Business Law Ethics in Our Law Ethics n
Business Law Ethics in Our Law
Ethics n Have you ever known a circumstance in which people might believe it would be proper to break a rule or a law?
• In Our Society, n How Do We Know or Determine What Is Right or Wrong?
Ethics n n Deciding What Is Right or Wrong in a Reasoned, Impartial Manner. Emotions Can Not Be Involved
Example n A computer engineer who lost his job because he ate two pieces of pepperoni pizza left over from a company meeting. Although he didn't work in the department that held the meeting where the pizza was served, Garrison figured it was fair game since the company had bought it and it looked like it was going to be wasted if it wasn't eaten. What he didn't know is that several other employees had already worked out a plan to take the leftover pizza home with them. When they discovered one-third of the leftover pizza pie had been eaten, the employees reported Garrison to management, ultimately leading to his firing last November — a month after he ate the food. n n What would your emotions tell you to do? What would your logical side tell you to do?
Elements of the Ethics Definition
Decisions About Right or Wrong Actions n n The decision must affect you personally The decision must affect others in a significant way
Reasoned Decisions n n n Decisions must be based on reason, or logic, instead of emotions This is more consistent from person to person and over time Decisions based on emotion are not always wrong, but emotions can vary from person to person and from incident to incident
Impartial Decisions n n Impartiality means the same standards apply to everyone Law is the institution When you injure the law, you injure others Impartiality balances our self-interest with the interests of others
Check Up Get with a partner n Create an example to illustrate each of the elements of the Ethics definition n Be ready to share your examples with the class n
How Do We Reason About Right and Wrong? n Consequential Reasoning n n The end justifies the means Deontological Reasoning n The means are not justified by the end.
Consequential Reasoning n n Based on consequences or results Acts by themselves are not “right” or “wrong” An act that produces good results is good An act that produces bad results is bad
Steps in Consequential Reasoning 1. Describe alternative actions 2. Forecast consequences 3. Evaluate consequences 4. Make a decision based upon the best consequence
During Evaluation, You Must n Select the standard for judging (“The Good”) n n Count the persons affected by the choice Choose the greatest good for the greatest number of people
Check Up Get with a partner n Select a school rule and explain its ethical reasoning using the steps to consequential reasoning n Be prepared to share with the class n
Deontological Reasoning n In deontological reasoning, the acts themselves are judged as right or wrong
Standard of Judging is based on n Recognized authority • Law, scripture, etc. An act may be wrong even if it benefits more people that it injures n Decisions inconsistent with reasoning are ethically wrong n
Reasoning Used In Deontological Reasoning n Universalizing n n magnifying an action to make it fit everyone Example: If everyone lied, then we would not trust each other so there would be no point to lying
Reasoning Used In Deontological Reasoning n Moral Rights rights we have because of our status as human beings n Example n • Everyone has the right to an education
Reasoning Used In Deontological Reasoning n Natural rights n n moral rights protected by law (natural law) Example • Everyone has to be enrolled in school from age 6 to 18
Reasoning Used In Deontological Reasoning n False rights n n claims based on the desires of an individual instead of humanity as a whole Example • An employee claims that they can work at their own pace instead of what their boss asks of them
Check Up Get with your partner n Write 3 different situations where you would use deontological reasoning. You can not use the examples given in class. n
How Do Laws Reflect Consequential Ethics? n Lawmaking bodies often pass laws based on the greatest good for the greatest number (majority rule)
n The legislative branch often works from a consequential perspective n Laws are not “right” or “wrong; ” they are only good if they affect most people favorably
Example: n n In a coastal city of California, residents often could not sleep because people were driving late at night with their car windows down and their stereos playing full blast. On holidays, people put large home stereos in the back of their trucks and played them as loud as possible. In response, the city council enacted a law making it illegal to generate noise in public above a certain decibel. Is there an ethical justification for this law?
How Do Laws Reflect Deontological Ethics? n Laws desired by the majority sometimes conflict with moral rights n n n Example: Slavery Civil rights are personal, human rights granted through the Constitution If a law violates human rights, it is usually declared unconstitutional by the courts
n n The court system often operates from a deontological perspective rather than a consequential perspective Base their decisions on precedent
How Are Other Ethical Goals Reflected in Our Laws? n Sometimes our laws are based on arbitrary rules, not on majority rule or natural rights n n Example: ? ? Sometimes these rules are not completely fair
Check Up n What type of ethics does the US Constitution use?
Why Are We Obligated to Obey Laws? n n n Ethics demands that we obey We consent to be governed by law We want to avoid punishment
Are We Ever Justified in Violating the Law? n Civil disobedience is open, peaceful violation of a law to protest its injustices.
It is ethical only when: n n n The disobedience is nonviolent The disobedience does not advance one’s own self interest The disobedience is public and one willingly accepts the punishment
What Happens When You Violate the Law? n You Are Called Scofflaws n People who do not respect or comply with the law
Applying Ethics Today n Pick a controversial topi
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