1. Ethics and Our Law
Chapter 2

2. GOALS Define ethics Describe each element of the definition
Define business ethics

3. What is Ethics?
Lisa found a $20 bill in the girl’s restroom at school. She bought her sister a gift with part of the money and put the rest of the money in her savings.
Jim found $20 in the boy’s restroom. He knows whoever lost the money would probably need it, so he turned the money in to the office.
Who is displaying more ethical behavior?
What would you do?

4. Hot Debate
Should Julian inform the INS of Achmed’s whereabouts? If so, why?
What are the reasons in favor of Julian not informing the INS?

5. What’s your Verdict? Has Jane made an ethical decision?
If you were in Jane’s position, what would you do?
Why so you think Jane's decision is okay? Not okay?
What do you think Jane should do with the exam she found?

6. Ethics
Deciding what is right or wrong in a reasoned, impartial manner

7. 3 Elements: Decision about right or wrong action Decision is reasoned
Decision is impartial

8. 1) Decision about Right or Wrong Action
Decision to buy blue jeans with wide pant legs or narrow pant legs?
Ethical component?
Decision to discontinue medical support for an unconscious, terminally ill relative.
Many decisions have little effect on other persons or yourself
To involve ethics, a decision must affect you or others in some significant way

9. 2) Reasoned Decisions We often act in response to our ________.
EMOTIONS
Ethical decision must be based on reason, not our emotions
Usually refer to a written authority that provides consistency
Law
Religious texts
“I believe that God is the source of the Bible and the Bible tells me not to lie. Therefore, it would be wrong, or unethical, for me to lie”

10. 3) Impartial Decisions Impartiality
The idea that the same ethical standards are applies to everyone
Ethics does not value one person or group of persons more than any other does
Men vs. Women
Each person is an individual and should receive equal respect and consideration from others

11. Impartial Decisions (cont)
It requires us to make ethical decisions while we balance our self-interest with the interest of others
If you hit someone’s car and no one sees you, is it ethical not to report it?
Who is affected?
All of our actions affect others

12. Impartial Decisions (cont)
Particularly important when organizations and institutions are involved
“It was only the school’s property”
“Just the insurance company was cheated”
Consider how the people behind the institution are affected by the action

13. In this Case What would you have done in Gabe’s place? Why?
What would prompt them to keep the wallet? Return the wallet?

14. PROFIT MAXIMIZATION Business Ethics
The ethical principles used in making business decisions
Too often, ethics are not considered when business decisions are made
Why?
PROFIT MAXIMIZATION

15. Business Ethics (cont)
Move factories offshore and cut jobs to reduce costs
Increase profits for the business owners
The profit maximization ethic will need to be replaced by the more humane ethical standards

16. Assignment
Pg 27 #1-11
Make sure that you answer all parts of the question!!!!
Complete sentences

17. Reasoning About Right & Wrong
2-2

18. Goals
Reason based on consequences
Reason using ethical rules

19. Based on Consequences
Rightness or wrongness is based only on the results of the action
Particular acts have no ethical, or moral character
A good act = good consequences
A bad act = bad consequences

20. Based on Ethical Rules Acts are either right or wrong
Truth = right
Lying = wrong
Good consequences do not justify wrong or bad acts
Can’t justify lying if it has a good consequences

21. Same Conclusions
For almost all ethical decisions, you reach the same conclusion using either form of reasoning
One should not lie
Consequence-based reasoning
Recognizes that lying usually produces bad consequences
Rule-based ethics
Lying is always wrong

22. Ethical Reasoning Based on Consequences
Describe alternative action
Forecast consequences
Evaluate consequences
Selecting the standard for judging consequences as right or wrong
Counting the persons affected

23. The Good
The standard for judging right or wrong

24. Fundamental Ethical Rule
Fundamental Ethical Rule – the acts themselves are judged as right or wrong
Standard for judging comes from 2 sources:
Recognized Authority (law, religious text)
Human Reasoning (shows that things are basically wrong)
A test has been devised to determine whether an action is right or wrong……

25. Universalizing
Picturing in your mind’s eye everyone in the world doing the action
Irrational?
Illogical?
Self-Defeating?
If any of the three are true, the action is inconsistent with reason and therefore ethically wrong

26. Moral Rights
Rightful claims on other people that flow from each person’s status as human beings

27. How is Ethics Expressed in Our Laws?
Lesson 2-3

28. Do our laws more reflect consequence based or rule based ethics?
Majority Rule
Elected representatives vote for laws acceptable to the majority of people they represent
Do our laws more reflect consequence based or rule based ethics?
Consequence

29. National Legislature

30. Our Laws Reflect Rule-Based Ethics
Laws desired by the majority may conflict with moral rights
The majority may benefit from unjust laws
The courts would declare invalid because they deny “equal protection of the law” to the minority

31. Our Laws Reflect Rule-Based Ethics
The U.S. supports and recognized human rights
Undermine human rights = unconstitutional
Civil Rights
Personal, human rights recognized and guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution

32. Our Laws Reflect Rule-Based Ethics
Federal Judges
Appointed NOT elected
Appointed for life
Protect human rights without risking their job

33. Declaration of Independence
Recognizes our fundamental rights
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness”

34. Other Ethical Goals Reflected in Our Law
Laws need to be clearly stated and communicated
Ex. – Grades
What’s your Verdict?

35. Are We Obligated to Obey Laws?
Yes – Ethical reasoning demands it (avoid punishment)

36. Are We Obligated to Obey Laws?
Ethics demands that we obey
We consent to be governed by laws
Integrity
The capacity to so what is right even in the face of temptation or pressure to do otherwise
We want to avoid punishment
Fined, jailed, put to death
Barred from jobs with security clearance (Banks)
Licensed (Lawyers, doctors, accountants)

37. Employers usually purchase fidelity bonds for persons who handle large sums of money (cashiers)
An insurance policy that pays the employer money in the case of theft by employees
Serious crimes do cannot qualify

38. Are We Ever Justified in Violating The Laws?
What’s your verdict?
Civil Disobedience
Open, peaceful, violation of a law to protest its alleged injustice
Participants may be willing to be arrested in order to test the validity of the law in court
Goal = to make the legal system more just

39. Are We Ever Justified in Violating The Laws?
Scofflaws
Persons who do not respect the law
They assess the risk of being caught against the benefits they obtain
They are NEVER ethically justified in violating the law

40. Chapter Review Ethics applies when decisions affect people
Ethical decisions must be grounded on reason and impartiality
There are two basic forms of ethics: those based on consequences and those based on fundamental ethical rules
Ethics based on consequences evaluates only the results or effects of acts

41. Chapter Review (cont) The law tries to advance the goals of
Reflecting the will of those governed
Preserving natural rights
Maintaining order
Both consequential and rule-based ethics compel us to obey the law
Integrity is doing what is right even in the face of temptation or pressure to so what is wrong

42. Chapter Review (cont)
We are obligated to obey the law because, by accepting society’s benefits, we have consented to be bound by laws
We are obligated to obey the law if we believe in helping others. Civil disobedience is only justifies in rare and extraordinary circumstances
We should obey the law if we desire to avoid punishment
Civil disobedience is the open, peaceful violation of a law to protest its alleged injustice or unfairness