Business Ethics Quiz 1

Who were some of the Characters of Athen?

Plato, Epicurus, Diogenes, Aristotle and Socrates.

What was Epicurus’s purpose of philosophy?

To achieve tranquility of mind and freedom from fear and pain.

Who was Diogenes?

He was “the cynic” who didn’t care about hygiene, money, social conventions and embraced shameless.

What did Plato refer Diogenes as?

“A Socrates gone mad”

Who said the term: “ If I were not Diogenes, I should also wish to be Diogenes”?

Diogenes

Who said: “The unexamined life is not worth living”?

Socrates

How can we think about Socrates Claim?

Philosphy involves critically assessing-examining-the beliefs, you have received from family and society. Examining one’s beliefs is essential for flourishing as a human being.

Why is Self Examination important?

Helps an individual understand themselves and the ways in which they can improve.

Why is the “Growth Mindset” important?

It embraces the examined life.

Who is the wisest because he is aware of his own ignorance?

Socrates

What is true Wisdom?

Not thinking you know alot but being aware of what you do not know-awareness of your own ignorance.

When does Wisdom Begin?

Wisdom begins by realizing how much there is to know and how little you yourself actually know.

What is the Opposite of Socratic Wisdom?

The Overconfidence effect- a common cognitive bias, uncritical/incompetent people.

What can negatively affect how we reason?

Biases.

What is confirmation bias?

We tend to notice and accept arguments and evidence that confirm what we want to believe.

Horoscopes are an example of what?

Confirmation bias.

What areas of Life are affected by Confirmation Biases?

Social media, Infotainment, Scientific Research, Halo Effect.

What is it called when we tend to assume that good looking people are also intelligent/pleasant/moral/etc?

Halo Effect

What is the Availability Bias?

When we tend to estimate how probable something is by how quickly it come to mind. (first available thing on our mind)

Humans tend to respond emotionally to individuals and pictures vs. numbers and stats: True or False

True

What is the Gell-Mann Amnesia?

When you forget how reliable a source was in an area you know well.

What is motivated reasoning?

Like confirmation bias when you really want a certain conclusion to be true.

What are the signs of Motivated Reasoning?

Vested Interest (something to gain), Conflict of Interest (position to make decisions that unfairly provide you with important advantages), Slanted by Omission (leaving out important information), and Slanting by Disorder (aspects of an argument are exaggerated).

What do Politicians often do with Motivated Reasoning?

Self Dealing by prioritizing personal or party gains over objective truth.

What is the Socratic Method?

A form of cooperative argumentative dialogue that stimulates critical thinking, often involving asking and answering questions to draw out ideas and underlying presumptions.

“ Justice is always following the law” is an example of how you can use the socratic method, What counter examples can be use?

laws are not just, contradictory laws, actions that are not just but also not illegal.

What is Philosophy?

The love of wisdom, and is sometimes said to be the study of first principles of thought and reality.

What intellectual topics are open to philosophical examination?

Medical, Physics, aesthetics, sports.

What does Philosophy concern itself with?

Abstract questions about the ultimate nature of our world…and sometimes more practical questions like how to live, behave and think.

Philosophy is rational examination of…

abstract, theoretical issues in any discipline.

What is Analytic Philosphy?

the emphasis of logic and argumentation.

What are the most important intellectual virtues?

Clarity (coherent and precise use of language) and Rigor (Crafting arguments)

What is an arguement?

One or more reason offering support of a conclusion.

What an argument is not?

Fighting or insulting, criticize.

What are the 2 types of Arguments?

Inductive and Deductive.

What are Inductive Arguments?

They are probable which means the conclusion is likely true but not logically guaranteed, such as natural sciences and mathematics.

What are Deductive Arguments?

They try to establish a conclusion with logical certainty by using validity and soundness.

Philosophers apply reason to…

evidence to come to conclusions.

“We are discussing no small matter, but how we ought to live” was from what?

The title page of the oldest surviving manuscript of Republic

What is the Republic?

A late middle dialogue concerning the ideal-just-state, where there are excerpts on why people act justly/ethically

Who were Platos brothers and what dialogue were they in?

Their names were Glaucon and Adeimantus and they were in the Ring Of Gyges.

What were some themes in the Rings of Gyges?

Why are humans just? Why do we sometimes do the right thing? How do we organize a society to produce just citizens and avoid demagogues, An invisible ring found by a shepherd that grants its wearer the power of invisibility which allows you to do whatever you want.

What is Glaucon’s view on why people act justly?

Do we do the right thing for its own sake or because of the consequences? He is unconvinced that they do it for both and that justice is only pursued for “the sake of reward and reputation”

What is Socrates view on why people act justly?

They do it both for its own sake and the consequences.

Who says that “people will follow their own selfish interests if they are allowed too”?

Glaucon

Glaucon and adaimantus say that: people are only just because…

of pear and and a lack of power.

Why does Glaucon say that Justice comes from a social contract and what would happen best/worst case senario?

Because it is a compromise, without it the best case would be doing whatever you want and getting away with it, or the worst case suffer injustice without being able to retaliate.

How can we achieve compromise?

We agree on rules of conduct which are enforced by punishment (laws), since they are mutually beneficial any rational person would except them as long as everyone else do, it is in everyone’s interest and the rules allow a society to function and prosper.

What is a State of Nature?

a lawless society, social anarchy, man against man. It would mean no trade, no architecture, no farming, no science, no learning or culture, no group efforts.

“ A multitude of men, are made one person, when they are by one man, or one person, represented; so that it be done with the consent of everyone of that multitude in particular” was said by?

Thomas Hobbes in Leviathan.

“ We can summarize the social contract conception of morality as follows: Morality consists in the set of rules, governing behavior, that rational people will accept, on the condition that others accept them as well. And Rational people will accept a rule only if they can except to gain from it'“ Who said it?

James Rachels on the Social Contract

What is James Rachels thoughts on the Social Contract?

Morality is about mutual benefits, and we only follow a rule if we would be better off living in a society in which that rule were usually followed.

“Covenants [contracts] without the sword [enforcement] are but words” who said it?

Hobbes

The prisoners dilemma is similar to what?

The social contract.

What are the four possibilities of rational self interest versus realistically best case(Prisoners Dilemma)?

 1) You are selfish and get away with it (like Rings of Gyges), 2) Everyones self interest constrained by mutual beneficial rules (enforced social contract) BEST CASE, 3) Everyone is selfish(State of Nature),4) Others are selfish while you follow the rules( the sucker-worst case for you)

What two conditions are present in the Real Life Prisoners Dilemma?

Peoples interests are affect by what other people will do and everyone will end up worse off if they onlu pursue their own self interests.

What happens without an enforceable agreement?

Tragedy of the Commons occurs, leading to resource depletion and negative consequences for all parties involved.

Social Contract obligates us to obey the law but in what case would we be justified in breaking the law?

When the laws are unjust, civil disobedience is justifiable as a last resort.

Why is Social Contract limited in scope?

What about moral duties to beings not part of the social contract from whom we do not derive mutual benefit, Human infants, animals, future generations, conquered people, citizens of other countries.

Who said this about the limitation objection(limited scope of social contract): “This objection does not concern some minor aspect of the theory; it goes right to the root of the tree. The social contract theory is grounded in self interest and reciprocity; thus it seems unable to recognize the moral duties we have to individuals who cannot benefit us”

Rachels

Who offers an important and influential contract theory though experiment about the Veil of Ignorance?

John Rawls

“[T]he most reasonable principles of justice are those everyone would accept and agree to from a fair position” behind the veil of ignorance, who said it”?

John Rawls

What is the Veil of Ignorance?

Forces you to emphasize with the position of everyone else-because that could be your position.

What is Socrates answer to Why be Just?

Socrates argues that being just is inherently beneficial to the soul, leading to true happiness and a harmonious life not just a means to an end.

What is Socrates answer to how do we create Virtue within Society?

Through education and social contract/structure, childhood stories that portray gods as just and virtuous.

Why is it important to have virtue in child development?

Children emulate the behavior of adults and develop moral foundations through observation and guidance.

How can we have virtue within ourselves?

Organize your character so that it cultivates virtues and minimizes the influence of desires and appetites, adopt the growth mindset, strive for wisdom and expel bad habits and bad influences.

What is Aristotle’s view on Virtue Ethics?

To become an honest person, one must practice being honest until it becomes a habit, this must be instilled from an early age.

What is still influential in modern ethics (Platos most important student)?

Aristotle’s virtue ethics.

Who has brought Virtue Ethics into the 20th Century?

Anscombe, Foot, Nussbaum

What are the 4 “Cardinal Virtues” from Platos Republic?

Prudence(wise management of actions), Justice(fairness),Courage(Fortitude), Temperance(Restraint).

What are the source of all Vices?

Cardinal Sins (Seven Deadly Sins)

What are the Cardinal Sins (Seven Deadly Sins)?

Pride, Envy, Gluttony, Lust, Wrath, Greed, Sloth

What does Rachels say Virtue is?

Trait of character, manifested in habitual action, that is good for anyone to have.

What does Aristotle say Virtue is?

Midpoints between extremes: the mean between excess and deficiency.

What is the problem that arises with virtue? What does Rachels say?

Is a suicide bomber who kills women and children courageous? Rachels says that they had two traits, on admirable and one vicious.

Who argues that it is never permitted to lie?

Kant

What was Aristotle most concerned with honesty about oneself?

Honesty is about ones own actions and deeds, too little (false modest) and too much (boastfulness)

Character determines:

Our intentions which determine our actions from which follow (good or bad) consequences.

Someone with just intentions/motivations:

is a virtuous character

If you have just intentions/motivations then you will have:

good consequences.

Rachels rejects |radical virtue ethics” because?

It complements other theories by providing an account of character development.

Why do we have trouble explaining why a virtue is virtuous?

We need to appeal to other theories, such as social contract theory, utilitarianism, duty based ethic.

Sometime Virtue Ethics is _____ and does not explain whic, why and how virtue applies to difficult cases.

vague

Why is virtue unhelpful in cases of conflicting virtues/moral dilemmas?

Honesty and kindness are both virtues but often conflict.

What are Rachels final thoughts about Virtue Ethics?

It works best as part of a larger theory, it should be supplemented by another theory.

Happiness and Duty are the two theories of what?

Utilitarianism (Consequences-based ethics) and Deontology (duty based ethics).

What is Utilitarianism?

A moral theory that evaluates the rightness or wrongness of actions based on their consequences, aiming to maximize overall happiness.

What is Deontology?

A moral theory focused on rules and duties, evaluating the rightness of actions based on adherence to moral principles, regardless of the consequences.

What is the Trolley Problem and Who created it?

The Trolley Problem is a philosophical thought experiment created by British philosopher Philippa Foot. It explores moral dilemmas involving choices that affect the greater good versus individual rights.

Who was a founder of modern virtue ethics and was a critic of consequences-based ethics like utilitarianism?

Phillipa Foot

Who modified the trolley problem “ add a fat man to block the train” and was a contemporary American Philosopher?

Judith Jarvis Thomson

What is the utilitarian way of answering the trolley problem? For Foot and Thomsons theory?

In either case since the consequences appear to be the same the answers would be the same as the one person is not a ““means to an end”

How would emotions and the brain effect how you look at the trolley problem?

It could depend on cold empathy (cost benefit analysis) vs. hot empathy (emotional-feeling for others).

Who also discussed about the transplant scenario?

Judith Jarvis Thomson also discussed the transplant scenario, exploring ethical implications similar to those in the trolley problem.

What is the pleasure machine and who wrote about it?

Nozick argued that if there was a machine that produces a perfectly pleasurable virtual reality, the life in that would be far less valuable because pleasure derived from the machine is empty.

Who was this letter from and too? “ When we say, then that pleasure is the end and am, we do not mean the pleasures of the prodigal [reckless extravagance] or the pleasures of sensuality as we are understood to do by some through ignorance, prejudice, or willful misrepresentation, By pleasure we mean the absence of pain in the body and of trouble in the soul [mind]. It is not an unbroken succession of drinking-bouts and of merrymaking, not sexual love, not the enjoyment of the fish and other delicacies of a luxurious table, which produce a pleasant life; it is sober reasoning searching out the ground of every choice and avoidance, and banishing those beliefs through which the greatest disturbances take possessions of the soul…For this reason prudence is a more precious thing even than then other virtues, for a life [lacks] pleasure which is not also a life of prudence, honor, and justice…not also a life of pleasure. For the virtues have grown into one with a pleasant life, an a pleasant life is inseparable from them.’

Epicurus Letter to Menoeceus

Who was the founder of the Consequentialist ethical theory Utilitarianism (also Mill’s teacher and friend of Mills Father)?

Jeremy Bentham

Who created the Harm Principle (Bentham’s student)?

John Stuart Mill

Who said “an action is permissible as long as it does not harm someone else”?

Mills