Monday, October 26, 2009
Assignment #2
Find guidlines for assignment #2 below. I've picked the subject of "animal rights" for several reasons. It's a cutting edge moral topic and it reflects upon one of our most important industries in America. Read the Wikipedia article for the different arguments, Utilitarian, Rights and Abolitionist, to get an idea of the field you're talking about. In the Wikipedia, there are some arguments against animal rights. I've posted some suggestions as to how to construct your comment. If you have any questions regarding the assignment, you can post them here. HOMEWORK FOR CHAPTER 9 IS BELOW. I'll close this post, Tuesday November 3, at 8pm.
Arguments in favor of animal rights
Peter Singer defends animal rights from their ability feel pain. Since animals have no language, leading scientists argue that it is impossible to know when an animal is suffering. This situation may change as increasing numbers of chimps are taught sign language, although skeptics question whether their use of it portrays real understanding. Singer writes that, following the argument that language is needed to communicate pain, it would often be impossible to know when humans are in pain. All we can do is observe pain behavior, he writes, and make a calculated guess based on it. As Ludwig Wittgenstein argued, if someone is screaming, clutching a part of their body, moaning quietly, or apparently unable to function, especially when followed by an event that we believe would cause pain in ourselves, that is in large measure what it means to be in pain. Singer argues that there is no reason to suppose animal pain behavior would have a different meaning.
Tom Regan argues that animals are what he calls "subjects-of-a-life," and as such are bearers of rights. He argues that, because the moral rights of humans are based on their possession of certain cognitive abilities, and because these abilities are also possessed by at least some non-human animals, such animals must have the same moral rights as humans. Although only humans act as moral agents, both marginal-case humans, such as infants, and at least some non-humans must have the status of "moral patients." Moral patients are unable to formulate moral principles, and as such are unable to do right or wrong, even though what they do may be beneficial or harmful. Only moral agents are able to engage in moral action. Animals for Regan have "inherent value" as subjects-of-a-life, and cannot be regarded as a means to an end.
Some critics of Regan, like Roger Scruton, argue that rights also imply obligations, which animals cannot be forced to have (although Scruton disagrees with Regan over the issue of rights, he opposes factory farming.
Abolitionism: It falls within the framework of the rights-based approach, though it regards only one right as necessary: the right not to be owned. Abolitionists argue that the key to reducing animal suffering is to recognize that legal ownership of sentient beings is unjust and must be abolished. The most prominent of the abolitionists is Gary Francione, professor of law and philosophy at Rutgers School of Law-Newark. He argues that focusing on animal welfare may actually worsen the position of animals, because it entrenches the view of them as property, and makes the public more comfortable about using them.
Tom Regan argues that animals are what he calls "subjects-of-a-life," and as such are bearers of rights. He argues that, because the moral rights of humans are based on their possession of certain cognitive abilities, and because these abilities are also possessed by at least some non-human animals, such animals must have the same moral rights as humans. Although only humans act as moral agents, both marginal-case humans, such as infants, and at least some non-humans must have the status of "moral patients." Moral patients are unable to formulate moral principles, and as such are unable to do right or wrong, even though what they do may be beneficial or harmful. Only moral agents are able to engage in moral action. Animals for Regan have "inherent value" as subjects-of-a-life, and cannot be regarded as a means to an end.
Some critics of Regan, like Roger Scruton, argue that rights also imply obligations, which animals cannot be forced to have (although Scruton disagrees with Regan over the issue of rights, he opposes factory farming.
Abolitionism: It falls within the framework of the rights-based approach, though it regards only one right as necessary: the right not to be owned. Abolitionists argue that the key to reducing animal suffering is to recognize that legal ownership of sentient beings is unjust and must be abolished. The most prominent of the abolitionists is Gary Francione, professor of law and philosophy at Rutgers School of Law-Newark. He argues that focusing on animal welfare may actually worsen the position of animals, because it entrenches the view of them as property, and makes the public more comfortable about using them.
How to best construct a 150-word comment
1. Offer a reasoned argument correctly. Actually if you state the reason for your arguments correctly there is no wrong answer.
2. Keep it simple. Less is more.
3. If you can, incorporate some independent thoughts into your answer.
4. Discuss your answer to yourself.
5. Don’t write compulsively.
6. Write a draft on WP and correct misspellings and any errors in logic. Write clearly, in proper English. Avoid slang and broken phrases.
Here is an example of a short paper. And here is another. Obviously, you are not writing a paper, but a 150-word comment can be considered a sort of mini-paper. Here are some pointers regarding phrases:
You can state a position by defining it. For example: “Libertarians believe that…” of if talking about a person: “Animal right advocates suggests that...”
If you want to suggest a hypothetical situation of your own, go like this: “Suppose that,” or “Imagine so-and-so,” or “Just for the sake of argument…”
Phrase your views properly: “I believe that” or “I suppose,” or any other similar form.
Whenever you compare, you can use, “on the other hand, Locke holds that memories are…”
For conclusion, use: “Therefore”, “As a result,” “Thus,” “In conclusion,” etc.
2. Keep it simple. Less is more.
3. If you can, incorporate some independent thoughts into your answer.
4. Discuss your answer to yourself.
5. Don’t write compulsively.
6. Write a draft on WP and correct misspellings and any errors in logic. Write clearly, in proper English. Avoid slang and broken phrases.
Here is an example of a short paper. And here is another. Obviously, you are not writing a paper, but a 150-word comment can be considered a sort of mini-paper. Here are some pointers regarding phrases:
You can state a position by defining it. For example: “Libertarians believe that…” of if talking about a person: “Animal right advocates suggests that...”
If you want to suggest a hypothetical situation of your own, go like this: “Suppose that,” or “Imagine so-and-so,” or “Just for the sake of argument…”
Phrase your views properly: “I believe that” or “I suppose,” or any other similar form.
Whenever you compare, you can use, “on the other hand, Locke holds that memories are…”
For conclusion, use: “Therefore”, “As a result,” “Thus,” “In conclusion,” etc.
PHI 2604 Chapter 9 Homework (#7 of old edition)
PHI 2604 Homework, Chapter 9
1. Explain the idea of legitimate and illegitimate influence.
2. What’s “informed consent”?
3. Go over the reasons why business use polygraph tests.
4. There are generally three assumptions people have about polygraph tests. Which are they?
5. Why do companies use “personality tests”?
6. Go over four remarks in the text concerning drug testing
7. What are the moral issues surrounding day care and maternity leave?
1. Explain the idea of legitimate and illegitimate influence.
2. What’s “informed consent”?
3. Go over the reasons why business use polygraph tests.
4. There are generally three assumptions people have about polygraph tests. Which are they?
5. Why do companies use “personality tests”?
6. Go over four remarks in the text concerning drug testing
7. What are the moral issues surrounding day care and maternity leave?
Monday, October 19, 2009
Insider trading
From the NYTimes:
The defendants operated in a cozy world of ‘you scratch my back, I’ll scratch your back,’ Preet Bharara, the United States attorney for the Southern District of New York, said on Friday. He added that the case should be a “wake-up call” for hedge fund managers who even think about insider trading. Hedge funds often use lobbyists, investigators and other connected people to dig for information about a company or industry. Most of the information is obtained legally. But the government’s use of wiretapping and confidential witnesses in the Galleon case raises questions about when investors can act on nonpublic information. The pending crackdown, based on at least two years of investigation, targets securities professionals including hedge- fund managers, lawyers and other Wall Street players, the people said, declining to be identified because the cases aren’t public. Some probes, like the one that focused on Rajaratnam, rely on wiretaps. Others stem from a secret Securities and Exchange Commission data-mining project set up to pinpoint clusters of people who make similar well-timed stock investments.
The defendants operated in a cozy world of ‘you scratch my back, I’ll scratch your back,’ Preet Bharara, the United States attorney for the Southern District of New York, said on Friday. He added that the case should be a “wake-up call” for hedge fund managers who even think about insider trading. Hedge funds often use lobbyists, investigators and other connected people to dig for information about a company or industry. Most of the information is obtained legally. But the government’s use of wiretapping and confidential witnesses in the Galleon case raises questions about when investors can act on nonpublic information. The pending crackdown, based on at least two years of investigation, targets securities professionals including hedge- fund managers, lawyers and other Wall Street players, the people said, declining to be identified because the cases aren’t public. Some probes, like the one that focused on Rajaratnam, rely on wiretaps. Others stem from a secret Securities and Exchange Commission data-mining project set up to pinpoint clusters of people who make similar well-timed stock investments.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Sunday, October 11, 2009
PHI 2604 Chapter 8: Homework
1. Why do companies screen applicants? What's “job description” and “job specification”?
2. What’s the purpose of “tests” when applying for a job at a company?
3. Define: “Aptitude test,” “personality test,” “skill test.”
4. In measuring a test make a distinction between “validity” and “reliability.”
5. How should an interviewer conduct an interview?
6. In promotions one has to make a judgment between qualifications and seniority. What’s the best way to proceed?
7. Define “inbreeding” and “nepotism.”
8. Define “due process” and “just cause” within the context of discipline and discharge.
9. Distinguish between the following terms: Firing, termination, layoff and position elimination.
10. Go over the seven guidelines on wages established on pp. 289, 290.
11. Briefly summarize the history of the Union Movement.
12. What’s a “direct strike”? Go over Gonsalves’ 3-point criteria.
13. Analyze the difference between sympathetic strikes, boycotts and corporate campaigns.
2. What’s the purpose of “tests” when applying for a job at a company?
3. Define: “Aptitude test,” “personality test,” “skill test.”
4. In measuring a test make a distinction between “validity” and “reliability.”
5. How should an interviewer conduct an interview?
6. In promotions one has to make a judgment between qualifications and seniority. What’s the best way to proceed?
7. Define “inbreeding” and “nepotism.”
8. Define “due process” and “just cause” within the context of discipline and discharge.
9. Distinguish between the following terms: Firing, termination, layoff and position elimination.
10. Go over the seven guidelines on wages established on pp. 289, 290.
11. Briefly summarize the history of the Union Movement.
12. What’s a “direct strike”? Go over Gonsalves’ 3-point criteria.
13. Analyze the difference between sympathetic strikes, boycotts and corporate campaigns.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Crime and (the implacable) law of statistics
Most crimes in the United States are committed by long-term repeat offenders, a majority of whom are eventually caught. One of every 100 adults in the United States is now behind bars; many are serving lengthy sentences. The crimes they committed clearly did not “pay” in any objective sense of the term. Why, then, did they commit them? The short answer is that most criminals are not the dispassionate rational actors who populate standard economic models. They are more like impulsive children, blinded by the temptation of immediate reward and largely untroubled by the possibility of delayed or uncertain punishment.
The burger that shattered her life
From the NYTimes (this one concerns ethical issues the food industry):
Then her diarrhea turned bloody. Her kidneys shut down. Seizures knocked her unconscious. The convulsions grew so relentless that doctors had to put her in a coma for nine weeks. When she emerged, she could no longer walk. The affliction had ravaged her nervous system and left her paralyzed. Ms. Smith, 22, was found to have a severe form of food-borne illness caused by E. coli, which Minnesota officials traced to the hamburger that her mother had grilled for their Sunday dinner in early fall 2007.
Then her diarrhea turned bloody. Her kidneys shut down. Seizures knocked her unconscious. The convulsions grew so relentless that doctors had to put her in a coma for nine weeks. When she emerged, she could no longer walk. The affliction had ravaged her nervous system and left her paralyzed. Ms. Smith, 22, was found to have a severe form of food-borne illness caused by E. coli, which Minnesota officials traced to the hamburger that her mother had grilled for their Sunday dinner in early fall 2007.
Meat companies and grocers have been barred from selling ground beef tainted by the virulent strain of E. coli known as O157:H7 since 1994, after an outbreak at Jack in the Box restaurants left four children dead.
Friday, October 2, 2009
What's extortion?
Extortion in the NYTimes:
This piece uses the term "grand larceny"... (more than $250 can be considered grand larceny). A form of theft, whether information or ideas (a patent, classified information, trade secret, etc), intellectual property (i.e., a song, an unpublished book, etc) , services, labor, etc.
... Mr. Letterman said that three weeks ago, he received a package from a person who claimed to have information about the relationships. Mr. Letterman said he reached out to the Manhattan district attorney’s office. In the course of the investigation, Mr. Letterman was asked to write what he called a fake check for $2 million. The suspect in the case was arrested Thursday.
Nataly Holder, writing for the Huffington Post:
Apparently, Letterman chose to come clean about the affairs with multiple staffers because a producer from another CBS television show, 48 Hours, threatened to publicize his exploits if he was not paid $2 million. Somehow, this producer--who works on a show that covers stories with legal angles--didn't realize that his sleazy attempt to extort money from Letterman went way beyond employee misconduct but would be frowned upon as illegal by the Manhattan District Attorney's office.
By the way: The producer charged (Robert Joe Halderman, who took a phony $2 million check) pleaded not guilty.
This piece uses the term "grand larceny"... (more than $250 can be considered grand larceny). A form of theft, whether information or ideas (a patent, classified information, trade secret, etc), intellectual property (i.e., a song, an unpublished book, etc) , services, labor, etc.
... Mr. Letterman said that three weeks ago, he received a package from a person who claimed to have information about the relationships. Mr. Letterman said he reached out to the Manhattan district attorney’s office. In the course of the investigation, Mr. Letterman was asked to write what he called a fake check for $2 million. The suspect in the case was arrested Thursday.
Nataly Holder, writing for the Huffington Post:
Apparently, Letterman chose to come clean about the affairs with multiple staffers because a producer from another CBS television show, 48 Hours, threatened to publicize his exploits if he was not paid $2 million. Somehow, this producer--who works on a show that covers stories with legal angles--didn't realize that his sleazy attempt to extort money from Letterman went way beyond employee misconduct but would be frowned upon as illegal by the Manhattan District Attorney's office.
By the way: The producer charged (Robert Joe Halderman, who took a phony $2 million check) pleaded not guilty.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
PHI 2604 Chapter 5: HOMEWORK
Chapter 5
1- What is a limited liability company?
2- Provide an account on the evolution of corporations?
3- Define the three senses of “responsibility” as defined on p. 208.
4- Can corporations make moral decisions? Explain.
5- Is the vanishing sense of individual responsibility inside corporations enough to absolve or excuse unethical corporate decisions? Why not?
6- Define the narrow view of profit maximization
7- Define the broader view of corporate social responsibility.
8- Explain the following arguments:
a) Invisible Hand Argument
b) Materialization-of-Society Argument
c) Inept Custodian Argument
9- Can corporate ethical policies be institutionalized? How?
10- In which way corporate culture plays a part in achieving a more ethical corporate environment?
11- Remember to bring a bit of BAD NEWS of some kind concerning the workplace in corporate America or the world: newspaper, internet, even a personal story (if something personal, try to sketch a brief paragraph, so you don't have to improvise it in class).
1- What is a limited liability company?
2- Provide an account on the evolution of corporations?
3- Define the three senses of “responsibility” as defined on p. 208.
4- Can corporations make moral decisions? Explain.
5- Is the vanishing sense of individual responsibility inside corporations enough to absolve or excuse unethical corporate decisions? Why not?
6- Define the narrow view of profit maximization
7- Define the broader view of corporate social responsibility.
8- Explain the following arguments:
a) Invisible Hand Argument
b) Materialization-of-Society Argument
c) Inept Custodian Argument
9- Can corporate ethical policies be institutionalized? How?
10- In which way corporate culture plays a part in achieving a more ethical corporate environment?
11- Remember to bring a bit of BAD NEWS of some kind concerning the workplace in corporate America or the world: newspaper, internet, even a personal story (if something personal, try to sketch a brief paragraph, so you don't have to improvise it in class).
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