Post on 18-Mar-2023
Resolving Ethical Dilemma—an Introduction
The Furillo/ Davenport example of ethical dilemma
What are the conflicts in the case?Why is Furillo in dilema?
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Normative perspectives—what does it mean?
Moral judgement must be supportable by a sound moral principle
Thus moral principles thus provide the confirmatory standard for moral judgement
The use of these principles is not a mechanical process
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Ethical Theories
Consequentialist Theories-the moral rightness of an action is determined
solely by its results
Nonconsequentialist Theories-right and wrong are determined by more than
the likely consequences of an action
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Ethical Theories
Consequentialist Theories—
• EgoismThis view equates morality with self-interest Even painful experience meshes with egoism if it is
necessary for long-term interestsEgoists may hold any theory of what is goodEgoism sometimes requires us to advance the interests
of othersAdam Smith: egoism is the principle of economic activity
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Ethical Theories
Consequentialist Theories—
• EgoismPsychological egoism is not a sound theory-self-interest
is not the only thing that motivates anyoneEthical egoism is not really a moral theory at all-morality
serves to restrain our purely self-interested desires so we all live together
Ethical egoism ignores blatant wrongs such as theft, sexual discrimination etc.
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Ethical Theories
Consequentialist Theories—
• UtilitarianismWe should always act to produce the greatest possible
balance of good over bad for everyone affected by our actions
Bentham, concerned with quantity, and Mill, considering the relative quality of pleasure, both equate pleasure and happiness and consider pleasure the ultimate value
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Ethical Theories
• Utilitarianism in Business Context
clear basis for formulating policies
an objective way of resolving conflicts of self-interestsA flexible approach to moral decision making
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Ethical Theories
• Critiques of Utilitarianism
Is utilitarianism really workable?Are some actions wrong, even if they produce good?Is utilitarianism unjust?
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Ethical TheoriesAct Utilitarianism
We must ask ourselves what the consequences of a particular act in a particular situation
Results justify the action like the Furillo’s case
Rule UtilitarianismUtilitarian standard should be applied not to
individual actions but to moral codes as a wholeIt is about what rules can reasonably be taught and
obeyed
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Ethical Theories(continued)
Non-consequentialist Theory
• Immanuel Kantcategorical imperative
• W. D. Rossprima facie obligations
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Ethical Theories(continued)
Non-consequentialist Theorycriticises that egoism and utilitarianism reduce all morality to
a concern with consequencesargues that the results of actions do not determine whether
they are right or wrong
• Immanuel KantMoral reasoning is not based on factual knowledge,
but it is a priori, reason by itself can reveal the basic principles of morality
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Ethical Theories(continued)
• Immanuel Kantcategorical imperative
One command that is necessarily binding on all rational agents, regardless of any other considerations
Moral reasoning is not based on factual knowledge, but it is a priori, reason by itself can reveal the basic principles of morality
What determines whether an act is right is that an act is morally right if and only if we can will it to become a universal law of conduct
Good will is the only thing that is good in itself13
Ethical Theories(continued)
• Immanuel Kantcategorical imperative
Tells that our action should achieve universal acceptability, in order to be ethical
An action is right only if the agent would be willing to be so treated were the positions of the parties reversed
One must always act so as to treat other people as ends in themselves
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Ethical Theories(continued)
• Immanuel Kantcategorical imperative in business
Provides firm rules to follow
Introduces an important humanistic dimension into business decision
Stresses the importance of motivation and principle
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Ethical Theories(continued)
• Immanuel KantCritique of categorical imperative
Blur between duty and sympathy
Misunderstanding between making oneself an exception and a rule with an exception
-ex. abortion
Blur between ends and means-ex. Prostitution vs. employ
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Ethical Theories(continued)
Non-consequentialist Theory
• W. D. RossWe have various moral duties that cannot be reduced to
one single obligation to maximize happinessSometimes these obligations can conflict
prima facie obligationsAn obligation which can be overridden by a more
important obligation
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Ethical Theories(continued)
Non-consequentialist Theory
prima facie obligationsEx. Dilemma between tell a truth and friendship
Pluralistic approach rejects utilitarianism as well as Kant’s categorical imperative
Refrain is more critical than active promotionThere is distinction between morally obligatory actions
and supererogatory ones
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Moral Theories--Organizational Context
Applications and critique• Non-consequentialism
understanding moral rights• Consequentialism
finding the optimal code— Act & Rule utilitarianism
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Moral Theories--Organizational Context
Applications and critique• Non-consequentialism
understanding moral rightsLegal rights derive from legal systemSome moral rights from relationships and rolesOther moral rights, which are not from legal systems or relationships, are called human rights
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Moral Theories--Organizational Context
Negative human rights reflect the vital interests of human beings free from outside interference
Ex. Freedom of speechPositive human rights reflect the vital interests of human
beings for certain benefitsEx. Rights to education
Moral rights are grounds for making moral judgments different from utilitarianism’s grounds
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Moral Theories--Organizational Context
1)Moral decision making involves the weighing of different moral factors and considerations
2)Organization has its own legitimated goals to pursue, indicating the limitation of morality
3)Human rights are a crucial factor in most moral deliberations
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Moral Theories--Organizational Context
Critiques of nonconsequentialism
1)What seems prima facie may turn out to be not only not self-evident but actually falseex. The earth is flat
2)We cannot handle conflicting rights and principlesex. Rights of free speech vs. obligation of political neutrality
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Moral Theories--Organizational Context
• Consequentialismfinding the optimal code— Act & Rule utilitarianism
Act utilitarianism emphasizes only one moral obligationRule utilitarianism is relevant to the discussion of the
moral concerns characteristic of nonconsequentialism, asking what moral code a society should adopt to maximize happiness
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Moral Theories--Organizational Context
• Consequentialismthe optimal code
Rule utilitarian believe that more happiness will come from instilling in people a pluralistic moral code
The optimal code would presumably be prima facie An action is not necessarily wrong if it fails to maximize
happiness; it is wrong only if it conflicts with the ideal moral code
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Synthesis In Moral Decision-making
Basic principlesParticipants agree about the relevant facts-we often differ about what the facts of the situation are
We should try to spell out the moral principles to which different people are appealing
-a reluctance to defend our moral decisions in public is almost always a warning sigh
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Synthesis In Moral Decision-making
V.R. RuggieroObligations , Ideals, Effects
1)obligations arise in the context of human relationship2)Ideal is some morally important goal, virtue, or
notion of excellence worth striving for3)Effects of actions should be considered, when
reflecting on a possible course of action
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