Moral Philosophies and Business Ethics

Question 1

Kohlberg

Answer 1

defined three levels of moral reasoning: pre-conventional, conventional, and post-conventional. pre-conventional=punishment, conventional=approval, post-conventional=own sense of right

Question 2

immanuel kant

Answer 2

categorical imperative, action must be right for everyone. do we expect EVERYONE to act a certain way. rational agents. always think of ends. intrinsic worth. self-respect.

Question 3

social contract

Answer 3

sacrifice liberties to prevent chaos

Question 4

thomas hobbes

Answer 4

Hobbes believed that in their natural state, without government or social order, humans would be in a state of constant war. The social contract theory states that humans entered into a social contract, surrendering their natural liberties in exchange for the order and safety provided by government.

Question 5

john stuart mills

Answer 5

utilitarianism, Greatest Happiness principle as holding actions right in proportion where they promote happiness and wrong where they promote the reverse.

Question 6

rule utilitarianism

Answer 6

follow the correct moral rules based on the test of total well-being and where these rules conflict, we should revert to Act utilitarianism.

Question 7

act utilitarianism

Answer 7

morally right act and the one that will bring the greatest increase in overall well-being.

Question 8

declaration of independence

Answer 8

Thomas Hobbes and John Locke are famous for their social contract theory, which was influential in the writing of the Declaration of Independence. people CONSENT to be governed

Question 9

Locke

Answer 9

government gets their authority from popular consent.

Question 10

rousseau

Answer 10

18th Century philosopher who influenced the American Revolution with his theory of the social contract whereby governments are given the right to rule society in exchange for protecting the rights and equality of all citizens, and if they fail to do so, then the contract is breached and the people have the right to replace the rulers

Question 11

john rawls

Answer 11

original position, veil of ignorance

Question 12

consequentialism

Answer 12

right or wrong is determined exclusively by the resulting outcome.

Question 13

deontology

Answer 13

ethical theory which maintains that the ethics of an action do not depend on the consequences, but upon an important feature of the act itself. influenced by Kant. based on OBLIGATION

Question 14

teleological

Answer 14

based on character, utilitarianism

Question 15

psychological egoists

Answer 15

actions are guided by motivations that advance their interests.

Question 16

ethical egoists

Answer 16

moral standard where the overriding obligation is the promotion of one’s own well-being. it is always acceptable to do what we believe to be in our own self-interest.