1. Individual Factors: Moral Philosophies and Values
Ethical Decision Making For Business 8e Fraedrich/Ferrell/Ferrell
C H A P T E R 6
CHAPTER 6
Individual Factors: Moral Philosophies and Values

2. Principles or rules that people use to decide what is right or wrong
Moral Philosophy
Principles or rules that people use to decide what is right or wrong
Guides businesspeople in formulating strategies and resolving ethical issues
No single moral philosophy is accepted by everyone

3. Moral Philosophy Defined
Economic value orientation: Associated with values that can be quantified by monetary means
Idealism (理想主義): A moral philosophy that places special value on ideas and ideals as products of the mind
Realism (現實主義): The view that an external world exists independent of our perception of it

4. Goodness Theories (善良理論) 1/3
Monists (一元論者) believe that only one thing is intrinsically good
Often exemplified by hedonism (快樂主義)
That one’s pleasure is the ultimate intrinsic good or that the moral end, or goodness, is the greatest balance of pleasure over pain.

5. Goodness Theories (善良理論) 2/3
Pluralists (多元論者) believe that two or more things are intrinsically good
Plato argued that the good life is a mixture of
(1) moderation and fitness
(2) proportion and beauty
(3) intelligence and wisdom
(4) sciences and arts
(5) pure pleasure of the soul

6. Goodness Theories (善良理論) 3/3
Instrumentalists (工具主義者) reject the idea that
Ends can be separated from the means that produce them
Ends, purposes, or outcomes are intrinsically good in and of themselves

7. Teleology (目的論)
Considers acts as morally right or acceptable if they produce some desired result
such as pleasure, knowledge, career growth, the realization of a self interest, or utility
Assesses moral worth by looking at the consequences for the individual,
called consequentialist (結果論)

8. Teleology 1: Egoism (利己主義)
Right or acceptable behavior defined in terms of consequences to the individual
Maximizes personal interests
Enlightened egoists take a long-term perspective and allow for the well being of others although their own self-interest remains paramount.

9. Teleology 2: Utilitarianism (功利主義)
Seeking the greatest good for the greatest number of people as the guiding principle of conduct

10. Teleology 3: Altruism (利他主義)
the belief in or practice of disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others

11. Refers to moral philosophies that focus on the rights of individuals
Deontology (義務論)
Refers to moral philosophies that focus on the rights of individuals
Believe that individuals have certain absolute rights

12. Relativist Perspective (相對主義者觀點)
Descriptive relativism (描述式相對主義)
relates to observing cultures
Metaethical relativists (後設倫理相對主義)
understand that people naturally see situations from their own perspectives
Normative relativists (規範性相對主義)
assume that one person’s opinion is as good as another’s
From the relativist perspective,
individuals and groups derive definitions of ethical behavior subjectively from experience

13. Virtue Ethics (美德倫理) Virtue ethics approach can be summarized as:
Good corporate ethics programs encourage individual virtue and integrity
These virtues associated with appropriate conduct form a good person
The ultimate purpose is to serve the public good
The well-being of the community goes together with individual excellence

14. Kohlberg’s Model of Cognitive Moral Development
Consists of six stages:
Punishment and obedience
Individual instrumental purpose and exchange
Mutual interpersonal expectations, relationships, and conformity
Social system and conscience maintenance
Prior rights, social contract or utility
Universal ethical principles
Kohlberg’s model suggests that people continue to change their decision-making priorities after their formative years, and as a result of time, education, and experience, they may change their values and ethical behavior. And an individual’s moral development can be influenced by corporate culture, especially ethics training