Sustainability
Misc.
Cultural Relativism
FCPA
Risky Business
100
Interface corporation is adopting the product of service concept and eco leasing concept. They call it the Evergreen Lease, his company will own the product and lease it, so that they can treat the product as a technical nutrient and take back the product once the consumer is done with it. They are still responsible for the material and how it is recycled back into society. Helps them ethicall and economically Stems from their product of consumption concept, where materials are manufactured will be able to go back into the soil. Their product of service concept is eliminate heavy metals and toxic by products that would make it horrible for the material to go back into the land.
What is one of Interface Corporations adoptions of McDonough
100
Standard Ordinary person who doesn’t do great harm or great good, Violation of minimal morality: avoid harm to yourself One way to describe minimal morality consists in what is our duty to perform, if we had a duty to perform Example: average joe, not killing another person with different views, minimal is not to kill, our basic duty, if you can save someone do, without getting stabbed
What is the first sense of minimal morality?
100
First sense, different societies have different moral codes- factual claim Ex: Eskimos parents get old and get left out on the ice, Cannabilism, Margret Mead Second sense, moral codes are right/wrong according to that society- normative claim
What is the first and second sense of cultural relativism?
100
The FCPA: illegal to bribe foreign governments officials to obtain or retain business The FCPA gets international currency because the General Assembly of the United Nations has passed a similar law against bribery and corruptions. In addition, The OECD has passed their own laws that are parallel to this. Find the same principles in organizations like Transparency International, and NGO that fights against bribery and corruption. Has a large international footprint Large national footprint because it addresses American relations with foreign officials, therefore applying to al business internationally. Involved anywhere business takes places.
What is the FCPA why does it have international currency?
100
It is acceptable to use white lies if A. using it to protect yourself from a threat of force B. When silence is not an option C. Improper use will be made of the information that you provide (all three conditions must be met)
What does Kant have to say about white lies?
200
“Sustainability is usually defined as development that meets the need of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their need” (WCE) Sen proposes to modify this definition “encompass the preservation and expansion of the substantive freedoms and capabilities of people without compromising capability of future generations to have similar or more freedoms.
What is the definition of sustainability according to WCE and Sen?
200
Someone who extremely moral to the highest standard, includes what is above and beyond our duty Great self sacrifice: not usually required of us, not usually our duty to make great self sacrifices, you are not required to do so Example” moral hero or someone that others should follow, child drowining, someone saves even though life is at risk
What is strenuous morality?
200
Nonethical nature of the sun motivating ethical belief Not, clear if we have fundamental difference in ethical belief because its motivated by other beliefs that are nonethical in nature A. First problem with samoan, marget mead and freeman, conflicting views, you cant observe beliefs because beliefs are subjective, cant quantity these belief, must be inferred. B. Eskimos when the parents die, Romans treat ederly so well, acting in diff ways in the same condition is cultural relativism, cant apply because situations are completely different C. Cannabilism: Aztecs practice to keep the sun alive, if they shared our beleifs about the sun. beliefs are ethical in nature. If the ocnditions were the same there would be no problems.
What are problems with the first sense? provide examples.
200
First Argument: Motives can altruistic, yes there are some that are egoistic, but is that to outlaw all those including the altruistic ones. Different motivations, not the same intentions Second Argument: A lot of these practices are not bribes, because there are differences between bribes and economic coercion. Therefore, we do not need the FCPA. For instance in the case of Don Jose, it was economic coercion. Third Argument: A lot of these payments are not necessarily wrong. There can be bribes that are morally right and therefore should not be illegal.
- The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) has been criticized on moral grounds. What do you think of its critics’ claims?
200
Carr says that bluffing in business (concealed facts, conscious mistatements) is like bluffing in poker, business bluffing should be seen as a strategy rather then a lie. This form of bluffing is not immoral because falsehoods are okay when both sides don’t expect the truth The Sun is a Star The Moon sis like a Star Thus the Moon is a star (not true) Bluffing in Poker is not Immoral Bluffing in Business is like Bluffing in poker Therefore, Bluffing in Business is like Bluffing in Poker
What does Carr say about Business Bluffing?
300
Doesn’t support eco efficiency. Believes that the concept of eco-efficiency is saying that you can do the same things you are already doing but become more efficient at doing them. The same system that got us in trouble in the first place, just slowed down. It provides this false idea that you are solving the problem, when in reality you are just going further in the same direction. Argues to adopt a strategy of change (eliminate the concept of waste, use solar income, respect diversity)
What is McDonoughs view on eco efficiency?
300
Descriptive: As a matter of fact, when people like jack smith, find themselves with this conflict, what goals do they put first? (plasma international) Normative: As a matter of morality, what should people like jack smith do when they are faced with a conflict between ethical and economic goals? When a matter of ethics, need to figure out if its minimal or strenuous morality, when its between the two you ought to put minimal morality first (if you have a duty to do it, you put ethical goals first) When it is conflict between economic and minimal, minimal comes first When It is conflict between economic and strenuous, we may put economic first, if we do put the ethical goal first and do something extraordinarily moral, everyone will acknowledge how great we are but we aren’t required to do that
What should business people do when choosing between ethical and economic goals?
300
Cultural Relativism C1 and C2 are separate. Absolutism moral codes of two different societies are the same C1=C2 Balance is through cultural overlap. Common belief, Prohibition of Murder, Lying/Value of the Truth, Care of the Young
What is the balance between cultural absolutism and relativism? Define.
300
Donaldson criteria: A. it doesn’t violate any core human values, and it is not possible to conduct successful business without the following process. Therefore, you should adopt the host country’s norm. Because there is a failure is a failure of international consensus about this payment because it isn’t talked about politically, phisophically, and religiously which means a core human value cannot be identified. Conflict of cultural tradition (even though it could be both) is it possible to confuct bisness, no considering esther Thompson is telling the truth The payment is actually economic coercion which is FCPA and he isn’t gov official and it only regulates against gov officials, Thompson says adoption is not complete without this payment Not a violation of the UN core human value, or the FCPA values so not a violation
- Show how to apply Donaldson’s proposal in the case of the adoption agency.
300
Kantian approach: A. When silence is not an option: He has to account for his tax revenue by the company as it is in alignment with the law, he must speak with officials B. Protect yourself from a threat of force: Sophisticated type of force, force of the law and the Italian practice. They basically make him come in to speak with them by making the error so that he would have to pay more C. Improper use will be made of the information: satisfied by them requiring him to pay more or follow along with their business practices Donaldson approach: For conflicts between host country and home country, conflict of cultural tradition or relative development? Conflict of relative development because it is motivated by economic reasoning, can business be carried out successfully without Italians? No, it isn’t possible because he is dealing with business through their tax organization. Violation of Core human values: no. Carr’s result: Bluffing is not immoral, falsehood are okay when both sides don’t expect the truth
Show how to apply Kant’s, Carr’s, and Donaldson’s ideas to the case of Italian tax mores.
400
The boat is a metaphor for the design assignment of the next industrial revolution. The ship from the first industrial revolution is going down, and now we need to think about what a boat of Thoreau might be life as far as its design, mobility, and what it is made of. Recognizing the consequences of bad design, like the one in the first revolution, makes people negligent and not doing anything about.
What is a boat for Thoreua?
400
Theory of Marginal Utility: satisfaction one gets from one additional unit, not constant often marginal utility diminishes, Marginal Utility: operating in a noncompetitive market, therefore produce less and charge more, according to the theory no such thing as an unjust, with each additional unit you are being more satisfied Cost-Plus Pricing: 0.90+ cost= breakeven (still considered good because you are not losing money, still a profit this is why its ethical) Cost plus pricing because it is the most ethical profit. Ethical because if the price they paid was 90 cents and the labor was 10 cents then they would breakeven and charge 1.00 so the market value and natural value would be the same and as Marx said that’s the best where you aren’t producing more then costs
What is the difference between the theory of marginal utility and cost plus pricing?
400
Everything is relative except the position of the cultural relativist. Cultural relativist is reserving the right to themselves what they deny to 1 and 2 because everything is relative except for cultural relativism Incoherence in deying 1 and 2 ability to say your wrong (1 & 2 are both right in the eyes of the cultural relativist), but 3 can say 4 is wrong called special pleading. B (1) – B (2) CR (3) –CR (4) They cant tell someone their wrong, because everything is suppose to be relative. this is an error because 3 is telling 4 their wrong because 4 is against cultural relativistism.
Critically discuss the second sense of cultural relativism?
400
Donaldson offers a procedure for conflicts between home-country and host country norms. It is as follows: Is it a conflict of cultural tradition (if its not economically motivated) or relative development (if motivation is economic) If a conflict of relative development ask two questions: Carry out business successfully without host country? Violation of core human values? They also provide presumptive hypernorms criteria: hypernorms are alternatives for core human values. The criteria: convergence of political, religious, and philosophical thought Respect for core human values, context matters, and respect for local traditions are the three guiding principles Different countries have different levels of economic development, little economic development might be able to change easier Countries with little economic development Conflict of relative development: would this practice be acceptable if the country was in the same position? If yes, then host country norm, If no, not okay home country no
What does Donaldson propose for managing conflicts between home-country and host-country norms?
400
A. Home country standards B. Living Wage Standard (not just a subsistence wage, one that would allow workers to live a decent life) Very close to the efficiency wage C. Classical Liberal Standard (must be informed and freely accepts the job)
What are Maitland's three options for wage and labor standards in outsourcing?
500
marginal utility: maximal profit theory of surplus value: minimal profit cost-plus pricing average profit Cost-Plus Pricing: 0.90+ cost= breakeven (still considered good because you are not losing money, still a profit this is why its ethical) Marginal Utility: operating in a noncompetitive market, therefore produce less and charge more, according to the theory no such thing as an unjust, with each additional unit you are being more satisfied Operating in noncompetitive market because doesn’t have easy entry, noncompetitive quantity and noncompetitive price, less for more, this theory says if you wanna make a profit this is what you should do, some people squeezed out of the market, so there is no thing has having an unjust price because goals is to have max profit. You have control of the market. Surplus value: Marx says that buy the book for 90 cents you sell for 90 cents, not taking into account, cost plus pricing says take into account
Briefly apply the three theories to Plasma International?
500
: A. People should be free to set up their own norms (moral free space B. Norm generalized contracts must be grounded in consent, members can freely enter and exit C. Must be compatible with hypernorms (norm policy or institution satisfies this when it contributes to the efficiency or proficiency of necessary social goods, aggregate economic welfare, or social justice. D. In cases of conflict, satisfying rules of thumb must be established, suppose to solve conflicts among micro social norms
What is Donaldson and Dunfees main argument in Social contract approach. (4 provisions)
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