Final exam Weeks 1&2

Question 1

business ethics

Answer 1

applied ethics disciplines to address moral features of commercial activity

Question 2

morality

Answer 2

norms, values, beliefs embedded in social processes defining right and wrong for
individual in community, behaviour with serious consequence to human welfare

Question 3

ethics

Answer 3

study of morality, explain rules and principles determine right and wrong, ethical
theories help to determine

Question 4

descriptive ethical theory

Answer 4

how ethics decisions are made in business context

Question 5

statutes

Answer 5

laws enacted by legislative bodies

Question 6

divine command theory

Answer 6

action is morally right because god says so (but religion is not only
source

Question 7

ethical relativism

Answer 7

depends on viewpoint of person, problem is that no one can criticise others
for their moral beliefs as it is like their tastes

Question 8

diffusion of responsibility

Answer 8

feel less responsible or accountable for actions

Question 8

groupthink

Answer 8

pressure on group members

Question 9

bystander apathy

Answer 9

emergencies in which be let our behaviours be dictated by others around
us

Question 10

moral reasoning

Answer 10

soundness of validity of moral standards depend on quality of arguments
and reasoning

Question 11

ethical absolutism

Answer 11

moral principles universally applicable, people with different opinions but
truth is only one

Question 11

Trolley Problem

Answer 11

core differences between theories are shown, assuming absolute certainty

Question 12

ethical relativism

Answer 12

morality is context-dependent upon particular cultural and social context

Question 13

non-consequentialist

Answer 13

not only result but the intrinsic motivation determines whether
something is right or wrong

Question 14

consequentialist

Answer 14

only the outcome matters

Question 15

Utilitarianism

Answer 15

consequentialist theory, principle of utility, right if it promotes greatest human welfare and wrong if they do not, first theory detached from religion

Question 16

3 ingredients utilitarianism

Answer 16

consequences (results of action only datelined by consequences),
happiness (Bentham, rich as possible in enjoyments and as far as possible from pain), equality
(equal considerations to all individual preferences)

Question 17

Greatest happiness principle

Answer 17

action morally right if it brings greatest amount of good for
greatest amount of people affected by action

Question 18

Critique of Utilitarianism (4)

Answer 18

1) not concerned about how happiness is distributed,
2) intrinsically immoral but performing them could maximize happiness leading us to exploit rights of minority
for benefit of majority,
3) measurement problem of valuing utility,
4) maximization of pleasure is
not only thing that matters
5) People should be respected and not put into calculations, action can be intrinsically good regardless of consequences.

Question 19

Ethics of Duty (Simple)

Answer 19

non-consequentialist theory, motivation behind certain actions

Question 20

Definition ethics of duty

Answer 20

acting on basis of what we ought to do regardless of consequences,
motives are all what matters, seek goodness for goodness sake, universal moral prescriptions.
Only if we act in sense of duty, our actions have moral worth.

Question 21

categorial imperative

Answer 21

morality is a system of laws and terms of universal applicability, without
logical contradiction and only with maxim behind it, categorial because it applies to all of us,
imperative because it is imposed on us in form of law, humanity as an end and not as a mean
(second version of categorial imperative), respect for others autonomy

Question 22

Kant’s ethics in organisational context

Answer 22

formulation of rules, absolute value and dignity of
individuals, importance of acting on basis of right intentions

Question 23

Critique on Kant’s ethics

Answer 23

too extreme, only action out of duty are moral, emotionally moved to do something is not moral?, when are people treated as means and when as ends? - only if person is morally motivated, an action is of moral value (acting on principle or out of moral conviction)

Question 24

no moral worth

Answer 24

doing something out of instinct, habit, sympathy for the other person

Question 25

Virtue Ethics

Answer 25

Aristoteles (384-322 BCE), student of Plato, teacher of Alexander the Great, to live a good life is to develop a good moral character

Question 26

Virtue

Answer 26

quality of our character, good actions come from good persons

Question 27

Egoism

Answer 27

self-interest, act is morally right if it best promotes agents own interests, personal advantage in short and long term

Question 28

Personal egoists

Answer 28

claim to pursue own best interests, but do NOT expect other to do so

Question 29

Impersonal egoists

Answer 29

everyone should let self interest guide own conduct

Question 30

Misconception Egoism

Answer 30

1) they only do what they like and never sacrifice, 2) they all endorse hedonism, 3) cannot benefit others (it does when we expect doing so giving some reciprocal)

Question 31

Psychological egoism

Answer 31

we have no basic moral duty to assist others, people are constructed that they have to behave selfishly, BUT is not a sound theory (self interests cannot be the only thing that motivates)

Question 32

Problems with Egoism (3)

Answer 32

1) psychological not sound, 2) no moral principle, misunderstand point of morality, we should all be able to live together, if self interest never came into conflict there would be no morality, 3) obvious wrongs with theft etc

Question 33

Other non-consequentialist perspectives

Answer 33

Prima facie obligations, Assisting others

Question 34

Prima facie obligations

Answer 34

W-D. Ross rejects utilitarianism as we have more duties than happiness, also those that do not arise form interaction with others, under more than one obligation which can conflict, which of the obligations is more important and morally more urgent, prima facie obligation can be overridden by more important obligation

Question 35

7 types of prima facie obligations

Answer 35

duties of fidelity, duties of reparation, gratitude, justice, beneficence, self improvement, not to injure others

Question 36

Ross

Answer 36

in every decision we are taking a moral risk

Question 37

Assisting others

Answer 37

stronger duty not to violate people right or injure them than to assist people or promote their well-being

Question 38

negative rights

Answer 38

free from outside interference (who has to provide freedom of speech?)

Question 39

positive rights

Answer 39

interest in receiving benefits

Question 40

Nature of justice

Answer 40

just and unjust is vague, fairness, equality, desert, rights, people are treated morally equal

Question 41

distributive justice

Answer 41

principles assessing societies distribution of social benefits and burdens (status, power)

Question 42

strict egalitarianism

Answer 42

justice is equality, same amount of goods and burdens and services,

Question 43

Problem with strict egalitarianism

Answer 43

equal distribution of material goods does not give more well-being to all, getting what we deserve? what we need?

Question 44

non egalitarianism

Answer 44

no intrinsic value, justice must be realised elsewhere, fair process of the market can bring justice

Question 45

Rival principles of distribution

Answer 45

justice as subclass of morality, each an equal share, each according individual needs, according personal effect, social contribution, merit (all of them do not work in enough circumstances to defend as sole principle of justice)

Question 46

Utilitarian view on Justice (mill)

Answer 46

valid rights has to be protected in its possession , can support Adam Smith and Laissez Faire markets, want to decreases disparities in income , think about the declining marginal utility of money

Question 47

Liberal view on Justice

Answer 47

ideal of liberty, prime value, rejects total social well-being as focus as Utilitarians are willing to restrict liberty

Question 48

Liberal approach on liberty

Answer 48

unrestricted markets, does not mean people can do what they want to do but rather they have liberal rights with property , if Lockean rights are violating my liberty is restricted , private property is necessary for freedom

Question 49

Rawl’s theory of justice

Answer 49

after WW2, modern alternative to utilitarianism, the original position, familiar and fundamental rights for everyone, justified if inequalities benefit the least advantaged in society

Question 50

veil of ignorance

Answer 50

people in original position know nothing about themselves personally until rules are chosen and veil is lifted , only knowledge of history etc, people in ordinal position willl not gamble with future,. maximin rule and NOT utilitarian, maximising the minimum that we receive

Question 51

Rawl’s 2 principles

Answer 51

1) as much liberty of an individual as possible, 2) social and economic inequalities only attached to position with equal opportunity, greatest expected benefit for least-advantaged in society

Question 52

Rawal against Utilitarianism

Answer 52

might support unfair distribution of burdens and benefits