Business Ethics Test 2

Audi: Moral pluralism

There are multiple moral principles- it does not boil down to only 1

W.D. Ross influences Audi

Ross: Moral principles can conflict therefore we need prioritization. “Prima Facie Duties”- things we recognize as intuitive level as being right.

Prioritization in conflict example

Duty to truth doesn’t outweigh our duty to protect innocent lives. This connects to D+D’s hypernorms.

Affirmative Action

Audi says we start with 2 intuitions/moral principles in mind

1. 1. merit

2. 2. recompense

Merit

We have an idea that we want people hired for work because they’re the most capable and accomplished people.

Recompense

When someone’s been wronged, we should try and make it up to them.

AA’s difficulty

Both intuitions are in play and can come into conflict in AA policies.

We can agree that there have been injustices against POC and women in the past but we have to answer 2 questions.

a. who has been harmed?

b. from whom should recompence come from?

This is sticky!!

Audi says there are 6 stages of recompence in process of AA. The first stage is…

Increased awareness of job openings for affected groups

2

Increased consideration in hiring procedures- give injusticed people additional care

3

Preferential hiring IFF candidates are otherwise equal in qualifications

4

Preferential hiring even if qualifications slightly favor the other candidate

5

Preferential hiring even if other candidate is significantly more qualified

6

Quotas. Ex) In x years, we need x positions to be filled by x type of people.

Bonified Occupational Qualification (BFOQ)

Floor level- it’s a requirement to do a job. You can’t do the job without it.

For example, a firefighter needs to be able to carry a body down a flight of stairs.

Argument for religion in the workplace

If religion is real and vital to our lives, it should be worked into all areas of our lives, especially work (we spend so much time here anyways).

Audi’s Principles (Prima Facie Principles)

1. Liberty

2. Equality

3. Neutrality

Liberty

Government must protect religious freedom

Equality

Government must treat different religions equally

Neutrality

Government must treat religious and nonreligious people equally. You can’t be penalized for being a part of either group.

These principles and business connections

Audi says the principles ought to apply to businesses. There is an exception for privately owned businesses to focus on their own values, and even more of an exception for businesses if it’s religion-oriented.

BFOQ example

If you’re selling books about Christ and yoga, you should be a believer so you can actually do your job.