PHI 2604 Syllabus

Dr. Alfredo Triff
Room 3604-40 (Building #3)
Tel. 305.237.7554
E-mail: atriff@mdc.edu
Office Hours: Posted
Text: Moral Issues in Business (9th Edition) by William H. Shaw and Vincent Barry

Objectives

* To understand the scope and purpose of business ethics, normative theories, the idea of justice and distribution.

* To explore the idea of ethics within the context of corporations.

* To comprehend the organization of the workplace, its challenges in regard to conduct, honesty
and the idea of moral choice. Responsibility and obligations.

* To investigate the idea of job discrimination and sexual harassment.

* To look at the relevance of the consumer and the issue of advertising.

* To analyze the impact of the environment and its ethical consequences.

* To create and stimulate a spirit of open debate and conversation, as well as emphasizing the ethics of dialogue.

* To further critical thinking strategies and tools in order to deal with the challenges posed by the workplace.

Methodology

1. Doing critical thinking means examining problems in a detached manner; allowing objectivity, reason, and plurality becoming the ground on which to base our judgment. This spirit needs to be defined and stimulated.

2. Critical thinking is a way of reasoning. It analyzes the world with tools that in principle constitute our building blocks to make sense of the world. These tools need to be identified and refined.

3. Once we gain a minimum of philosophical rudiments, we'll be able to implement this know-how in concrete situations in the workplace. This course is geared to confront actual contexts, and not just abstractions, which is a common misconception about philosophy.

Evaluation

1. Three tests: A quiz, a midterm and a final exam. Grades are A, B and C, which stand for outstanding, good and average respectively. D is below average. F means not enough work to justify credit for the course. Tests count for 85% of the final grade as such Q (15%) + Midterm (35%) + Final Exam (35%) + Class participation and effort (15%). Be clear that this breakdown is not strictly numerical, since I tend to curve the tests already in order to help you.

2. Attendance is expected. Three non-excused absences are permitted. Each absence thereafter will lower the participation grade. You must have a doctor's note for a justified absence in a test.

Policies

1. Plagiarism is an offense. I'll interview the students to make sure of the originality of the reports (if any).

2. Cheating is a serious academic transgression, and will be penalized according to college policy.

3. I expect a minimum of class demeanor. Courtesy and respect are important.

Some suggestions

1. I will conduct my classes from the readings of the textbook and other texts. It's important to see critical thinking as a growing discipline with an impact in our daily lives. The consequences of critical thinking are far too reaching and complex.

2. You should ponder the readings in each chapter carefully. I want to discuss each issue from an analytical point, until the themes are understood, but you should be ready to make the discussions meaningful by participating in the debates. Listening is important. Learning the ethics of discussion takes time and effort.

3. Send me e-mails if you have questions, problems, suggestions or criticisms… I will respond promptly. Letter exchange is a great philosophical tool. Let’s use it!

Calendar

Chapter 1 The Nature of Morality: Moral vs. non-moral standards. Moral Principles. The Limits of Conscience. Ethical Relativism. Individual Integrity and Responsibility.

Chapter 2 Normative Theories of Ethics: Consequentialism vs. Non-consequentialisms. Egoism. Utilitarianism. Deontology. Moral Decision Making.

Chapter 3 Justice and Economic Distribution: The Nature of Justice. The Utilitarian View. The Libertarian Approach. Rawl’s Theory of Justice.

QUIZ

Chapter 4 The Nature of Capitalism: Key Features. Moral Justifications of Capitalism. Critics of Capitalism. Economic Challenges.

Chapter 5 Corporations: Limited-Liability Agency. Corporate Moral Agency. Corporate Responsibility. Institutional Ethics Within Corporations.

Chapter 6 The Workplace. Basic Issues: Civil Liberties. Personnel Procedures. Unions.

MIDTERM

Chapter 7 Challenges Within the Workplace: Obtaining Information Working Conditions. Redesigning Work.

Chapter 8 Moral Choices Facing Employees: Obligations to Firm. Abuse of Positions. Bribes and Kickbacks. Gifts and Entertainment.

Chapter 9 Job Discrimination: Evidence of Discrimination. Affirmative Action: The Legal Context. Affirmative Action and Moral Issues. Comparable Worth. Sexual Harassment.

Chapter 10 Business and Society: Consumers. Product Safety. Deception in Advertising. The Debate Over Advertising.

Chapter 11 The Environment: Business and Ecology. Environmental Protection. Cost Allocation. Environmental Ethics.

FINAL (Not Cumulative)