1. Individual Factors: Moral Philosophies and Values
C H A P T E R 6
Individual Factors: Moral Philosophies and Values

2. Chapter Objectives
To understand how moral philosophies and values influence individual and group ethical decision making in business
To compare and contrast the teleological, deontological, virtue, and justice perspectives of moral philosophy
To discuss the impact of philosophies on business ethics

3. Chapter Objectives (cont.)
To recognize the stages of cognitive moral development and its shortcomings
To introduce white-collar crime as it relates to moral philosophies, values, and corporate culture

4. Chapter Outline Moral Philosophy Defined Moral Philosophies
Applying Moral Philosophy to Ethical Decision Making
Cognitive Moral Development
White-Collar Crime
The Role of Individual Factors in Business Ethics

5. Moral Philosophy
Principles or rules that people use to decide what is right or wrong
No single moral philosophy is accepted by everyone
Moral Philosophy Defined
Economic value orientation
Idealism
Realism

6. Moral Philosophy Perspectives
Teleology
Deontology
The Relativist Perspective
Virtue Ethics
Justice Perspectives

7. Goodness Theories
Basic concepts
Monists
Pluralists
Instrumentalists

8. Moral Philosophy and Ethical Decision Making
Individuals use different moral philosophies depending on whether they are making a personal or making a work-related decision

9. 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

10. White Collar Crime
“Crimes of the suite” do more damage in monetary and emotional loss in one year than the “crimes of the street” over several years combined
The presence of technology has aided WCC

11. Individual Factors
Most business managers do not embrace extreme philosophies
A personal moral compass is not sufficient to prevent ethical misconduct in an organizational context
The corporate culture and the rewards for meeting performance goals are the most important drivers of ethical decision making
Equipping employees with skills that allow them to understand/resolve ethical dilemmas will help them make the right decisions