Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is a significant challenge of virtue ethics related to cultural perspectives?
What is a significant challenge of virtue ethics related to cultural perspectives?
Which of the following illustrates a limitation of virtue ethics in practical applications?
Which of the following illustrates a limitation of virtue ethics in practical applications?
What difficulty is associated with evaluating someone’s character in virtue ethics?
What difficulty is associated with evaluating someone’s character in virtue ethics?
Which example illustrates a potential conflict arising from virtue ethics?
Which example illustrates a potential conflict arising from virtue ethics?
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What consequence can arise from the subjectivity of virtues in virtue ethics?
What consequence can arise from the subjectivity of virtues in virtue ethics?
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What is a major challenge of Utilitarianism regarding the consequences of actions?
What is a major challenge of Utilitarianism regarding the consequences of actions?
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Which limitation of Deontology is highlighted by its strict adherence to rules?
Which limitation of Deontology is highlighted by its strict adherence to rules?
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What challenge of Social Justice is associated with varying perceptions of fairness?
What challenge of Social Justice is associated with varying perceptions of fairness?
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Which limitation reflects the challenge of conflicting duties in Deontology?
Which limitation reflects the challenge of conflicting duties in Deontology?
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How might Utilitarianism justify unethical actions?
How might Utilitarianism justify unethical actions?
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What is a common issue in implementing social justice in organizations?
What is a common issue in implementing social justice in organizations?
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Which aspect of Utilitarianism is criticized for ignoring minority rights?
Which aspect of Utilitarianism is criticized for ignoring minority rights?
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What challenge arises when a focus on minority rights overshadows majority needs in social justice?
What challenge arises when a focus on minority rights overshadows majority needs in social justice?
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Study Notes
Utilitarianism Challenges
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Difficulty in measuring consequences: Predicting and quantifying the full effects of actions is challenging. A company laying off employees, for example, faces difficulty measuring the long-term impacts on the community and remaining employees' morale.
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The end justifies the means: Utilitarianism can endorse unethical actions if they produce the greatest overall good. A pharmaceutical company might justify high drug prices if it leads to more research and development funding, even if it harms lower-income patients.
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Ignoring minority rights: It prioritizes the majority, potentially neglecting minority rights. A factory polluting a river, benefitting the majority with jobs, but harming a small community downstream is an example.
Deontology Challenges
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Rigid rules: Deontology often leads to inflexible adherence to rules, even when bending them could produce better outcomes. A manager following strict company policy, refusing to help an employee in need, even though bending the rules could prevent harm, is an example.
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Conflicting duties: Deontology can present dilemmas when different rules conflict. A doctor might need to maintain patient confidentiality (a duty) but also report a crime (another duty).
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Lack of flexibility: Deontology struggles to address the complexities of real-life situations where rules and guidelines don't perfectly apply. A company needing to follow environmental regulations might face bankruptcy if compliance is too strict, harming employees and stakeholders.
Social Justice Challenges
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Subjectivity in fairness: "Fairness" is a subjective concept varying among cultures and individuals. A company's diversity policy might be seen as unfair by some employees who believe it favors certain groups over others.
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Focus on minorities: While vital, an excessive focus on minority rights can potentially neglect the needs of the majority. A company prioritizing hiring from underrepresented groups might overlook long-term employees for promotions.
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Implementation challenges: Implementing social justice can be tricky, especially in large organizations. A corporation aiming for globally fair wages faces difficulty standardizing due to varied living costs and economic conditions worldwide.
Virtue Ethics Challenges
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Subjectivity of virtues: Different cultures and individuals have different definitions of "virtue." Some cultures value assertiveness, while others place a higher value on humility, leading to conflicts in ethical judgments.
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Lack of clear guidance: Virtue ethics lacks explicit direction for actions, making its application in complex situations difficult. A manager wanting to act virtuously might struggle to decide if honesty or loyalty should take precedence in a sensitive situation.
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Difficulty in measuring virtue: Objectively measuring someone's character or virtues is challenging. A company promoting an employee based on perceived integrity faces issues with others possibly disagreeing with that judgment, leading to potential conflicts.
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