unit 2 - moral judgments Flashcards
metaethics
which is about whether ethics is subjective or objective, relativist or absolute.
moral decision rules
Judgment component are the “shoulds”
Normative content - what you should do (Sometimes you know what you should do but you don’t do it)
If you are asked to do something that you’re not comfortable with it is important to argue for your moral position
six ethical decision making rules (top 3 are most used in business)
Utilitarianism: Maximize the Common Good
Rights: Freedom from Force and Fraud
Justice: Greatest Benefit to the Least Advantaged
Objectivism: Rationality and Man qua Man
Integrative Social Contracts Theory: Hypernorms and Authentic Norms
Ethic of Care: Relationships and Dialogue
they are conflicting so you cannot have all 6
utalitarianism
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.
act utalitarian
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.
rule utalitarian
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.
communitarianism
The debate about whether capitalism supports or undermines community is closely associated with a philosophical movement called communitarianism. The writings within this area are diverse, but communitarian arguments tend to express one of the following three central claims about the relation of the individual to the community:
First, people’s sense of ethics can only develop within some particular community or social context.
Second, people are social by nature, which is a metaphysical claim about what it means to be a person.
utilitarianism - decision rule (lecture notes)
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.
utilitarianism - biggest pro (lecture notes)
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
utilitarianism - biggest con (lecture notes)
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
utilitarianism - example (lecture notes)
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
utilitarianism - psychology and business
Psychologist tested this out
Test on business students
Think about how you would go through this decision process.
Utilitarianism has generally come out number one on that process of decision
Likely to use this in business than other ethical theories
Idea of cost-benefit analysis
Make unscientific more scientific (analytical and logical)
principle of justice in initial acquisition vs principle of justice in transfer
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.
nozick’s right theory & positive/negative right
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
robert nozick’s rights theory - decision rule
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
