could be trying to save their family from starvation. No objective is right or wrong. Don’t know what someone is going through until you know.
Virtue Ethics
Development of a righteous character is the standard. A virtuous person will act in a morally righteous way. Develop a good character and the morality will come.
Positive Law
A rule from a superior to an inferior that the inferior habitually obeys, with sanctions imposed if the rule is broken. Hitler and the Holocaust. The body of conventional, or written, law of a particular society. Sometimes reflects Natural Law. Abortion/same sex marriage are current issues.
Jurisprudence
Examines the values or ethics associated with positive law. Arguing why things should or should not be law. The science of philosophy of law.
Ethic of Justice
There should be rules and equity. Due process. A chance to be heard. There must be a process in order to do something.
Ethic of Power
Government must be empowered to enforce the laws and bring order. There must be a power. Used by dictators and government to enforce rules as they see fit (Can’t have people rioting)
Ethic of Custom
Longstanding custom reflects what is known and observed by most people over time. People are familiar with it, but it can sometimes be unfair. Unofficial rules that people abide by (walk on right side of the road)
Ethic of Norms Conduct
How most people act. It can be above or below positive law. Speed limit is 60, but everyone goes 70… change the law to comply with normal conduct.
Ethic of Civilization
We restrain our base impulses and move to a higher level of civilization. We do not kill, rape, etc
Ethic of Utility
Promoting the greatest good for the greatest number. Utilitarianism. Vaccinations are required for the greater good. A law is passed because it is best for community and people as a whole
Beneficence
Doing good deeds. In may conflict with Utilitarianism. You do good deeds and that makes you a good person.
Success
A social value. Defined within a particular society, involving comparison with others as well as “doing well” according to a person’s own goals. It summarizes the whole of the good life. Must judge in relationship to others and varies by culture (material vs. immaterial)
Hedonism
Life in pursuit of pleasure
Theory X
Assumes that people are basically lazy and dislike work, and so must be tempted with rewards and punishments. No internal motivation.
Theory Y
Assumes people want to work and want to assume responsibilities. People are self motivated
Theory Z
Motivation comes from being part of a group in supportive institution. A theory of participation.
Communitarianism
The need for community values binds us as a multicultural society. We value people and each other and have similar ideals.
Puritan Ethic
Emphasizes hard work, abstaining from excessive pleasures and balancing success with humanity. Hard work, wealth, and succes are proof of a person’s good character. Hard works leads to and shows success. The American Way
Asceticism
The wholesale rejection of the values of wealth and success. Most powerfully preached by those who have succeeded and renounced the vanity of ambition and success, rather than cynically by those who have failed or chosen not to compete. People who reject enviable traits are successful. Examples include Gandhi and Mother Theresa.
John Calvin
Began to change Christian philosophy that secular wealth was not opposed to , but rather a sign of, a person’s eventual salvation
Adam Smith
Published The Wealth of Nations in 1776 said that individuals, left to themselves to pursue their own economic interests will ultimately benefit not only themselves but society as a whole. An “invisible hand” would guide apparently chaotic individualism to collective good. This is the idea of “the market.”
Freedom of the Market
Not possible unless other freedoms exist - freedom of speech, assembly, association and the freedom to pursue our own material happiness
Regulation
Exists to protect the market and to guarantee the conditions within which an industry can thrive and survive, and to protect the public good and to provide safeguards for consumers. There must be rules to protect the integrity of the “game.” Prevent monopolies and establish anti-trust laws and safety regulations
Corporate Culture
The conceptual foundation on which a company builds and the self-image from which all else begins. Includes the clientele of the corporation, the kinds of pressures within the organization, and the openness and mutual concern of both peers and superiors.
Corporate Codes of Ethics
It is that general sense of values and identity shared by virtually everyone in a corporation. It should be an explicit expression of a set of values that has in fact governed by a company and its employees for some time, as opposed to an attempt to persuade or threaten employees into compliance with a set of principles which do not play a significant role in the day to day behavior of its employees. it should not be just a hypothetical attempt at public relations.
Business Practices
Established systems of behavior within the business world, an industry, or a given company. Different industries have different practices.
Obvious Rules
Don’t intentionally lose money, but its okay to take a calculated gamble - a business risk. There can be corporate philanthropy (giving money away) but that is within the “rules” of the practice. Practices establish size of management salaries, dividends paid, employee benefits, public relations, etc. Contract must be honored, quality control must be observed, procedures must be followed. If these practices are not honored the “game” will fall apart.
Roles - List 3
A practice creates roles for its participants. Workers, managers, etc. Defined by the skills, responsibilities, duties and interrelations within the practice. The role usually precedes the person and usually survives the person. Nothing is worse for the individual or the company than for a person to be forced into the wrong role.
Roles of Managers:
1. Figurehead: represents the company in public
2. Leader: drives the business & makes things happen
3. Liaison: makes sure there is coordination and everyone is pushing in the same direction
4. Monitor: watches for changes in the market, world, government, environment, customer needs
5. Disseminator: makes sure new policies are realized and training is implemented
6. Spokesman: speaks for the company when they need to communicate with the outside world, including investors, customers, media
7. Entrepreneur: help bring change and innovation - out of the box thinking
8. Disturbance Handler: resolves disputes and is brought in to call people down
9. Negotiator: the person who can make the deal and close the deal
Corporate Characters
The Craftsman – Dedicated to quality, concerned with product, conscientious
The Jungle Fighter – Sees others as competitions
The Company Man / Woman – “Organizational” person. Very ethical
The Gamesman – New idea guy. Future CEO
The Outlaw – Challenges management and authority.
Responsibility
The cornerstone of ethics. It is accountability, answerability, sometimes liability but also rewardability. Most of the time responsibility is shared. Those in authority may be even more responsible than those who actually perform the act.
The “System Problem”
he whole becomes much more than the sum of its parts. The problem of accumulated pressure once a decision has been made and all employees have worked diligently toward the goal the momentum becomes so great that there is little to stop it. Decision, once implemented, cannot be turned around quickly. Goals, once agreed upon, cannot be immediately forgotten. This is when the basic aim of “business ethics” becomes important. Group think: The whole organization is involved and behind it. NASA Challenger example