6 theories of ethics

Question 1

utalitarianism

Answer 1

Utilitarianism was developed by English philosopher Jeremy Bentham * and further refined by John Stuart Mill. Utilitarians believe that people should act to maximize the utility of everyone involved, where utility has been variously interpreted historically as “happiness,” “well-being,” or “pleasure” (the latter is Bentham’s interpretation)

The decision-maker’s interests are not the only ones that count. Everyone’s interests matter. This impartial perspective can be highly demanding, requiring as it does that people give equal ethical weight to the interests of all people who might be affected by a choice.

Question 2

act and rule utalitarian

Answer 2

For an act utilitarian, individual action is ethically right if it maximizes social utility. For a rule utilitarian individual action is ethically right if it conforms to a rule that maximizes social utility.

A rule utilitarian, for example, argues that institutions are justified if they enforce rules that have the effect of maximizing social utility. People need not be guided by a utilitarian ethic in their individual decision-making, according to this view. Rather, they will follow the relevant rule, whose content probably has nothing to do with utilitarian ideas.

Question 3

utilitarianism - decision rule (lecture notes)

Answer 3

Decision rule
Maximize the common good

You’re gonna care about consequences for others BUT utalitarists are actually gonna look at alternative actions and are going to figure out what all the consequences are for each of these actions and you are morally obligated to do the thing of greater balance of good over bad. This is the right thing to do.

Question 4

utilitarianism - biggest pro (lecture notes)

Answer 4

Biggest pro

Replaces partiality with science
Shouldn’t be able to be partial to yourself but same for everyone
Insert science into ethics - logical approach, mathematics etc.
Can’t scare others into doing certain things
Not just pros/cons for our firm but all the ripple effects - MAXIMIZE THE GOOD

Question 5

utilitarianism - biggest con (lecture notes)

Answer 5

Biggest con

The means don’t matter
Telling you to maximize (focus on consequences) the CON in this is that the means don’t matter to Utilitarian
Max good if you hurt people?
Its just based on consequences it doesn’t matter if you think its morally ok to do if its the max good

Question 6

utilitarianism - example (lecture notes)

Answer 6

Example
“The Ones who Walk Away from Omelas

Story of this community that does MAX COMMON GOOD process and determined their community can be perfect IF there’s this one little girl who is locked in a basement closet for her whole life

The cost for society’s happiness is to imprison this girl
The max good despite bad actions

People who walked away from Omelas who felt guilty for living there because they knew it was wrong to lock that girl even though it is the perfect utopia - they are why utilitarianism doesn’t work
True utilitarian would not feel guilty because that is the maximum good

Question 7

nozick - principle of justice in initial acquisition vs principle of justice in transfer

Answer 7

A principle of justice in initial acquisition specifies when a person who acquires an unowned item can be legitimately entitled to that item. When that occurs, a person who acquires this item in accordance with a principle of justice in transfer is also entitled to that item.

Question 8

nozick’s right theory & positive/negative right

Answer 8

Nozick’s rights theory which is a non-consequentialist theory - way you get to make a moral decision (not the consequences)

Utilitarian theory is focused on consequences
Nozick’s right theory is focus on the means that it takes to get to said consequences (non-consequentialist theory)
Teleological and deontological theories

Negative right: right to be left alone. Free to pursue what you want without interference
Nozick is focused on this (more than positive rights)
Freedom and liberty

Positive right: right to a thing, ideology, someone’s love. Right to have things you don’t have to work for

Question 9

robert nozick’s rights theory - decision rule

Answer 9

Decision rule
Freedom from force and fraud
Bottom line is freedom from force and fraud

Force is physical force or threat of physical force (not mental)
In business you have choices (not physical force threats)
Eliminating your choice if physical force is present

Fraud - getting someone to do something through misinformation OR withholding information (someone should’ve told you)

If you did not use force or fraud on anyone then you are an ethical person according to Nozick

Question 10

robert nozick’s rights theory - biggest pro

Answer 10

Virtually complete freedom of action with minimal government intrusion
Freedom of action
Ability to do whatever they want (without force or fraud)
Freedom and choice

Requires little government intrusion

Question 11

robert nozick’s rights theory - biggest con

Answer 11

Disregard for the interests of others
Not considering the interest of others when making decisions
Not your ethical role to take care of people based on this theory

Undeserved inequality
Born into the wrong situation
People don’t have the responsibility to help people who were born into these circumstances

Right to assistance
Do people have the right to help others

Question 12

robert nozick’s rights theory - example

Answer 12

Certain “payday loan” providers
Unethical industry?
People in bad circumstances needing fast cash and is to take a lien on next paycheck and they will charge high interest rate

Is interest rate ethical?
Lenders say yes because of huge risk
The borrowers know risk
Others say no because they are taking advantage of other people

Question 13

john rawls’ theory of justice - decision rule

Answer 13

Decision rule
Greatest benefit to the least advantaged

If faced with alternatives go with the one that gives the greatest benefit to the least advantaged person in society
Poor gain greatest benefit

He thought we should come up with an unbiased view of society that would be set up if we were stripped of our characteristics. Totally neutral in decision making process

How to make decisions
- Some would be risk-averse and say that the guy on the bottom should be helped (cuz that could be me)
- Come out of it really wanting to help that bottom person so they are not too bad off

Question 14

john rawls’ theory of justice - biggest pro

Answer 14

Biggest pro
“Unbiased” approach to social justice
- Try to come up with an unbiased approach
- If i could be neutral truly what would be the right way to set up society

Question 15

john rawls’ theory of justice - biggest con/meritrocracy

Answer 15

Biggest con
Denies free will, meritocracy

Rawls argued that people are determined by genetics and environment and have little say on how their life takes course because of these factors

Kinda negative perspective of life - if it wasn’t for your parents/environment you wouldn’t value education because they taught you
Free will is unimportant
Not your choice you are programed

Meritocracy
Those who merit the most (put out the most), deserve the most back
Work the hardest then you deserve more - He denies this because you do not deserve your genes so you do not deserve compensation for being programmed for doing things

Question 16

john rawls’ theory of justice - example

Answer 16

Example
Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream

Progressive company - social causes
Policy: program that they would not pay the top earner more than 7x what the bottom earner makes
CEO vs. bottom worker’s pay
Rawlsian idea
Just workplace because less of a salary disparity

Question 17

the real rawls

Answer 17

Incorrect approach in textbook
Really…

Contractors are striped of bias to decide on two principles of justice
“Greatest benefit…” rule the most challenging
Veil of ignorance is not used for decision making

• Really what happens is contractor’s go behind the veil of ignorance and stripped of their bias
• Back there they go through the discussion and are risk-averse and come out with two principles of justice
• Rawls used the veil of ignorance process to get to those two principles
• Suggests to everyone they live through the two principles
• Greatest benefit to least advantaged

Question 18

objectivism - background info

Answer 18

Ethical decision rule #4 Objectivism
- Rand (Russian) - created objectivism
- Spent time US talking about american values
- Convince us that we have a wonderful system
- Founding values and treasure our history

Objectivism is a theory that pushes American values to the limit. Values capitalism, free markets, people must be alone to develop themselves
–> Bottom line: be rational, think hard, don’t let emotions dictate your actions, be all you can be so you can be the hest over your lifetime

Question 19

objectivism (all)

Answer 19

AYN RAND

Objectivism is a theory that pushes American values to the limit. Values capitalism, free markets, people must be alone to develop themselves
–> Bottom line: be rational, think hard, don’t let emotions dictate your actions, be all you can be so you can be the hest over your lifetime

Big decision rule in Objectivism (Two parts of her rule):

1. Be rational
   - Americans can be sloppy as they think emotions give us reason to change how we interact with others
   - She proposed that only way humans know things about position is through reasoning
   - Primary obligation of human is to be rational at all time
2. Be all that you can be
   - Build yourself into the best human you can be
   - What would be best for me in the long run to develop myself

Pros
- Reinforces personal responsibility
- Rand wanted people to not be moochers
- Each human must have the responsibility for themselves so they can develop themselves so they can be responsible for both pros and cons in their life
- Virtuous thing for people who have large capabilities who exercised them to their fullest to also help others who are trying with what they have

Cons
- Individualistic and judgmental
- Self-centered theory
- Needs more community orientation
- Too judgmental because it is quick to say you’re not behaving this way so I won’t help you
- “You’re not pulling your own weight”

Management by Black Belt
- This small company and the founder wanted competitive and independent people
- We want people who will work their hardest
- He was founding his business with Rand’s principles
- Firm became lucrative
- Low turnover rate
- Judgmental and rational and competitive and productive

Question 20

social contract theory and donaldson and dunfee’s principles

Answer 20

In sum, Donaldson and Dunfee believe the following principles will emerge from the macro-social contract:

1. Local economic communities may specify ethical norms for their members through micro-social contracts
2. Norm-specifying microsocial contracts must be grounded in informed consent buttressed by a right of exit, which establishes their authenticity.
3. In order to be legitimate and obligatory, a microsocial contract norm must be compatible with hypernorms

Question 21

donaldson and dunfee

Answer 21

Developed for global business
Ethical theory that is tailored for business
Integrates global and local norms

Social contract theory means it is created by people who come together for a formal agreement

Question 22

integrative social contrast theory’s decision rule

Answer 22

DONALDSON AND DUNFEE

Decision rule
Action does not violate a global hypernorm or local authentic norm
- Global vs local

• Global hypernorm
  People come together and come together to form rules that everyone can agree with it as our cultures all agree on it
  Common morality
• Two key hypernorms
  1. Respect the dignity of all human beings
  Look at who is harmed by your decisions
  2. Respect human rights
  Basic human rights cannot be violated
  Context matters too in this theory
  If it doesn’t violate a hypernorm and in sync with a local norm then it is ethical
• Local authentic norm
  1. How to figure this out? Do the locals approve if you do this behavior?
  2. How would they disapprove of you if you do not do this behavior?
  3. Everyone these does it (check out what the local business community do as long as it does not go against hypernorms)

Question 23

integrative social contracts theory’s pros, cons and examples

Answer 23

Biggest pro
- Adapts to variations in local norms within some global limits
You care about the local culture (no “where I can from we..”
Respect other cultures

Biggest cons
- Local norms are vague and may give actors too much flexibility
Really hard to figure out local norms
How do you know if locals will disapprove of certain behaviors?
-Vague nature of norms
Individual beliefs can be rocky because if you respect your hypernorms and go to another country and behave differently, than can leave you at odds with personal beliefs

Example
- Levis Strauss and underage workers in Bangladesh
Levi was hiring children under 14 to do construction work on clothing
American consumers though this was unethical
Locals disagreed with activists
In the that country it does not violate local norm
Levi decided to stop child labor and pay for their school until they turn 15

Question 24

ethics of care’s decision rule

Answer 24

CAROL GILLIAN

Ethic of care
Decision rule
Focus on relationships and responsibilities
- Kohlberg argued that not many women rose to the highest levels of moral development and feminist writers at Harvard came up with a different developmental stage for women
Found that women and men too become autonomous and focus on others

Ethics of care
Moral to focus on relationships AND responsibilities!

1. Relationships
   Its ok to have relationship with other people in the community and it is ethical to take care of others
   Business application : you have relationships with suppliers, customers etc. so you take care of them. You ask how your suppliers are doing when facing setbacks
2. Responsibilities
   Nozick said to focus on rights
   Every right has a corresponding responsibility
   Everyone around you has the responsibility to not force or fraud you
   If you have a responsibility then so do others
   Business: I have a responsibility to fulfill a contract
   Objectivism is the antithesis of this theory

Question 25

ethics of care’s pros, cons and examples

Answer 25

Biggest pro
- Protects the weak and dependent (you created that dependence)
Primarily beneficial because it protects the weak
Caring for those less fortunate/advantaged
You may get others help so they can benefit you too

Biggest con
- Neglects justice
Denies justice
Someone who did something wrong
Enable that behavior

Example
- Certain small, entrepreneurial businesses try this
Group or founder might have a different purpose for having a business than profit maximization
EX: The goal is to work 9-3 while their kid is at school while I also have fun so success in that small firm is that everyone works 9-3. So that means employees made it. Firm isn’t maximizing profit but that is not the goal of that specific firm.
Feminine firm