Good

Q: Is Lying Bad?

3-1 Determinants of a Civil Society

What is a Norm?
  • There are certain things you don't do.
  • Several modes of social control are important to marketing:
    1. Ethics
    • Definition: The moral principles or values that generally govern the conduct of an individual or a group.
    1. Laws
    • Characteristic: Laws have enforceability; they have 'meat' behind them.
    1. Formal and Informal Groups
    • Influence: Peer pressure.
    1. Self-Regulation
    • Example: The ability to refrain from inappropriate behavior, such as "not punching a person in the bar."
    1. The Media
    2. An Active Civil Society
    • Example: Vocal citizens advocating for change.
Ethical Standards
  • These standards might not always be ethical. They may be legal but not ethical.
    • Historical example: WWII Nazis did not break any laws while stripping Jews of humanity.
    • Example of ethical behavior: People broke the law by hiding Jews.

3-2 The Concept of Ethical Behavior

  • Ethics: Viewed as the standard of behavior by which conduct is judged.
  • Legal standards do not always equate to ethical standards, and vice versa.
  • Laws reflect the values and standards enforceable by the courts.
  • Ethics consists of personal moral principles.
  • Social Control: Any means used to maintain behavioral norms and regulate conflict.
  • Behavioral Norms: Standards of proper or acceptable behavior.
Ethical Dilemmas
  • Ethical dilemmas often arise from conflicts between the interests of company owners, workers, customers, and the surrounding community.
  • Managers face the challenge of producing a reasonable profit while maintaining honesty in business practices and concern for environmental and social issues.

Ethical Theories

  1. Deontological Theory
    • Definition: Ethical theory positing that individuals should adhere to their obligations and duties in ethical dilemmas.
    • Example: Soldiers’ decision to kill during war due to their duty to their nation.
  2. Utilitarian Ethical Theory
    • Definition: Ethical theory based on the prediction of consequences; the ethically correct choice yields the greatest benefit to the majority.
    • Example: Choosing an action that benefits 51% despite impacting the other 49%.
  3. Casuist Ethical Theory
    • Definition: Ethical theory that compares current dilemmas with past examples to determine severity and create solutions based on prior experiences.
  4. Moral Relativism
    • Definition: Theory positing that ethical truths depend on the individual or group; suggests no absolute rules exist.
    • Example: Contextual moral dilemmas such as "stealing coffee" based on circumstances.
Historical Perspectives on Ethics
  • Philosophers Aristotle and Plato taught that ethical dilemmas require training, with virtue development being essential for resolution.
  • Virtue: A character trait valued as good.

3-3 Ethical Behavior in Business

  • Morals: The rules people develop based on cultural values and norms; considered a foundation of ethical behavior.
    • Morals are categorized as good or bad.
        -