Part 2

Question 1

Three questions that ethics has to address in modern society:

Which philosopher or sociologist is connected to each question?

Answer 1

1) The challenge of keeping scientific standards (MAX WEBER)
2) The challenge of pluralism (JOHN RAWL)
3) The challenge of implementation (NIKLAS LUHMANN)

Question 2

„An empirical science cannot tell anyone what he should do – but rather what he can do ….“

SAID…

Which challenges for theorizing ethics applies to?

Answer 2

MAX WEBER

The challenge of keeping scientific standards

Question 3

Normative statements express value judgments.
note: Value judgement however cannot be proven scientifically.

SAID…

Which challenges for theorizing ethics applies to?

Answer 3

MAX WEBER

The challenge of keeping scientific standards

Question 4

Normative statements express ______ _______.

Which challenges for theorizing ethics applies to?

Answer 4

Normative statements express value judgments.
note: Value judgement however cannot be proven scientifically.

The challenge of keeping scientific standards

Question 5

Modern society has moved away from _____ belief systems to increasing _____.

SAID ….

Which challenges for theorizing ethics applies to?

Answer 5

Modern society has moved away from homogenous belief systems to increasing plurality.

John Rawl‘s (US Philosopher)

The challenge of pluralism

Question 6

In pre-modern societies, moral norms are in line
with
a)…
b)…

Which challenges for theorizing ethics applies to?

Answer 6

a) the functioning of society
and
b) with individual incentives.

The challenge of implementation

Question 7

How ethics react to modern society according to Luhmann?

Which challenges for theorizing ethics applies to?

Answer 7

! takes the perceived conflict between self-interest and morality for granted
! identifies (and infects itself) with the moral point of view
! and tries to provide ever more refined rational justifications of moral judgments

The challenge of implementation

Question 8

There is an increasing discrepancy between the theoretical moral ideals and the empirical conditions for their practical implementation.

SAID…

Which challenges for theorizing ethics applies to?

Answer 8

Niklas Luhmann

The challenge of implementation

Question 9

“the most urgent task for ethics may be to warn of morality”

SAID…

Which challenges for theorizing ethics applies to?

Answer 9

Niklas Luhmann

The challenge of implementation

Question 10

The fundamental problem in business ethics is…

Answer 10

the situational conflict between economic self-interest and morality (trade-off thinking)

Question 11

The fundamental problem in business ethics is…

Answer 11

the situational conflict between economic self-interest and morality

Question 12

Alternative perspective for situational conflicts:

Answer 12

A Win-win&raquo_space; An orthogonal positioning changes the perspective by °90

Question 13

comparison of win-lose and win-win perspective and give an example:

Answer 13

win-lose:
• focus on the now only
• focus of your person only
• focus on given technology
• Limited heuristic potential
ex: moves in a game - play the given game better.

win-win:
• take into account future effects
• bringing in additional actors and their contributions
• selection of alternative or invention of novel
• More productive heuristic searchlight
ex: rules of the game - play a better game.

Question 14

„A man is called selfish, not for pursuing his own good, but for neglecting his neighbours‘.“

who said that ?

Answer 14

Richard Whately (1864, 1865; Apothegms Nr. 26, p. 3)

Question 15

„A man is called selfish, not for pursuing his own good, but for neglecting his neighbours‘.“

who said that ?

Answer 15

Richard Whately (1864, 1865; Apothegms Nr. 26, p. 3)

Question 16

“A universal consensus on values is not possible anymore.”

SAID…

Which challenges for theorizing ethics applies to?

Answer 16

2) The challenge of pluralism (JOHN RAWL)

Question 17

Please identify which of the following statements about morality in pre-modern societies is NOT true. Please select only one correct answer:

a. For the individual, it is of vital interest to abide by moral norms (social esteem is the basis for social inclusion).
b. Morality solves the problem of ‘double contingency’.
c. Moral communication sanctions those norms that guarantee the functioning of society.
d. Morality incentivises individual interests over group objectives.

Answer 17

d) Morality incentivises individual interests over group objectives.

Question 18

Please choose the correct answers for the advantages of a win-win perspective on morality as below.

You may need to choose more than one answer.

a. Compatible with pluralism and democracy
b. Compatible with scientific standards
c. Compatible with the risk of polarizing a debate
d. Compatible with conditions for implementation
e. Compatible with trade-off thinkings

Answer 18

a, b and d

Question 19

consensus refers to the normativity (embraced values) that is already in the game—and does not introduce ______ ______ from outside.

Which challenges for theorizing ethics applies to?

Answer 19

consensus refers to the normativity (embraced values) that is already in the game—and does not introduce normative claims from outside.

> > The challenge of keeping scientific standards

Question 20

consensus: about rules—not about values - consensus on rules is compatible with _____. (People can agree to the same rule for diverse personal reasons. e.g: clean kitchen)

Which challenges for theorizing ethics applies to?

Answer 20

consensus: about rules—not about values - consensus on rules is compatible with pluralism. (People can agree to the same rule for diverse personal reasons. e.g: clean kitchen)

> > The challenge of pluralism

Question 21

consensus is a normative criterion that aligns reasons with incentives - ______ is more feasible.

Which challenges for theorizing ethics applies to?

Answer 21

consensus is a normative criterion that aligns reasons with incentives - implementation is more feasible.

> > The challenge of implementation

Question 22

Consensus is also a criterion that ____ normative and positive analysis. Normatively expressed, people value something in here. But positively, they will support it. If we have a consensus, nobody will veto the situations. People will have incentives to support it.

Answer 22

Consensus is also a criterion that links normative and positive analysis. Normatively expressed, people value something in here. But positively, they will support it. If we have a consensus, nobody will veto the situations. People will have incentives to support it.

Question 23

What constitutes as relevant alternative…

Answer 23

1. Depends on the choice perspective:
   • Choice within constraints/given situation
   • Choice among constraints/between situations
2. Depends on the values/normative assumptions that define relevance
3. Depends on the alternatives that are actually available- not just theoretically desirable
   • Implies the ideas that there are trade-offs.
   • You can’t have your cake and eat it.
4. (Depends on ability to bring in new alternatives)
   • Reframing the situation, identifying alternatives
   • Driving the search/invention for new alternatives

Question 24

If win-win solutions are possible, why don‘t we realize them?

Answer 24

because of social dilemmas!

Question 25

A social dilemma is….

Answer 25

an incentive induced rationality trap: a situation in which individual behavior is fully rational (and intended) yet the group outcome is collectively undesirable (and unintended).

Question 26

Nash-Equilibrium as a criterion of stability:

Answer 26

Combination of strategies from which no player has an individual incentive to deviate unilaterally

Question 27

Pareto superiority as a relative assessment criterion:

Answer 27

Game result or situation is Pareto superior if it is better for both players (or one player without making the other one worse off) compared to the status quo.

Question 28

Pareto optimum as an absolute assessment criterion:

Answer 28

Game result or situation which cannot be changed in a way that one player is made better off without making the other player worse off.

Question 29

Four important implications of the PD:

Answer 29

1. The result of the game is a coordination result: thus, it is not a result of actions but of interactions. (Therefore, we do not refer to the Prisoner‘s Dilemma but the Prisoners‘ Dilemma).
2. This coordination result is reached as a non-intentional consequence of intentional action.
3. The structure of incentives pushes the players to reach a Pareto-inferior outcome. The result is collective self-damage: a social dilemma in which the conflict of interests dominates the collective interest.
4. Overcoming the collective self-damage through a collective self-commitment allows for a mutual improvement from which all players can benefit.

Question 30

Four elements of the ordonomic approach:

Answer 30

(a) Diagnosis of modernity – the three questions to address modern society
(b) Orthogonal Positioning
(c) Social Dilemma Analysis 1+2
(d) Three-Tiered-Framework

Question 31

How to analyze a prisioners’ dilemma?

Answer 31

1. Identify players
2. Identify existing rules
3. Determine strategies (basically me vs us concept)
4. Determine pay-offs (what is the outcome?)
5. Individual advanatage-disadvanatge calculation (arrows)
6. Apply Nash Criterion
7. Apply Pareto-Criterion

Question 32

Pioneer for game theory and the analysis of “mixed-motive-games”

Answer 32

Thomas Schelling

Question 33

“The fact that war hurts – that not all the losses of war are recoverable – makes war itself a dramatically nonzero-sum activity”

who said that?

Answer 33

Thomas Schelling

Question 34

Collective Betterment by Collective Commitment:

Answer 34

Collective commitments as a win-win trade

Question 35

Functional commitments can …

Answer 35

a) realize win-win potentials
and
b) thus create the conditions for consensus.

Question 36

Social dilemmas are _______ _________

Answer 36

Social dilemmas are normatively ambivalent

Question 37

The prisoners’ dilemma is an instrument for the _____ analysis. In each case, the _____ implications need to be looked at ______.

Answer 37

The prisoners’ dilemma is an instrument for the positive analysis. In each case, the normative implications need to be looked at separately.

Question 38

Which of the following statements does NOT describe any characteristic of the prisoners’ dilemma? Please choose only one correct answer.

a. The result of the prisoners’ dilemma is an intended consequence of intentional action.
b. Overcoming the prisoners’ dilemma enables mutual improvement.
c. The result of the game is a coordination result.
d. The incentive structure of the dilemma means that the actors achieve a pareto-inferior result.

Answer 38

a. The result of the prisoners’ dilemma is an intended consequence of intentional action.

Question 39

Which of the following statements is NOT correct? Please choose only one correct answer.

a. By overcoming a social dilemma, untapped potential can be realized.
b. Pareto optimum is also known as an absolute assessment criterion.
c. A social dilemma is a situation in which everyone acts individually and rationally - but the group therefore remains collectively below its possibilities.
d. Nash equilibrium is a combination of strategies where one of the players has an individual incentive to deviate.

Answer 39

d.