moral philosophy
Moral philosophy refers in particular to the specific principles or rules that people use to decide what is right or wrong.
economic value orientation
The concept of the economic value orientation is associated with values that can be quantified by monetary means; thus,
according to this theory, if an act produces more value than its effort, then it should be accepted as ethical.
idealism
Idealism is a moral philosophy that places special value on ideas and ideals as products of the mind, in comparison with the world's view. The term refers to efforts to account for all objects in nature and experience and assign to such representations a
realism
Realism is the view that an external world exists independent of our perception of it. Realists work under the assumption that humankind is not inherently benevolent and kind but instead is inherently self-centered and competitive. According to realists,
monist
Monists believe that only one thing is intrinsically good, and the pluralists believe that two or more things are intrinsically good.
hedonism
Hedonism�that one's pleasure is the ultimate intrinsic good or that the moral end, or goodness, is the greatest balance of pleasure over pain.
quantitative hedonist
Those who believe that more pleasure is better.
qualitative hedonist
Those who believe that it is possible to get too much of a good thing (such as pleasure).
pluralist
Pluralists, often referred to as nonhedonists, take the opposite position that no one thing is intrinsically good. For example, a pluralist might view other ultimate goods as beauty, aesthetic experience, knowledge, and personal affection.
instrumentalist
A more modern view is expressed in the instrumentalist position. Sometimes called pragmatists, instrumentalists reject the idea that (1) ends can be separated from the means that produce them and (2) ends, purposes, or outcomes are intrinsically good in a
goodness theory
Typically focus on the end result of actions and the goodness or happiness created by them.
obligation theory
Emphasize the means and motivesby which actions are justified.
teleology
(from the Greek word for "end" or "purpose") refers to moral philosophies in which an act is considered morally right or acceptable if it produces some desired result such as pleasure, knowledge, career growth, the realization of self-interest, utility, w
consequentialism
Teleological philosophies assess the moral worth of a behavior by looking at its consequences, and thus moral philosophers today.
egoism
Defines right or acceptable behavior in terms of its consequences for the individual. Egoists believe that they should make decisions that maximize their own self-interest, which is defined differently by each individual. Depending on the egoist, self-int
enlightened egoism
Enlightened egoists take a long-range perspective and allow for the well-being of others although their own self-interest remains paramount.
utilitarianism
Concerned with consequences, but the utilitarian seeks the greatest good for the greatest number of people. Utilitarians believe that they should make decisions that result in the greatest total utility, that achieve the greatest benefit for all those aff
rule utilitarian
Determine behavior on the basis of principles, or rules, designed to promote the greatest utility rather than on an examination of each particular situation.
act utilitarian
Examine a specific action itself, rather than the general rules governing it, to assess whether it will result in the greatest utility.
deontology
(from the Greek word for "ethics") refers to moral philosophies that focus on the rights of individuals and on the intentions associated with a particular behavior rather than on its consequences. Fundamental to deontological theory is the idea that equal
nonconsequentialist
An ethics based on respect for persons.
rule deontologist
Rule deontologists believe that conformity to general moral principles determines ethicalness.
act deontologist
Hold that actions are the proper basis on which to judge morality or ethicalness. Act deontology requires that a person use equity, fairness, and impartiality when making and enforcing decisions.
relativist perspective
Definitions of ethical behavior are derived subjectively from the experiences of individuals and groups. Relativists use themselves or the people around them as their basis for defining ethical standards, and the various forms of relativism include descri
descriptive relativism
Relates to observing cultures. We may observe that different cultures exhibit different norms, customs, and values and, in so doing, arrive at a factual description of a culture.
metaethical relativist
Understand that people naturally see situations from their
own perspectives and argue that, as a result, there is no objective way of resolving ethical disputes between value systems and individuals.
normative relativism
Assume that one person's opinion is as good as another's.
virtue ethics
It posits that what is moral in a given situation is not only what conventional morality or moral rules (current societal definitions) require but also what the mature person with a "good" moral character would deem appropriate.
justice
Justice as it is applied in business ethics involves evaluations of fairness or the disposition to deal with perceived injustices of others. Justice is fair treatment and due reward in accordance with ethical or legal standards. In business, this means th
distributive justice
Based on the evaluation of the outcomes or results of the business relationship. If some employees feel that they are paid less than their coworkers for the same work, then they have concerns about distributive justice.
procedural justice
Based on the processes and activities that produce the outcome or results. Evaluations of performance that are not consistently developed and applied can lead to problems with procedural justice.
interactional justice
Based on an evaluation of the communication process used in the business relationship.
Kohlberg's model of cognitive moral development
People make different decisions in similar ethical situations because they are in different stages of six cognitive moral development stages:
1. The stage of punishment and obedience. An individual in Kohlberg's first stage defines right as literal obedie
white-collar crime
These "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. WCC creates victims by establishing trust and respectability.
How do moral philosophies and values influence group ethical decision making in business?
Moral philosophies present guidelines for "determining how conflicts in human interests are to be settled and for optimizing mutual benefit of people living together in groups," guiding businesspeople as they formulate business strategies and resolve spec
What are the stages of cognitive moral development, and how do those relate to ethical development?
In this section, we examine a model that describes this cognitive moral development process�that is, the stages through which people may progress in their development of moral thought. Many models, developed to explain, predict, and control individuals' e
How does white-collar crime relate to moral philosophies, values, and corporate culture?
Victimizes the consumer creates trust and respect issues in the victims.