Business Ethics: Normative Theories Unit 3 – Flashcards

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Ethical Absolutism
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The position that moral right and wrong are objective matters, not personal subjective matters, which can be determined through the application of reason
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Ethical Absolutism
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The position that there are eternal, universally applicable moral principles.
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Ethical Relativism
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The position that there are no universally applicable moral principles, only moral principles based on a particular culture, social group, and time. The right or wrong decision depends on whatever the dominant culture approves of
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What is the approach of the authors of the course textbook to the poles of absolutism and relativism in ethics? What is this approach called?
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Pluralism
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Pluralism
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occupies something of a middle ground between absolutism and relativism.
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Consequentialist theories
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Ethical egoism Utilitarianism: (a) Act and (b) Rule Utilitarianism
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Non-consequentialist theories
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Ethics of duty Ethics of rights and justice Virtue ethics Feminist ethics Postmodernist ethics
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Non-consequentialist ethical theories
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set the principles for what is right and wrong behaviour based on matters other than the consequences of the behaviour will have on people or the environment
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Consequentialist ethical theories
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set the principles for what is right or wrong behaviour based on what the consequences of the behaviour will be to people and the environment
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Ethical Egoism
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is the principle that the morally right behaviour is that which best serves your own short term desires or long-term interests. No one else's interests need be considered. In other words, maximize my own good.
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Utilitarianism
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an action is morally right if it results in the greatest amount of good for the greatest amount of people affected by the action.
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Act Utilitarianism
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The morally right behaviour is that which produces (1) the greatest balance of pleasure over pain (2) for the greatest number of people who will be affected by the behaviour
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Act utilitarianism is known
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as a teleological theory because it is ends directed or goals directed (namely, maximizing pleasure over pain), not concerned with the actor's motives or principles behind the behaviour
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Act utilitarianism Advantages
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The theory appeals to our intuition that human beings are of value and matter. Conforms to our intuition that consequences matter
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Rule Utilitarianism
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The morally right behaviour is that which complies with a moral rule, if and only if, that type of behaviour, if made into a rule, would as a whole bring about the greatest balance of pleasure over pain on a recurring basis.
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Based on the facts which option will best serve my short-term desires and long-term interests
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ethical egoism
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Which option will produce the greatest amount of pleasure over pain
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act utilitarianism
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Which option will produce a general rule that maximizes pleasure over pain in all situations
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rule utilitarianism
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Character of "Natural Rights"
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A right is a non-negotiable claim to something that no one may interfere with . A natural right is an inalienable right that is endowed on a human being by nature and not by humans
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Inalienable
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the ownership of the right cannot be transferred from one individual to another by agreement or otherwise
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Ethics of Rights
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Natural rights cannot be surrendered or infringed upon by any person's behaviour or they have behaved immorally
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Ethics of Rights Advantages
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1. Promotes the inherent value of individual human beings and that we are all equal and need to be respected as such. 2. Provides a strong moral justification for a person's behaviour in the fact they are exercising their basic human rights
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Ethics of Rights Disadvantages
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1. Because it promotes morality from the point of view of the individual it does not address the collective good of a society 2. What rights are included and not included as natural rights is unclear
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Ethics of Justice
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A problem with moral rights as the basis for an ethical theory is that it operates on the assumption that all individuals' moral rights will be equally respected and protected.
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Distributive Justice:
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The fair distribution of society's benefits and burdens. The principle is that it is morally wrong for an unequal distribution.
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Rawls said justice is achieved when
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1. Each person has an equal right to both positive and negative liberties AND 2. Social and economic inequalities are arranged so that a. the one who benefits least is still better off than they would otherwise be b. everyone had a fair chance to higher positions
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Negative Liberties:
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The absence of interference with your actions by other people. Examples include freedom of speech, freedom of religion and conscience, freedom to own personal property, freedom from intrusion into one's privacy.
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Positive Liberties:
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In a positive sense one has liberty to the extent one has control over ones life. Examples of positive liberties would be access to education, access to free health care, freedom from deception or force.
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Principle 1
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is the principle of equal liberty and says (a) individual civil liberties must be protected against invasion by others and (b) must have liberties equal to others
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Principle 2a
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is the difference principle and provides that must improve the most needy in society unless such improvement would be so burdensome as to hurt even the most needy
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Principle 2b
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is called the principle of equal opportunity and provides all must be given equal opportunity to qualify for more privileged positions in society's institutions.
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Ethics of Justice Advantages
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1. Promotes the inherent value of individual human beings and that we are all equal and need to be given the same opportunities to succeed. 2. Fits with people's intuition about morality and fairness, in theory at least.
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Ethics of Justice disAdvantages
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1. Assumes it is more unfair to leave people in need than to take away private property (e.g., through taxation) 2. Assumes people are in need through no fault of their own 3. Because it promotes morality from the point of view of the individual it does not address the collective good of a society beyond assuming society benefits from re-distribution of wealth
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virtue ethics
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the morally correct behaviour is that which the virtuous person would do in that same situation
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How do you know what the virtuous person would do?
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By training yourself to be virtuous through developing certain habitual character traits
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What are the traits of the character of the virtuous person that you must develop in business thru practice?
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Courage Justice or fairness Moderation Honesty Charity Giving back to the community Loyalty
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Virtue Ethics Advantages
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1. Provides a natural and attractive account of human beings' moral motivations. 2. Allows for emotions to be considered in our behaviour. 3. Gets away from analyzing isolated behaviour
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Virtue Ethics disAdvantages
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No two cultures would exactly agree on what the virtues should be.
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What is feminism?
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Is an approach that prioritizes empathy, harmonious and healthy social relationships, care for one another, and avoidance of harm above abstract principles.
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Feminist ethics places a high priority on
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Maintaining social relationships. Caring for your family and friends. Avoiding harm to others
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What is postmodernism?
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is an approach that locates morality beyond the sphere of rationality in an emotional "moral impulse" towards others. it encourages individual actors to questions everyday practices and rules, and to listen to and follow their emotions, inner convictions, and "gut feelings" about what they think is right and wrong in a particular situation.
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Modernism
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1. The power of reason to solve problems. 2. There is an objective truth that can arrive at through reason. 3. Belief in universal principles and rules.
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Postmodernism rejected the following. Why does this matter in business ethics?
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1. Power of reason 2. Objective truth 3. The achievement of universality
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key concept in postmodernism.
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Deconstruction
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Key concepts of postmodernist ethics
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Challenges the link between reason and morality. Asserts there are no universal principles in ethics. Real source of morals is rooted in a moral impulse towards others.
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To decide what is right and wrong behaviour, postmodernist ethics suggests individuals should follow:
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Their emotions Their inner convictions Their gut feelings
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Problems with Postmodernist Ethics
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Provides no clear principles or guidelines for figuring out what is ethical or unethical behaviour. Seems to be awfully close to the relativism end of the ethical spectrum.
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Long-term self-interest
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Egoism
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Social consequences of action
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Utilitarianism
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Moral duties owed to others
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Duty Ethics
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Entitlement of others
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Rights Ethics
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Fair Treatment of everyone
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Justice Ehtics
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Moral Character
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Virtue Ethics
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Care for others and relationships
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Feminist Ethics
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Moral impulse and emotions
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Postmodern ethics
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