Thursday, March 16, 2006

PHI 2604 Chapter 8 Homework

1. Elucidate “conflict of interest” in the workplace.
2. Why does Bart Williams have a conflict when dealing with Leisure Sports World?
3. Come up with one example of a conflict of interest you’ve recently witnessed.
4. What constitute “insider trading”? Comment the famous Texas Sulphur stock case.
5. In the case of proprietary data, discuss the P&G case of suing three rival food chains for using a patented process to make “infringing cookies.”
6.a) What happens when novel information is patented or copyrighted? How about downloading music or videos one doesn’t pay for?
b) What’s a trade secret?
7. Define “bribe.” In the example provided in the text, why is Norman Rothberg’s conduct wrong?
8. Define “kickback.” Comment the case of some American executives at Honda.
9. Go over the seven rules on “gifts” on pages 397 & 398.
10. Consider the situations on page 399. What are our obligations to third parties when such problems arise?
11. Define “whistle blowing.” Go over the five points that Norman Bowie sees as constituting justification.
12. Is self-interest more important than the interests of the public?

Monday, March 13, 2006

PHI 2604 Chapter 7 Homework

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 about drug testing in pages 334,335.
7. What are the moral issues surrounding day care and maternity leave?
8. Go over the reading on page 364 Work, Privacy, and Autonomy and try to answer questions 1, 3 & 5.