North
Carolina Wesleyan College
Humanities
Division
Spring
2001
Tues
& Thurs 11:20-12:50
Room:
PC 279
Instructor: Steven A.
Benko, MA, M.Phil e-mail: sabenko1@hotmail.com
Office Hours: Tues.
& Thurs. 9:45-11:15
Or
by appt. – Office Hours in Library
Course
Description:
Behaving
ethically or acting morally is complicated by the variety of meanings attached
to the words ‘ethics’ and ‘morality’.
One person’s strongly held ethical stance is another person’s convenient
relativism. What does it mean to be
moral? How does one act ethically? How is one to negotiate ethical situations
when the variety of ethical theories lend themselves to a given situation and
produces starkly different outcomes, or suggests incompatible courses of
action?
This class is an
investigation of ethical and moral theories (Kantianism, Utilitarianism,
Rawls’s Theory of Justice, Narrative Ethics, Ecofeminism, etc.) and how those
theories can be applied to cases relevant to the world of business.
Method and
Objectives:
Classes will consist
of lecture and discussion. After each
ethical theory is introduced, students will be asked to apply that theory to
specific cases (from the textbook or provided by the instructor). Students will be responsible for knowing the
strengths and weaknesses of each theory as it applies to a given
situation. Students will complete the
participation component of their grade by asking questions about the assigned
readings and lectures, as well as raising their own questions about the
material based on their own experiences and interpretation.
At the end of the
class, each student will have a working knowledge of a variety of ethical
theories and their (in)effectiveness in the professional world, and in
life. Students will be able to discuss,
orally and in writing, the justifications, benefits, and weaknesses of an
ethical stance relative to a specific situation.
Students will also
have an opportunity to discuss, on a more theoretical level, the ethical and
moral benefits/problems of some of the working assumptions that govern the
world of business.
Course
Requirements and Assignments:
Required
Texts: Moral Issues in Business, Eighth
Edition. Shaw, William H. and Vincent
Barry
Reading assignments
are listed in the schedule of lectures.
Students are asked to read the assigned pages (either from the text book
or on reserve in the library) before class lecture and discussion. Students should bring their textbook to each
class.
Students will be
required to write a 2-page reflection paper detailing their understanding of
each normative theory.
Working in pairs, students will complete 2
reports, the first to be turned in no later than February 27th, the
second no later than May 1st, on assigned cases (provided by
instructor). Each report will be a
brief description of the case, an explanation of the ethical issues involved
(moral dilemmas, conflicting loyalties, etc.), and the courses of action
suggested by at least 2 of the ethical theories covered in class.
Each essay is to be
approximately 1200 words in length, 1” margins, Times New Roman font, 12 font
size.
The college handbook
definition of plagiarism (Handbook, p. 76) will be enforced (and appropriately
cited where necessary).
There will be a
mid-term exam and a final exam. Each
exam will consist of multiple essay questions from which the students will
select two to write on. Each exam will
be curved. The final exam for this
class is May 8th, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM. It is the student’s responsibility to resolve any scheduling
conflicts.
Attendance and
Participation:
Attendance is
mandatory and will be taken each day.
All students are expected to attend all classes and arrive on time for
them. Each unexcused absence after the
first one will result in a deduction of one point from the attendance and
participation component.
Grading:
Exams:
30% of total
Papers:
40% of total
Participation
and Attendance: 30% of total
Extra Points:
Opportunities for
extra points will present themselves during the course of the semester. The instructor will make those announcements
to all students by announcing them in class or via e-mail.
Late Papers
& Make-up Test Policy:
Students will be
allowed to turn in papers late, or take a test they have missed, only if there
is a valid and documented reason for doing so.
Schedule
of Lectures, Readings, and Assignments
January 30th:
Introduction
-
Syllabus review
February 1st: What is Morality?
-
MIB: Chapter 1, pp. 1-34
-
Group 1: “It’s Good Business” by Robert Solomon
-
Group 2: “Moral Responsibility in the Age of
Bureaucracy” by David Luban, et. al
February 6th:
The Normative Theories - Utilitarianism
-
MIB: Chapter 2, pp. 54-80
February 8th:
The Normative Theories Continued - Kantianism
-
Reflection Paper on Utilitarianism due
February 13th:
-
MIB: Chapter 2, cases 2.1-2.3
-
“What Would A Satisfactory Moral Theory Look
Like?” by James Rachels
-
“Virtues and Business Ethics” by Joseph R.
DesJardins
-
Reflection Paper on Kant Due
February 15th:
Rawls’s Theory of Justice
-
MIB: Chapter 3, pp. 100-125
-
Group 1: “Rich and Poor” by Peter Singer
-
Group 2: “Is Inheritance Justified” by D. W.
Haslett
February 20th:
Narrative Ethics
-
After Virtue
by Alasdair MacIntyre, pp. 1-5, 181-196, 204-225 (on reserve)
-
Cases will be provided by Instructor
-
Reflection Paper on Rawls Due
February 22nd:
Capitalism and the Critique of Capitalism
-
MIB: Chapter 4, pp. 146-164
-
Marx’s Critique of Capitalism – The Frankfurt
School
-
Reflection Paper on MacIntyre Due
February 27th:
The Critique of Capitalism Applied
-
MIB: Chapter 4, cases 4.1-4.4
-
Report #1 Due
March 1st: MID-TERM EXAM
March 6th:
Corporations
-
MIB: Chapter 5, pp. 196-218
-
Group 1: “Ethical Issues in Plant Relocation” by
John P. Kavanaugh
-
Group 2: “Business Ethics: On Getting to the
Heart of the Matter” by Paul F. Camenisch
-
Group 3: “Social Responsibility and Economic
Efficiency” by Kenneth J. Arrow
March 8th:
Corporations Applied
- MIB: Chapter 5, cases 5.1-5.5
March 13th:
Basic Issues in the Workplace
-
MIB: Chapter 6, pp. 260-282
-
Group 1: “An Employees’ Bill of Rights” by David
Ewing
-
Group 2: “The Public Worker’s Right to Strike”
by Mary Gibson
March 15th: Applying Basic Issues in the Workplace
-
MIB: Chapter 6, cases
6.1-6.5
-
Unions (provided by
Instructor)
March 20th and 22nd: Spring Break
March 27th:
Contemporary Challenges in the Workplace
-
MIB: Chapter 7, pp. 308-329
-
Group 1: “Drug Testing in Employment” by Joseph
R. DesJardins and Ronald Duska
-
Group 2: “Work, Privacy, and Autonomy” by
Richard Lippke
March 29th:
Applying Contemporary Challenges
-
MIB: Chapter 7, cases 7.1-7.5
-
Privacy (provided by Instructor)
April 3rd:
Moral Choices Facing Employees
-
MIB: Chapter 8, pp. 363-383
-
Group 1: “What Is Really Unethical About Insider
Trading?” by Jennifer Moore
-
Group 2: “Some Paradoxes of Whistleblowing” by
Michael Davis
April 5th:
Applying Employee Moral Dilemmas
-
MIB: Chapter 8, cases 8.1-8.5
April 10th:
Job Discrimimation
-
MIB: Chapter 9, pp. 429-449
April 12th:
Readings in Job Discrimination
-
MIB: Chapter 9, pp. 458-481
-
Cases provided by Instructor
April 17th:
Applying Job Discrimination
-
MIB: Chapter 9, cases 9.1-9.4
April 19th:
The Problem of Consumers, the Problems Consumers Face
-
MIB: Chapter 10, pp. 481-509
-
MIB: Chapter 10, cases 10.1 and 10.2
April 24th:
Trying to Solve the Problem of Consumers and the Problems Consumers Face
-
MIB: Chapter 10, cases 10.3-10.6
April 26th:
Professional/Business Ethics and the Environment
-
Ecofeminism
-
Judeo/Christian Environmental Ethics
-
Anthropocentrism
-
MIB: Chapter 11, pp. 543-563
May 1st:
Reconciling the Environment and Business
-
MIB: Chapter 11, pp. 575-592
-
MIB: Chapter 11, cases 11.1-11.5
-
Report #2 Due
May 3rd:
Final Review
FINAL EXAM: May 8th, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM