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Questions and Answers
What is one of the main focuses of utilitarianism in ethical decision-making?
What is one of the main focuses of utilitarianism in ethical decision-making?
Which ethical theory emphasizes duties and moral rules over consequences?
Which ethical theory emphasizes duties and moral rules over consequences?
In a business context, which ethical theory would prioritize the fairness of policies and practices?
In a business context, which ethical theory would prioritize the fairness of policies and practices?
Which of the following is NOT considered a normative ethical theory?
Which of the following is NOT considered a normative ethical theory?
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Which ethical approach might involve considering diverse perspectives before arriving at a decision?
Which ethical approach might involve considering diverse perspectives before arriving at a decision?
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What is a potential drawback of utilitarianism when applied in business ethics?
What is a potential drawback of utilitarianism when applied in business ethics?
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Which ethical theory emphasizes the importance of character and the development of virtues in decision-making?
Which ethical theory emphasizes the importance of character and the development of virtues in decision-making?
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What factor significantly complicates ethical decision-making in a multinational business context?
What factor significantly complicates ethical decision-making in a multinational business context?
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What is the primary focus of ethical pluralism?
What is the primary focus of ethical pluralism?
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How do contemporary ethical theories generally lean?
How do contemporary ethical theories generally lean?
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Which of the following does ethical pluralism reject?
Which of the following does ethical pluralism reject?
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What do ethical theories provide in the context of business decision-making?
What do ethical theories provide in the context of business decision-making?
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What does descriptive relativism suggest regarding moral convictions?
What does descriptive relativism suggest regarding moral convictions?
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Which aspect is NOT a reason why ethical theories can be beneficial in business decisions?
Which aspect is NOT a reason why ethical theories can be beneficial in business decisions?
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In business ethics, why is understanding different ethical theories important?
In business ethics, why is understanding different ethical theories important?
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What is the main consequence of failing to recognize diverse moral convictions in decision-making?
What is the main consequence of failing to recognize diverse moral convictions in decision-making?
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What does ethical absolutism propose regarding moral principles?
What does ethical absolutism propose regarding moral principles?
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Which of the following best characterizes ethical relativism?
Which of the following best characterizes ethical relativism?
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In a business context, why is a systematic and rational argument important?
In a business context, why is a systematic and rational argument important?
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What distinguishes ethical relativism from descriptive relativism?
What distinguishes ethical relativism from descriptive relativism?
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How do traditional Western modernist ethical theories typically approach morality?
How do traditional Western modernist ethical theories typically approach morality?
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Which statement reflects a challenge to ethical decision-making in a business context?
Which statement reflects a challenge to ethical decision-making in a business context?
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What role do normative ethical theories play in business ethics?
What role do normative ethical theories play in business ethics?
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What is a potential downside of ethical relativism in business?
What is a potential downside of ethical relativism in business?
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Study Notes
Evaluating Business Ethics
- This chapter covers normative ethical theory in business decisions
- It explores international differences in ethical perspectives
- Key ethical theories include:
- Utilitarianism
- Ethics of duty
- Rights and justice
- Virtue ethics
- Feminist ethics
- Discourse ethics
- Postmodernism
- A pluralist evaluation of business ethics is presented
- Key concepts and skills are outlined
Key Concepts and Skills
- Normative ethical theory
- Egoism
- Ethics of duty
- Utilitarianism
- Human rights
- Utilitarian analysis
- Applying the categorical imperative test
- Applying the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights
- Justice
- Virtue ethics
- Feminist ethics
- Discourse ethics
- Postmodern ethics
- Applying Rawls' justice test
- Conducting ethical discourse
- Pluralist ethical analysis
Introduction
- Everyday life involves ethical choices
- Business situations require more complex decisions
- Decision-making in business often needs a systematic structure
- Normative ethical theories help determine morally correct actions
The Role of Ethical Theory
- Ethical absolutism: eternal, universally applicable moral principles
- Ethical relativism: morality is context-dependent and subjective
- Ethical pluralism: middle ground between absolutism and relativism, accepting diverse views
Normative Ethical Theories: International Origins and Differences
- Western modernist theories often dominate business ethics discussions
- European and North American perspectives often form the basis of these discussions.
- Other perspectives like Asian, African, or Latin American perspectives are developing
- Consideration of cultural contexts and international variations is needed
Normative Ethical theories and religions
- Religions and philosophy provide ethical frameworks for business.
- Source of rules differs (divine vs. reason)
- Religions may have different rules than philosophy
- Consequentialist (focus on outcomes) and non-consequentialist (focus on principles) models are explored
Utilitarianism
- A consequentialist theory focused on maximizing overall happiness/well-being, the greatest good for the greatest number
- Looks at potential consequences of an action to decide if it is good or bad.
- Assesses pleasure and pain for different parties.
- Different interpretations of utility (pleasure, happiness, value-based)
- Considerations include act utilitarianism (assessing individual actions) and rule utilitarianism (evaluating an action based on established rules).
Ethics of Duty
- A non-consequentialist theory based on absolute moral duties independent of outcomes
- Includes Kant's categorical imperative:
- Consistency: Actions should conform to universalizable rules
- Human dignity: Treat people as ends, not merely as means
- Universality: Actions must be universally applicable
- Important for ethical considerations in how employees or stakeholders are treated
Ethics of Rights and Justice
- Rights as fundamental entitlements to people
- Rights and duties are linked; one person's rights often impose obligations on others
- Inspired by Enlightenment thinkers like Locke
- Emphasizes respect for persons, including inherent rights, to develop a sense of justice
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Description
This quiz explores various ethical theories that are crucial in business decision-making. It focuses on concepts such as utilitarianism, deontological ethics, and virtue ethics, as well as challenges faced in multinational contexts. Test your knowledge on how these theories influence ethical practices in the business world.
