...The paper should have four parts. 1) State your thesis clearly and summarize your argument for it. Your argument will almost certainly be made up of both ethical and empirical claims. For example, suppose you want to argue that “There should be a legal limit on the climate-affecting emissions individuals are allowed to produce through their lifestyle choices”. (This is just an example: again, you can write about whatever issue you care about.) This thesis is obviously an ethical claim: the second word is should. But to argue for it, you’ll need empirical claims too. For example, you might need to give your reader reason to think there’s a feasible way to enforce such a limit, etc. So, in this first section, you’ll give a brief statement of what you’re arguing for and the primary claims you’ll use to make the argument.The more concise and well-organized this section is, the more it will be like section 1 in an ‘A’ paper. 2) Use the second section to explain the ethical basis for your argument. The ethical basis for your argument is the moral reason to accept your thesis. (Of course, it might be moral reasons not moral reason; still, you should use fewer claims instead of more if at all possible.) If you want to argue that there should be a legal limit on emissions, the moral basis for your argument might take all kinds of different forms. You might ground your argument in standard utilitarianism: e.g. that enforcing such limits will produce more happiness than going without...
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...cases and each case will be worth: 10% of your final grade Review the background material in the “Assignments” module of eCentennial about the case: “The Travel Expense Billing Controversy and the False Claims Act” and answer only the following three questions: 1. Other than for the obvious reason of profit maximization, why would an independent audit firm, like PwC, that depends upon the maintenance of its reputation for integrity and professionalism, to retain and attract clients, risk the loss of that reputation by engaging in what appears to be unethical behaviour (not returning travel expense rebates)? Explain your answer and reasoning. 2. In the employer – employee relationship, who has the greater duty of care: the employer to provide: i) stringent policies/controls to govern employee behaviour and ii) appropriate training so that all employees understand the implications of the policies/ controls or the employee who must carry out their responsibilities in a professional and efficient manner? Choose only one of either the employer or employee and thoroughly explain the reasons for your answer. 3. What types of organizations are more ethical in their operations: i) “for profit” businesses or, ii) “not-for-profit” businesses? Explain the reasoning behind your answer. Each of the five cases that you will hand in during the semester must be answered without any reference to any internet sources, your classmates’ work, previous students’ work...
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...Although, an interesting ethical dilemma based on the person’s feeling of being swindled into staying in her current position, this kind of thing happens all of the time. The main character needs to realize that it is based on the company’s financial difficulties, rather than her work effort or ability. With that being said, I would say that the money should be given back to the company for many reasons. When facing a dilemma of this nature, one needs to pay attention to more factors than just the immediate satisfaction the money will bring. This ethical dilemma was brought about due to a conflict of interests between the company and this particular employee. The first step to be taken is to realize that there is an ethical dilemma. Second is to get the facts. This is one of the most important for the employee. She must see how her actions could affect herself, and all of those people that have a financial interest in the company, for example her manager, American Express and the company as a whole. Next, the employee needs to weigh her options, decide which option to carry out and finally take action. The two options she has are to keep the $2500 or to give it back to the company. To me the choice is simple; give the money back. Although, the employee feels that she has been taken advantage of and fired; in reality, she was laid off for reasons beyond her control. It was not a reflection of her work and this is shown in her severance payment. Although annoying and frustrating...
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...answer only the following three questions: Other than for the obvious reason of profit maximization, why would an independent audit firm, like PwC, that depends upon the maintenance of its reputation for integrity and professionalism, to retain and attract clients, risk the loss of that reputation by engaging in what appears to be unethical behaviour (not returning travel expense rebates)? Explain your answer and reasoning. In the employer – employee relationship, who has the greater duty of care: the employer to provide: i) stringent policies/controls to govern employee behaviour and ii) appropriate training so that all employees understand the implications of the policies/ controls or the employee who must carry out their responsibilities in a professional and efficient manner? Choose only one of either the employer or employee and thoroughly explain the reasons for your answer. What types of organizations are more ethical in their operations: i) “for profit” businesses or, ii) “not-for-profit” businesses? Explain the reasoning behind your answer. Each of the five cases that you will hand in during the semester must be answered without any reference to any internet sources, your classmates’ work, previous students’ work or any other materials (except the textbook). If any case submissions are determined to be plagiarized, then, the case will be graded as 0%. Your papers are graded upon your ability to reason, make coherent arguments and produce thorough analysis, given the assigned...
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...but also that our mind forces this on our experiences to make sense of them. Therefore as human beings we could never demonstrate or prove this through experience. This is how the categorical imperative works: certain actions are logically inconsistent and would make no sense as universal laws, such as lying. Therefore, ‘Do not lie’ is a categorical imperative and it’s this understanding that our mind plays an active role in ordering and determining our experience was ground-breaking. Kant states the categorical imperative as follows:” I ought never to act except in such a way that I can also will that my maxim should become a universal law”. This quote specifically highlights the true nature of the categorical imperative within Kant’s ethical theory. Another interpretation of the categorical imperative is that it is supposed to provide a way for us to evaluate moral actions and to make moral judgments. It is not a command to perform specific actions; it is simply formal procedure by which to evaluate any action about which might be morally relevant. According to Kant, the moral law is universal and impartial and rational, the categorical is a way of formulating the criteria by which any action can pass the test of universality, impartiality, and rationality. That is its only function. It has several forms or expressions and the first two are the most significant. Kant believes that these two forms of the Categorical imperative are, ultimately, equivalent, and that what...
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...Choices are They Free? AIU Online Throughout history people have encountered many situations with many different outcomes. Many have debated whether fate or free will was the reason behind the outcomes. There are times when situations arise that one might not be able to express their free will due to constraints placed by society. This can cause conflicting feelings and one must evaluate how to resolve the situation and the conflicts of feeling to reach an acceptable outcome. Years ago when my oldest child was in second grade we had a very serious issue dealing with racism at his school with another little boy towards him. Initially I encourage him to do all the socially acceptable things such as ignoring the comments from this little boy, reporting it to a teacher, and speaking to his counselor. I also followed up with talking to the teacher and counselor. The problem continued to persist and my son was very upset and uncomfortable by it. I requested to know who the other child’s parents where so that I may possibly speak to them and try to reach a resolution of some sorts. The school would not provide me the information I needed to do so, instead stating that they would continue to try to fix the situation. I feel that by not allowing me the opportunity to address the situation personally the school denied me the ability to express any preferable outcomes for resolving the situation, as well as kept me from protecting my child from the racial harassment. Also I feel...
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...Practical Reason First published Mon Oct 13, 2003; substantive revision Thu Nov 6, 2008 Practical reason is the general human capacity for resolving, through reflection, the question of what one is to do. Deliberation of this kind is practical in at least two senses. First, it is practical in its subject matter, insofar as it is concerned with action. But it is also practical in its consequences or its issue, insofar as reflection about action itself directly moves people to act. Our capacity for deliberative self-determination raises two sets of philosophical problems. First, there are questions about how deliberation can succeed in being practical in its issue. What do we need to assume—both about agents and about the processes of reasoning they engage in—to make sense of the fact that deliberative reflection can directly give rise to action? Can we do justice to this dimension of practical reason while preserving the idea that practical deliberation is genuinely a form of reasoning? Second, there are large issues concerning the content of the standards that are brought to bear in practical reasoning. Which norms for the assessment of action are binding on us as agents? Do these norms provide resources for critical reflection about our ends, or are they exclusively instrumental? Under what conditions do moral norms yield valid standards for reasoning about action? The first set of issues is addressed in sections 1-3 of the present article, while sections 4-5 cover the second...
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...After completing the “Ethical Lens Inventory” I have found that I do not have a preferred lens. It told me that I am able to move between each lens and be able to use the correct tools in order obtain the best situation that is needed. I can really understand this result because I tend to be a person that can reason with almost anyone and I am big on equality for everyone no matter who they are. I also tend to be the person that many people go to when they are stuck in a situation and don’t know the best route to get them out of it. The results from the inventory state that I do not have a blind spot. If I understand this result correctly I would have to agree because when working in a group, being in a situation, or when being asked for advice I am able to keep an open mind and I am able to look at each person’s perspective without any prejudice. As far as strengths go, with the regards of this inventory, I have mentioned some of them already in the previous paragraphs such as equality and being able to keep an open mind so that I can understand each person’s perspective. I also have the strength to come up with solutions that not only appeals to one person, but that also appeals to everyone that is a part of the situation or the whole group. This can also be looked at as a weakness also. According to the results it says that a downside to “able to see everyone else’s perspective is that you can lose track of your own”. This is something that will definitely help me...
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...Was Adam’s action justified? Based on the information provided, it is difficult to determine if Adam’s actions were justified and ethical. Ethics empower us with the obligation of what we “should” or “ought to” do (Fremgen, 2012). There are several key pieces of information needed to make this determination such as the nursing home policies related to the dining room. There may have been a policy in place where everyone has to eat together and remain there until everyone is finished eating. Even if this was the case, locking the dining room doors is extreme and could have been handled differently. Adam could have asked for assistance with Bill who expressed wanting to go back to his room. If there was not a rule in place that required all residents to remain in the dining room he could have simply let Bill leave and return to his room while keeping an eye on all those who remained ensuring their safety. As for the justification of looking the door, Adam should not have done this. In your opinion, was this a case of false imprisonment? Regardless if it was nursing home policy to keep everyone together in the dining room while eating, the fact that he locked the door is in fact false imprisonment. To my knowledge, unless it is conducted my law enforcement in the proper location for appropriate reasons no one is authorized to imprison others. Preventing Bill from leaving the dining room is a violation of rights-based ethics. What could Adam have done to defuse the situation? ...
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...Be Carful What You Wish For: From The Middle Zhi(Tony) Zhang 22368138 The reason here is recognizing the outcomes of manipulating the revenue and eventually the distortion came to light and to avoid that happen we must record the revenue in next quarter and delivery the product at that time. The rationalization here is the locus of responsibility in the sense that the decision is not really Sarah’s responsibility since she’s just following the orders. Also materiality, the fact that she saw the cost of such revenue recognition problems is ok the game the system so it doesn’t really hurt anyone. Conflict between being truthful to the client or gaining that trust from her current employer. Sarah is at stake because she might lose trust from her general manager and might even lose her job at the end. The lever is that we must please clients at all costs by providing the best services and being truthful to them that way it will ensure the business credibility and the future profits of our business. By meeting the client’s needs and wants is the way to go in supporting our reason. Sarah acts as a controller so she should make smart and ethical decisions while not neglecting the needs of the client. Sarah is debating weather the transaction should take place or not. Will get bonus if she just do what she was asked to. Order delivered next quarter, report it right now to get bonus Always unethical when someone doesn’t know about it. C.O.I a situation where you should...
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...self-sufficient, and continuous. The good which all humans aim for is happiness in Greek, “eudaimonia,” which can also be translated as living well, and is not a state of being but rather a type of activity. “Every art and every inquiry, and similarly every action and pursuit, is thought to aim at some good; and for this reason the good has rightly been declared to be that at which all things aim.”(Ch. 1) To discover the nature of human happiness one must determine what the function of a human being is. The function must be specific to human beings, which is essential to being a human. A person is mainly his intellect. Although the spirit and desire of people is also important, the rational part of the soul is what can most closely be considered a person’s identity. Human happiness consists of the activity of the soul according to reason. “Far best is he who knows all things himself; Good, he that hearkens when men counsel right; But he who neither knows, nor lays to heart Another's wisdom, is a useless Wight.”(Ch. 4) Every action that is taken must be done deliberately. Knowing what he/she is doing, and doing it because it is ethically correct is the meaning of ethical virtue. There are ten books that describe each and every individual virtue that are specific to each situation. The virtues Aristotle examines are bravery, temperance, generosity, munificence, magnanimity, honor, friendliness, truthfulness, quarrelsomeness, and justice. “The good for man is an activity of the soul...
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...investing. The company wants to have a greater presence in Kava. Chris Morales, the company’s founder, believes in do what is right, not for business reasons, but for ethical reasons. However, the company will only consider developing a greater presence in Kava if the opportunities are good for Kava and good for the company. A second reason the company is looking at developing a greater presence in Kava is that the government is interested in learning the company’s business model so government can use parts of the model to help the countries social needs. Before the company makes the decision to become a greater presence in Kava, the company’s management team will have to evaluate if the benefits are greater than the negatives. Also Alex and Chris have made it clear the company and government will both have to prosper from the decisions made. The decisions cannot benefit one party and not the other. The growth and larger presence has to be a win-win for the parties involved. Alex gave Nik the responsibility of putting a plan together on how the company can have a greater presence in Kava and how human resources, ethics, and organizational processes will play a role in meeting the company’s goal of have a greater presence in Kava. There are three key reasons that Nik can use when putting his analyze together for Alex. The first reason is the success the company has had developing, managing, and growing the...
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...Emerson prefaced the prose text of the 1836 first edition of Nature with a passage from the Neoplatonic philosopher Plotinus. The 1849 second edition included instead a poem by Emerson himself. Both present themes that are developed in the essay. The passage from Plotinus suggests the primacy of spirit and of human understanding over nature. Emerson's poem emphasizes the unity of all manifestations of nature, nature's symbolism, and the perpetual development of all of nature's forms toward the highest expression as embodied in man. Nature is divided into an introduction and eight chapters. In the Introduction, Emerson laments the current tendency to accept the knowledge and traditions of the past instead of experiencing God and nature directly, in the present. He asserts that all our questions about the order of the universe — about the relationships between God, man, and nature — may be answered by our experience of life and by the world around us. Each individual is a manifestation of creation and as such holds the key to unlocking the mysteries of the universe. Nature, too, is both an expression of the divine and a means of understanding it. The goal of science is to provide a theory of nature, but man has not yet attained a truth nbroad enough to comprehend all of nature's forms and phenomena. Emerson identifies nature and spirit as the components of the universe. He defines nature (the "NOT ME") as everything separate from the inner individual — nature, art, other...
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...1. Theory of Duty by Immanuel Kant is one of the examples of ethical theories. Theory of duty is commonly defined as one’s moral obligation. Duty should not be influenced by outside motivation but that duty is an obligation that one performs because they ought to and not because of any personal interest or benefit. For example, it is our duty and right to participate in political exercises such as election because we ought to. We have the duty and responsibility to select our leaders. The kind of political leader that we have reflects the kind of electorate we have. We vote during election because it is our duty and not because we are forced to or given promises and/or money. 2. Empiricism and Idealism are complicated concepts in Philosophy so this is a broad description. Idealism is the knowledge that comes from the subject. It also emphasizes the pre-eminent importance of mind, soul and spirit. Idealism is the category of philosophical systems that claim reality is dependent upon the mind rather than independent of the mind. Extreme versions of Idealism deny that any 'world' exists outside of our minds. It is a view that stresses to role the ideal or the spiritual in the interpretation of experience. Idealism is a search for Absolute Truth. It assumes that there is a design and purpose to the universe and the human mind, and by discovering this purpose they can understand everything. While Empiricism asserts that the truth comes from experience. It also states...
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...The ethical theories of Augustine and Aquinas start with a basic assumption of a divinely revealed truth about human nature and the world. By the 18th century, the Age of Enlightenment, this starting point could no longer be taken for granted. Europe was still Christian without a doubt, but the age of secularization had set in. In medieval times God determined the law. For kant, “laws” are human constructions arrived at by reasoned public debate, and since reason is the only faculty we have that is “infallible” ( or so Kant hoped), the laws would always be right and just and therefore worth of our obedience. Now that God couldn’t serve as our guide, at least for nonreligious people, Kant believed we needed to identify the fundamental principles of the human mind, on which we could base morality. He therefore proposes a philosophical system that distinguishes between different human faculties in order to identify the sole faculty, which can reliably serve a moral purpose. For him this is reason, and it must a separate category from all other faculties of the mind or heart, even positive ones like we saw in The Good Samaritan and Jumping Mouse such as love and empathy, or in Helen Keller such as passion, hope or good character. These and everything else about human nature was completely untrustworthy, anything to do with feelings or sensual desire was always ruled by self-interest and therefore unworthy of becoming a basis for morality. Reason alone is reliable...
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