POLECON 235: Business Ethics
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ESSION 2: THURSDAY, SEPT. 15: UTILITARIANISM AND MANAGERIAL DECISION-MAKING
The previous session considered moral concerns, and this session introduces one set of principles
for reasoning about such concerns. Specifically, this session introduces a consequentialist
framework – utilitarianism – for reasoning about ethical issues. In addition to applying
utilitarian concepts to the case, you are to identify limitations of utilitarian analysis as well as
omitted moral considerations, if any, that should be taken into account. You are also to
demonstrate how to reason when moral transgressions are possible or likely. For example,
suppose you believe a competitor is likely to offer a bribe. What should you do, from the
perspectives of both act and rule utilitarianism?
Case: Complications in Marnera, BIE textbook, pp. 835-836.
Readings: BIE textbook pp. 702-718, 824-833.
SESSION 3: FRIDAY, SEPT. 16: RIGHTS AND DUTIES
This session introduces deontological ethical systems based on rights and duties considerations.
These ethical considerations differ from those in consequentialist systems, but the objective of
this session is not to attempt to reconcile the differences. Instead, the objective is to encourage
you to analyze a situation involving ethical concerns from the perspective of moral rights, in
addition to a consequentialist perspective. This provides perhaps a sounder basis for analysis and
decision-making than reliance on a single system. You are to identify the rights involved in the
case and formulate a policy governing the sale and use of portable ultrasound equipment for a
company with operations in India and China, where ultrasound equipment is sometimes used for
the purpose of gender selection.
Cases: Genetic Testing in the Workplace, BIE textbook pp. 766-767.
Reporting of Clinical Trial Results, BIE textbook pp. 804-806.
Readings: BIE textbook pp. 731-745.
SESSION 4: MONDAY, SEPT. 19: DISTRIBUTIVE JUSTICE
This session introduces a framework for reasoning about issues that involve justice concerns and
addresses a case in which a company is faced with an important justice issue. The case concerns
the emerging issue of environmental justice and the conflict between that concept and a pollution
credits trading system designed to generate economic efficiency (a utilitarian standard) by
achieving environmental goals at the lowest possible cost. The case raises the issues in the
context of an oil company that faces a moral and a legal challenge to its participation in an
important government program.
Case: Environmental Justice and Pollution Credits Trading Systems, BIE textbook
pp. 767-771.
Reading: BIE textbook pp. 750-764.