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VelasquezChapter2

ChapterOverview

Inchapter2,studentswillexploreavarietyofethicaltheorieswithbroad-rangesocial,political,andcorporateimplications,suchasutilitarianismandvirtueethics.Throughavarietyofreal-worldscenariosandcasestudies,learnersencounteropportunitiestoobservetheoutcomesofmoral-basedactionsinthecorporatesector,applyingtheoreticalmethodologiestotangiblesituations.ThroughthefoundationalideasofphilosophersandsocialtheoristssuchasImmanuelKantandJohnRawls,studentswillexploreandapplycoreconceptssuchasmoralreasoning,justice,andequitytoavarietyofbusinesssituationsincludingworkplaceregulationsandhumanrights.

In-and-OutofClassActivities

ReflectiveResponse

1.Doyoufeelbusinesseshavearesponsibilitytoconsiderhumanrightswhensourcingormanufacturingmaterialsinothercountriesorregions?Howmightabusinessownerbalanceprofitandfiscalresponsibilitywhilemaintainingacommitmenttoglobalhumanrights?

2.CompareandcontrasttheideasofvirtueethicspresentedbyAristotleandThomasAquinas.Doyoufeelthatanindividual’scharacterorinnate“goodness”oughttobeameasureofethicalpotentialinthebusinessenvironment?Whyorwhynot?

3.DiscussthestrategiesMaidenMills’CEOAaronFeuersteintooktoprotecthisemployees’payrollneedsafterthedevastatingfire.Describehowtheethicofcareapproachpotentiallyimpactsemployeeperceptionandloyalty.DoyoufeelthatFeuerstein’sconcernforemployeesisapositivebusinessmodelforotherleaderstofollow?Whyorwhynot?

Group&TeamCollaboration

1.ImaginethatyourteamoverseessourcingmaterialsandacquiringgoodsforaU.S.-basedcompanyengaginginbusinessrelationshipsinanothercountry.Howwouldyouapplyautilitarianapproachtoyourproductsourcingwhilemaintainingacommitmenttohumanrights?Discusstheobstaclesyoumightencounterinthissituation.

2.Imaginethatyouaretheownerofasuccessfulmanufacturingcompany.Asaclass,divideintothreeteams:socialism,capitalism,andlibertarianism,andcreateasummaryandpresentationofyourbusinessmodel/businessphilosophybasedonyourteam’scategory.

3.ImaginethatyourteamhasbeencontractedbytheCEOofalocalcompanytodesignacodeofethicalresponsibilityforcorporateleadership.Usingtheethicaltheoriesandapproachestomoralreasoningyourteamfeelswouldbemostbeneficial,createalistoffivetosevenethicsrulesforthebusinesssupervisorsandleaderstofollow.

IntellectualDiscussion

LecturePoint:JusticeandFairnessintheWorkplace

QuestionstoAskStudents:Imagineyouareaworkerinalocalretailstore,andyourtownisvotingonaproposaltoraisetheminimumwage.UsingJohnRawls’ideasofjustice,exploretheprosandconsofthissituationfromavarietyofperspectives.

OnlineAlternative:Locateanewsarticledescribingactivism,protests,orconflictsurroundinglegislationtoraisetheminimumwageinaspecificcityorstate.HowwouldyouapplyJohnRawls’ideasofjusticetothissituation?

LecturePoint:Theimplicationsofautilitarianapproach

QuestionstoAskStudents:Utilitarianethicsisoftendescribedasthe“greatestgoodforthegreatestnumber”.Createanexampleofasituationinwhichthe“greatestgood”forthemajoritysimultaneouslycausesenormousharmtoaminorityofindividuals.Howmightyousolvethisethicaldilemma?

OnlineAlternative:Utilitarianethicsisoftendescribedasthe“greatestgoodforthegreatestnumber”.Locateanarticleorcasestudyinwhichthe“greatestgood”forthemajoritysimultaneouslycausesenormousharmtoaminorityofindividuals.Discusstheoutcomesofthesituation,aswellaswhatyoumightdodifferently.

LecturePoint:Unconsciousvs.consciousmoraldecision-making

QuestionstoAskStudents:Towhatextentdoyoufeelsocioculturalinfluences,suchaspopcultureandmediaphenomena,contributetoourunconsciousmoraldecision-making?Providespecificexamplesoftheoryandphenomenatosupportyourperspective.

OnlineAl