Understanding Utilitarianism: Principles and Examples

• Utilitarianism is a moral theory promoting actions that increase happiness and opposing actions causing unhappiness.

Key Figures

• Jeremy Bentham: Believed the greatest happiness for the greatest number is the measure of right and wrong.
• John Stuart Mill: Argued one can cause harm through action or inaction, and is accountable for the injury.

Core Principle

• The morally right action in any situation maximizes benefits over harms for everyone affected, irrespective of methods used.

Examples of Utilitarianism

• Act Utilitarianism: Approving drugs governmentally with minor side effects to help more people.
• Rule Utilitarianism: Offering first-class seats in airlines at higher rates to benefit the airline and fund lower-class seating.

Buy Local, Go Lokal Campaign

• Aims to aid Philippine MSMEs affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Encourages Filipinos to buy local products.
• The campaign stimulates domestic travel.

Ethics and Morality

• Ethics: Comes from "ethnos," referring to character.
• Morality: Comes from "moralis," referring to customs.
• Ethics involves studying morality in human actions based on ultimate principles.

Business Ethics

• Principles and standards defining acceptable business conduct.
• Acceptable behavior is determined by stakeholders and personal values.
• Business ethics studies the impacts of laws on the individual, firm, community, and society.
• Ethical behavior builds confidence; unethical behavior leads to negative consequences.

Socratic Method

• It is a management technique using questions to lead employees to understanding, fostering innovation and satisfaction.
• It helps managers create better team environments, guide staff, and empower employees.
• Bosses should ask for employee input instead of directly stating what needs to be done.

Virtue Ethics and Aristotle's Philosophy

• Virtue: A quality making something good.
• Moral virtues: Honesty, loyalty, and trustworthiness.
• Intellectual excellences: Understanding good business practices.
• Robert Solomon argues that the purpose of business is producing happiness through quality products.
• Basic business virtues include honesty, fairness, truthfulness, toughness, friendliness, honor, loyalty, and shame.

Aristotle's Goal

• To define what a happy, successful life consists of.
• A rational person uses money for good works and personal development.
• Ethical leaders create environments where members can realize their potential.

SeaOil Example

• Created antibribery and anticorruption policies with a four-point integrity test.
• Conducts leadership seminars and maintains an ethics hotline.

Immanuel Kant: Duty-Based Ethics (Deontology)

• Focuses on actions, not consequences.
• Key principle: Act only according to principles that could become universal laws.
• Categorical imperative: Determines ethical correctness.

Maxims

• An action is ethically correct if it can become a universal law.
• People should be treated as ends, not means.
• Everyone should be both ruler and subject in an ideal kingdom.

Chick-fil-A Example

• Owner Truett Cathy closes on Sundays due to his religious faith.

Islamic Business Ethics

• Honesty and kindness to customers are key to successful business.
• Honesty is vital in dealings with Muslims and non-Muslims.
• Truthfulness is crucial for sellers and buyers in transactions.

Proficiency

• Muslims must perform duties efficiently.

Examples in Islam

• Religion unifies life by aligning human actions with God's will.
• Businesses should operate according to natural laws.

Belief Systems

• Ideologies or principles interpreting everyday reality, often religious or philosophical.

Impact on Business

• Major religions are Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, and Shintoism which each prescribe business conduct.

Jewish Business Ethics

• The Torah provides teaching.
• Jews must pay employees on time and treat them well.
• Employees must not waste time, steal, or be dishonest.

Examples in Judaism

• Paying laborers on time, managing work time wisely, and avoiding high prices.

Christianity in Business Ethics

• Christian entrepreneurs follow God's standards, avoiding greed and serving God over money.

Key Principles in Christianity

• The Golden Rule: Treat others as you want to be treated.
• Stewardship: Manage resources with care and skill.
• Trust: Trust in God for direction and resources.
• Justice: Conduct business fairly and treat employees and clients well.
• Diligence: Use knowledge and resources productively.
• Generosity: Help the underprivileged.

Examples in Christianity

• Integrating faith into business and emphasizing justice.

Islamic Ethics

• Centers on the Qur'an.
• Stresses ethical human behavior and avoidance of exploitation.

Confucianism: The Golden Rule

• Emphasizes treating others as one wishes to be treated.
• Emphasizes the importance of Chinese culture.
• Business is associated with Confusionism.
• Focuses on maintaining moral standards.
• Promoting values in the workplace.

Business Guided by Confucian Values

• Business is successful with guided Confucius beliefs.
• Informs long term organization, resisting corruption, and building positive relationships.

Hinduism and Business

• In Hinduism, key principles include honesty, caring, and working for India's benefit.
• Business should be conducted with honesty and integrity that holds up to public scrutiny.

Buddhism and Business

• Emphasizes principles like Pañacaśīla.
• Promotes non-violence, honesty, and avoiding harmful substances in support of ethical business.

Five Precepts of Pañacaśīla

• Avoiding harm to living beings.
• Not stealing.
• Avoiding sexual misconduct.
• Abstaining from lying.
• Avoiding substances that cause heedlessness.

Buddhist Ethics

• Talks about social references such as love and compassion
• Talks about self-accountability.

Taoism

• Suggests that a leader should be respectful and virtuous.
• Aims for peace and harmony.

Shintoism

• Key is the law of natural order which believes in honesty and purity.
• Important to rid wrong deeds.
• Shintoist also believe in purifying both the mind and body.

Filipino Value System

• Influenced by family and culture, has a unique collection of ideologies and ethics.

Utang na Loob

• Describes debt of gratitude, which is sometimes used or abused.

Fillial Piety

• This is the virtue of one's respect for their elders and ancestors.

Padrino System

• Patronage through family or friendships.

Cronyism

• It is the act of hiring unqualified friends of individuals.

Suki System

• Is a loyalty system where customers are loyal to a certain customer that can result in the customer getting freebees and discounts.

Bahala Na

• It is when one puts all his fate into God's hands.

Mańana Habit

• This is when people procrastinate and do things at a way later time.

Amor Propio

• Is a one's self love and respect.