Business Ethics - Ethics

Question 1

What is the relationship between capitalism and ethics?

Answer 1

It concerns whether businesses should follow ethical principles or if ethics is irrelevant to business.

Question 2

What does ‘good ethics is good business’ mean?

Answer 2

The idea that ethical business decisions are profitable and improve public image.

Question 3

What is Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)?

Answer 3

The theory that businesses have ethical responsibilities to the environment and communities.

Question 4

What are the two types of CSR?

Answer 4

Environmental CSR and Community CSR.

Question 5

What is Environmental CSR?

Answer 5

Responsibility towards reducing environmental harm, using renewable energy, and offsetting damage.

Question 6

What is Community CSR?

Answer 6

Respecting human rights, avoiding exploitation, supporting employees, and philanthropy.

Question 7

What is ESG?

Answer 7

Environmental, Social, and Governance — a modern extension of CSR including political integrity.

Question 8

How does Utilitarianism view CSR?

Answer 8

Generally supports it if it maximises happiness but may oppose philanthropy as a business duty.

Question 9

How does Kantian ethics support CSR?

Answer 9

CSR aligns with Kant’s duty to treat people as ends, not as means.

Question 10

What is hypocritical window-dressing in CSR?

Answer 10

When businesses use CSR for PR while engaging in unethical practices.

Question 11

What did Anand Giridharadas say about CSR hypocrisy?

Answer 11

He criticized wealthy CEOs for donating to causes while underpaying workers.

Question 12

What is globalisation in business ethics?

Answer 12

Businesses operating globally with power that can undermine markets and ethics.

Question 13

What are the risks of globalisation?

Answer 13

CSR violations in developing countries, job losses from outsourcing, and monopolies.

Question 14

What is offshore outsourcing?

Answer 14

Moving production to poorer countries for cheaper labor.

Question 15

How does globalisation create monopolies?

Answer 15

Large corporations use power to eliminate competition.

Question 16

What did Milton Friedman say about business responsibility?

Answer 16

Businesses should only aim to maximise profit for shareholders.

Question 17

What is whistleblowing?

Answer 17

Revealing unethical practices within a business, usually by an insider.

Question 18

What are the pros of whistleblowing?

Answer 18

Exposes unethical behavior and can stop harm.

Question 19

What are the cons of whistleblowing?

Answer 19

May lead to company collapse and job loss.

Question 20

What is a key whistleblowing case?

Answer 20

Frances Haugen leaking Facebook’s internal documents.

Question 21

How does Utilitarianism view whistleblowing?

Answer 21

It’s good if it results in more happiness than harm.

Question 22

What is Kant’s stance on whistleblowing?

Answer 22

Supports it because it aligns with truth-telling and respect for persons.

Question 23

What are sweatshops?

Answer 23

Factories with poor conditions, low pay, long hours, often exploitative.

Question 24

How do sweatshops relate to CSR?

Answer 24

CSR demands companies avoid sweatshop labor in their supply chains.

Question 25

What is the Utilitarian defense of sweatshops?

Answer 25

They provide better opportunities than nothing for impoverished workers.

Question 26

What did William MacAskill argue about sweatshops?

Answer 26

Boycotting them removes the best available option for many workers.

Question 27

How does Kant view sweatshops?

Answer 27

They treat workers as mere means, which is morally wrong.

Question 28

How does Utilitarianism justify bad business practices?

Answer 28

If they maximise happiness, even unethical practices could be justified.

Question 29

How does Kant justify restrictions on business?

Answer 29

Moral duty requires treating individuals with dignity, not profit.

Question 30

What is the issue of calculation for Utilitarianism?

Answer 30

It’s hard to predict future consequences and measure pleasure objectively.

Question 31

What did Bentham say about calculation in Utilitarianism?

Answer 31

We should act based on expected tendencies from past experiences.

Question 32

How did Mill refine Bentham’s view on calculation?

Answer 32

By using secondary principles formed from collective experience.

Question 33

What is the issue of ignoring consequences for Kant?

Answer 33

Kant disregards consequences, even in morally urgent cases.

Question 34

What does the murder-at-the-door example show?

Answer 34

Kant would oppose lying even to save a life.

Question 35

What is the issue of intention in business ethics?

Answer 35

Utilitarianism ignores motive; Kant requires good will and moral intention.

Question 36

How does CSR raise issues of intention?

Answer 36

Businesses may act ethically just for profit, not moral reasons.

Question 37

How does Mill justify concern for character?

Answer 37

Good character leads to long-term happiness and ethical actions.

Question 38

What is Adam Smith’s view of capitalism?

Answer 38

Self-interest in free markets leads to societal prosperity via the 'invisible hand'.

Question 39

What is Kant’s view of capitalism?

Answer 39

Accepts market interactions if people are treated as ends, not means.

Question 40

What did Friedman argue about freedom and markets?

Answer 40

Only free markets ensure freedom; regulation leads to corruption.

Question 41

What is the main critique of Friedman’s view?

Answer 41

Unregulated markets lead to monopolies and inequality.

Question 42

Why might CSR be considered deceptive?

Answer 42

It can hide the broader harm caused by corporate practices.

Question 43

How can globalisation challenge democracy?

Answer 43

Corporations may become more powerful than governments.

Question 44

What’s the contradiction in Friedman’s free market support?

Answer 44

Free markets require regulation to prevent monopolies.

Question 45

How does whistleblowing relate to business ethics?

Answer 45

It tests the balance between loyalty, ethics, and harm prevention.

Question 46

Why might Kant be too rigid in business ethics?

Answer 46

He dismisses consequences even when they seem ethically relevant.

Question 47

Why might Utilitarianism be too flexible?

Answer 47

It can justify harmful practices for greater happiness.

Question 48

How do sweatshops show the Utilitarian vs Kant divide?

Answer 48

Utilitarianism sees value in their outcomes, Kant condemns their means.

Question 49

What is Mill's harm principle and its business use?

Answer 49

Harm should be avoided; exploitation may not qualify if workers consent.

Question 50

What was the Bangladesh factory collapse example?

Answer 50

Workers forced to return for pay were killed when the building collapsed.

Question 51

What does the Bangeladesh factory collapse show about business ethics?

Answer 51

Consequences of profit-driven practices can be fatal and unethical.