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Individual Factors: Moral Philosophies and Values: Ethical Decision

Individual moral philosophies and values guide business ethics decisions. Chapter 6 discusses several philosophies including economic value, idealism, realism, and different theories of goodness. It also covers teleological approaches like egoism, utilitarianism, and altruism, as well as deontological and relativist perspectives. The chapter defines virtue ethics and Kohlberg's model of cognitive moral development.

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87 views

Individual Factors: Moral Philosophies and Values: Ethical Decision

Individual moral philosophies and values guide business ethics decisions. Chapter 6 discusses several philosophies including economic value, idealism, realism, and different theories of goodness. It also covers teleological approaches like egoism, utilitarianism, and altruism, as well as deontological and relativist perspectives. The chapter defines virtue ethics and Kohlberg's model of cognitive moral development.

Uploaded by

jefveny kho
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Ethical Decision Making For Business 8e Fraedrich/Ferrell/Ferrell

CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 6

Individual Factors: Moral


Philosophies and Values
Moral Philosophy

• Principles or rules that people use to


decide what is right or wrong
– Guides businesspeople in formulating
strategies and resolving ethical issues

• No single moral philosophy is accepted


by everyone
Moral Philosophy Defined

• Economic value orientation: Associated


with values that can be quantified by
monetary means
• Idealism ( 理想主義 ): A moral philosophy
that places special value on ideas and ideals
as products of the mind
• Realism ( 現實主義 ): The view that an
external world exists independent of our
perception of it
Goodness Theories ( 善良理論 ) 1/3
• Monists ( 一元論者 ) believe that only
one thing is intrinsically good
– Often exemplified by hedonism ( 快樂主
義)
– That one’s pleasure is the ultimate intrinsic
good or that the moral end, or goodness, is
the greatest balance of pleasure over pain.
Goodness Theories ( 善良理論 ) 2/3

• Pluralists ( 多元論者 ) believe that two or


more things are intrinsically good
• Plato argued that the good life is a mixture of
– (1) moderation and fitness
– (2) proportion and beauty
– (3) intelligence and wisdom
– (4) sciences and arts
– (5) pure pleasure of the soul
Goodness Theories ( 善良理論 ) 3/3

• Instrumentalists ( 工具主義者 ) reject


the idea that
– Ends can be separated from the means
that produce them
– Ends, purposes, or outcomes are
intrinsically good in and of themselves
Teleology ( 目的論 )

• Considers acts as morally right or


acceptable if they produce some desired
result
– such as pleasure, knowledge, career growth, the
realization of a self interest, or utility
• Assesses moral worth by looking at the
consequences for the individual,
– called consequentialist ( 結果論 )
Teleology 1: Egoism ( 利己主義 )

• Right or acceptable behavior defined in


terms of consequences to the individual
– Maximizes personal interests
– Enlightened egoists take a long-term
perspective and allow for the well being of
others although their own self-interest
remains paramount.
Teleology 2: Utilitarianism ( 功利主義 )

• Seeking the greatest good for the


greatest number of people as the
guiding principle of conduct
Teleology 3: Altruism ( 利他主義 )

• the belief in or practice of disinterested


and selfless concern for the well-being
of others
Deontology ( 義務論 )

• Refers to moral philosophies that focus


on the rights of individuals
– Believe that individuals have certain
absolute rights
Relativist Perspective ( 相對主義者觀
點)
• Descriptive relativism ( 描述式相對主義 )
– relates to observing cultures
• Metaethical relativists ( 後設倫理相對主義 )
– understand that people naturally see situations
from their own perspectives
• Normative relativists ( 規範性相對主義 )
– assume that one person’s opinion is as good as
another’s

• From the relativist perspective,


– individuals and groups derive definitions of ethical
behavior subjectively from experience
Virtue Ethics ( 美德倫理 )
• Virtue ethics approach can be summarized as:
1. Good corporate ethics programs encourage
individual virtue and integrity
2. These virtues associated with appropriate
conduct form a good person
3. The ultimate purpose is to serve the public good
4. The well-being of the community goes together
with individual excellence
Kohlberg’s Model of Cognitive Moral
Development

Consists of six stages:


1. Punishment and obedience
2. Individual instrumental purpose and exchange
3. Mutual interpersonal expectations, relationships,
and conformity
4. Social system and conscience maintenance
5. Prior rights, social contract or utility
6. Universal ethical principles

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