Related Essays
Introduction
Is utilitarianism an effective approach to environmental ethics? Behaviors that demonstrate personal and collective responsibility to the environment can lead to tangible short-term and long-term objectives that benefit a large number of people. Reducing pollution, limiting deforestation, preserving natural resources, protecting sensitive ecosystems, and mitigating climate change bring about the greatest good for the greatest number, what John Stuart Mill (2017) refers to as summum bonum, the fundamental principle of utilitarianism (p. 1). Therefore, most environmentally conscious policies, business practices, and personal behaviors can be viewed in utilitarian terms.
Explanation of… Continue Reading...
be maximized approximately. The process and the results are of immense important when it comes to utilitarianism. Based on the act utilitarianism, the actions are determined by their success and goodness based on the results. The rule utilitarianism alleys that every action must follow a strict order of the guidelines, laws, and procedures besides revealing the good result. Therefore, utilitarianism is concerned with the proposition that every good action should maximize utility at hand (Mill, 1864).
General Remarks
The regular collision between logic, science, and human perception and innovativeness attaches its consequences on the nature of the utilitarian approach to human life. Science looks for truth… Continue Reading...
The paper also identifies environmental concerns raised by the firm's operations and utilizes various ethical theories (utilitarianism, deontology, virtue ethics, and ethics of care) to evaluate the firm's treatment of the indigenous people of Colberia. Finally, a comparison of WCH's actions and a number of real-world companies is provided.
Defining a Stakeholder
Broadly speaking, a stakeholder denotes a person or an entity affected by or that affects the operations of a given organization (Carroll, Brown & Buchholtz, 2017). Stakeholders are groups that are necessary for the existence of an organization. These include employees, managers, communities, customers, shareholders, lenders, investors, and government agencies. Stakeholders may also include… Continue Reading...
place as long as the actor deems the consequences worthwhile. At the same time, utilitarianism is a convenient model in a complex society where different ethical frameworks may clash. Virtue ethics stress the inner moral and psychological development of a person, and can be helpful in situations where a person simply wants to do good and be a good person. However, virtue or character ethics do not accurately guide a person towards ethical actions ("Six Ethical Theories Rough Overview," n.d.).
Week 2 -- Discussion 2
The law sometimes, and perhaps usually, reflects ethical codes. However, many laws remain unethical. Often, pragmatism and/or fear guide… Continue Reading...
about Walmart, this paper provides an analysis of the case study, “One Nation under Walmart,” from a utilitarianism perspective, followed by a summary of the research and important findings concerning Walmart in the conclusion.
Review and Analysis
Founded in 1962 by Sam Walton, Walmart’s first store was located in Rogers, Arkansas. In 1969, the company incorporated under the commercial name “Wal-Mart” and in 1972 it became publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (Walmart corporate and financial facts, 2015). Today, the company operates retail stores under the name “Walmart” as well as Sam’s Clubs, Neighborhood Markets and Supercenters as well as maintaining a prominent Web presence… Continue Reading...
experiment in ethics, calling into question the efficacy of ethical consequentialism or utilitarianism versus deontological ethics. Omelas is a thriving, joyful place but the happiness and health that abounds there “depend wholly on” the “abominable misery” of a single child (Le Guin 252). Le Guin’s story reveals the “terrible paradox” at the heart of human existence: that technological progress and the other trappings of civilization are directly dependent on exploitation (253). Upon perceiving the child trapped in the room at the underbelly of Omelas, residents have two choices: they can walk away from the community or they can remain within it, feeling… Continue Reading...
A Utilitarianism Analysis of the Practice of Dumping
Introduction
Coined by Mother Jones magazine, the term “dumping” is used to describe the practice of selling products in other countries, typically developing nations, after they have been banned for sale in the United States. Although still widely practiced, dumping has been criticized as an immoral business practices that inevitably causes harm to others, usually for profit or to avoid the financial losses that would be caused by being forced to withdraw products from the marketplace. To determine the validity of these criticisms,… Continue Reading...
proposed response for Joe in this situation is supported by utilitarianism ethical theory, which focuses on promoting the good of all. Based on this theory, an act is not inherently right or wrong, but its rightness or wrongness is determined based on its overall good (Moreland, n.d.). Through this ethical theory, Joe should focus on maximizing the greater good for the greater number of people involved in this business transaction. This implies that Joe needs to consider the situation at UWEAR, the business goals of Peninsula hotel chains, and the pressure to perform. While reducing the price of the offer… Continue Reading...
Utilitarianism. Second edition, Hackett Publishing, 2001.]
In conclusion, the connection between practice and virtue according to MacIntyre is based on the pursuit of internal rather than external goods. External goods when pursued in practice do not depend upon the implementation or development of any virtue related to the practice itself. The main motivation is the possession of some property that can be obtained via the practice but not necessarily via anything related to virtue. The pursuit of internal… Continue Reading...
the modern business environment. The fundamental principles of utilitarianism include maximizing happiness, minimizing unpleasantness, and promoting the greatest good for the greatest number of people (Mill, 2017). Utilitarian ethics also focus more on the consequences of actions rather than on the act itself. In fact, one of the challenges of applying a utilitarian ethical framework to business operations is balancing the need for achieving the most desirable outcome possible while also minimizing the use of means that might be ethically spurious. Because utilitarian ethics are focused on positive outcomes, though, it is in the best interests of the… Continue Reading...
wrong thing to do.
You describe the classic dilemma between deontological ethics and utilitarianism, but I'd like to add one point to that discussion. In utilitarianism, one can only guess or estimate at the outcomes. You don't actually know. Deontological ethics… Continue Reading...
initial stages. I think that this is a great example of how utilitarianism can and should work, because the common good that was pursued was recognized as such and understood as such. Sometimes that is not always the case, but here it certainly was.
Peer Reply 3:
Shane Utley
Layoffs are such a controversial issue that this is a great way to explore the utilitarian concept. You outline the problems and the personal sacrifices that the minority group would face—i.e., the loss of their job so that the majority group, the stakeholders in the company could be spared. This is… Continue Reading...
some of the problems that led to the disaster that was the 2007-2008 economic collapse. Ethical principles such as utilitarianism and virtue ethics are explained in connection with these discussions. The issues of diversity and discrimination are evaluated at length, and the issue of corporate sponsored volunteer programs is discussed as well.
Keywords: ethics, workplace ethics, leadership ethics, organizational ethics
1
Some of the most common forms of unethical behavior in our workforce today consist of misuse of company funds, misuse of company time, fraudulent activity, and lying. There are many different examples of these unethical activities. Wells Fargo for instance was just punished for signing people up to… Continue Reading...
the patient experienced adverse effects has nothing to do with the ethic of disclosure. Even consequentialist frameworks like utilitarianism can be used to show why disclosure should be normative among advanced practice nurses. A utilitarian ethic promotes the greatest good for the greatest number. A culture of safety by definition promotes the greatest good for the greatest number. Therefore, nurses need to practice disclosure as a matter of course in order to participate in, uphold, and be responsible for the culture of safety that promotes ideal patient outcomes.
Deontological ethical frameworks categorically uphold the duty of nurses to provide consistent care under the rubric of guiding ethical principles… Continue Reading...
Utilitarianism, and others. I look forward to getting into the details and connecting the dots in terms of how people have thought about ethics in different places and eras.
An example of one of my most strongly held ethical beliefs is that one should never lie—even if it is to try to avoid trouble for oneself. First of all, I believe that actions have consequences, even if we think we are crafty enough to avoid those consequences. I believe that for everything we do there is a response, and sometimes… Continue Reading...
utilitarianism.com/mill2.htm] [4: J. S. Mill, On Liberty, introduction, para 5. http://www.bartleby.com/130/1.html] [5: J. S. Mill, On Liberty, introduction, para 5. http://www.bartleby.com/130/1.html] [6: J. S. Mill, On Liberty, introduction, para 5. http://www.bartleby.com/130/1.html]
The reason it is less clear is that the modern conception of democracy is less clear, just as the modern conception of goodness, rightness, correctness, truth, and virtue are less clear.[footnoteRef:7] Lickona argues that there is "no consensus" as to what character education even means or what it should consist of. Meanwhile, education curriculum is constructed by a group… Continue Reading...
which would make this aspect to be moral with regard to Utilitarianism. In addition, whilst on the job, the employees are expected to be working, and therefore cannot be deemed to be infringing on the employee's liberty, confidentiality, and dignity and thus is not immoral (Mintz, 2015).
2. Michael just graduated with a degree in Accounting from State University. He worked hard in school but could only achieve a 2.95 GPA because he worked 40 hours a week to pay his own way through college. Unfortunately, Michael was unable to get a job because the recruiters all had a 3.0 GPA… Continue Reading...
health effects of parental smoking on children, public policy is necessary in this area and ethical. Based on the ethical principle of utilitarianism, public policies should be enacted to help protect the health of children while ensuring parents maintain their right to smoke i.e. the greater good for all. Policies in this area enhance the physical, cognitive and psychosocial development of affected children through safeguarding their health and well-being. The efficacy of public policy in comparison to self-enforced restrictions is determined on the basis of the extent of enforcement and the subsequent outcomes with regards to enhancing the health and well-being of affected individuals.
Week 4 -- Discussion
An aspect… Continue Reading...
