Business Ethics - Unit One - Week Three

Business Ethics - Unit One - Week Three

Introduction

  • Purpose: Concluding discussions on virtue ethics with an emphasis on the ethical analysis assignment.

  • Transition from claim analysis to ethical analysis in assignments.

  • This unit prepares students for deeper ethical evaluations in practical scenarios.

Ethical Analysis Assignment Overview

  • Assignment found in the syllabus, one page after the claim analysis description.

  • Worth: 10 points (longer than claim analysis, between 750 and 1500 words; roughly 3 to 6 double-spaced pages).

  • Formatting requirements:

    • Font: Times New Roman, size 12

    • Margins: One inch

    • Citations: Use proper parenthetical citations for direct quotations.

Objectives of the Ethical Analysis

  • Focus on understanding the ethical viability of actions based on historical texts and principles.

  • Differentiates from claim analysis as it is focused on ethical implications rather than mere analysis of claims.

  • Students will apply universal ethical principles to case studies in business contexts.

Assignment Structure

  • Five Paragraphs Requirement: Each answering one of the following questions:

    1. Question One (Historical text): From Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, what makes an action ethical?

    • Distillation of Aristotle's concepts about ethical action.

    1. Question Two (Contemporary text): What makes an action ethical per the chosen contemporary author (Kar, Jackal, or Carroll)?

    • Similar analysis as above, identifying necessary ethical principles.

    1. Question Three (Application of Historical Principles): Apply Aristotle's ethical framework to a particular business case study chosen by the student.

    • Emphasis on choosing a relevant real-world situation involving ethical decision-making.

    1. Question Four (Application of Contemporary Principles): Apply principles from the contemporary text to the same business case study.

    • Illustrate how the contemporary ethical system offers conclusions about the case.

    1. Question Five (Evaluation): Which set of principles, historical or contemporary, provides a better resolution to the case?

    • Evaluation of ethical principles based on their applicability to the case at hand.

Assessment Criteria

  • Each paragraph is worth two points (total 10 points).

  • Evaluation based on:

    • Proper length and adherence to formatting guidelines.

    • Incorporation of direct quotes and paraphrases.

    • Clarity of claims and persuasive support for those claims.

  • General tips for writing the ethical analysis provided in the syllabus.

Office Hours and Contact

  • Instructor encourages students to reach out for clarifications during office hours or via email (Wednesdays, 1-3 PM CT).

Overview of Aristotle's Reading

  • This week's reading is essential and will focus on justice as per Aristotle’s framework.

  • Previous excerpts dealt with general virtues (e.g., bravery in war); this week’s reading applies ethical principles to business contexts.

Justice's Role in Aristotle's Ethics

  • Justice is crucial for understanding ethical actions in business.

  • Unlike other virtues like bravery or temperance, justice concerns fair exchanges and distributions in economics.

Hierarchical Structure of Justice According to Aristotle

  • Two Basic Senses of Justice:

    1. Justice as the entirety of virtue (synonymous with virtue).

    2. Justice as a part of virtue (one kind of virtue), further divided:

    • Justice as fairness of distribution (common goods sharing).

    • Justice as correction (private goods exchanges).

Justice as the Whole of Virtue

  • When discussing justice as the totality of virtue, it means:

    • An action can be described as just if it embodies virtues of courage, temperance, etc.

  • Aristotle highlights that virtue in this sense relates to the individual’s ethical relations within a community framework.

Justice as a Part of Virtue

  • Justice defined as fairness, contrasting it with unfairness and greed.

  • Justice means equality when distributing common goods, and must consider proportionality based on merit.

Justice Concepts in Business Context

  1. Justice in Distribution:

    • Example: Three entrepreneurs pooling resources for a common venture.

      • The distribution of profits must correspond to the contributions of each member.

      • Aristotle's principle: Just distribution doesn’t ensure equal shares but proportional ones based on contribution.

  2. Justice in Correction:

    • Concerned with fair exchanges of private goods.

    • Requires equal exchange where each party gets equivalent value.

    • Example: Exchange of seed for medical services; fairness here depends on ensuring both parties get equal value for their goods/services.

    • Importance of the role of currency as a common measure in these exchanges.

Practical Implications and Warnings

  • Throughout his discussion, Aristotle cautions about the impact of vice and unethical behavior on community equity.

  • An emphasis is placed on knowledge, voluntariness, and deliberate actions during decision-making processes in ethical situations.

Conclusion

  • Aim for a comprehensive understanding of how Aristotle's notions of justice apply to contemporary business ethics.

  • Essential to prepare for synthesizing ideas in upcoming assignments and future readings involving Carroll and other contemporary authors.

Final Notes

  • Retain clarity on justice’s broader role in ethical frameworks, reflecting on fairness and proportionality in all business dealings.

  • Inquiries are encouraged about any confusing aspects of both the ethical analysis assignment and the readings on justice.

  • Next video will cover Carroll’s perspectives and how they relate to Aristotle's teachings.