Abstract This paper examines the treatment of POW's held at Guantanamo. It focuses on ethical issues surrounding the situation. It considers the relevance of the Geneva Convention in this situation.
Abstract This paper will seek to understand the ethics behind modern debates on physician assisted suicide. By offering the medical view alongside the Christian view on the subject, we can surely see how this medical practice is not unethical.
Abstract This paper examines virtue ethics, discusses how moral rules are derived from the theory, provides an example to illustrate how the theory is intended to work, and presents an argument that the theory does not work.
Abstract This paper will discuss the ethics standpoint of information selling, and privacy issues in business relations. By understanding how companies can tend to reveal a client's privacy, we can learn how this presents ethical questions on this practice.
Abstract This paper will examine the contemporary ethical debates regarding new information technologies, with a particular emphasis upon privacy issues. While a number of differing viewpoints will be considered in this regard, it will argued that when one looks beneath the Utopian vistas promoted by corporations participating in the new information technologies, it becomes clear that these technologies presents disturbing ethical challenges to us today, and the possibility of a profound threat to our social privacy and political freedoms in the future.
Tags: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY / TECHNOLOGIES AND SOCIETY, ethics information technology
Abstract This paper discusses how to bring about a better sense of awareness to employees and managers on the subject of ethics. It focuses on the advantages of good ethical behavior adopted by a company's staff members and the strategies adopted in trying to create such an environment. It also highlights the problems that might be encountered in implementing these strategies and how to overcome them.
From the Paper "Ethics in an organization are highly applicable to any one working in it, at any level. Good ethics in an employee and a manager would result in collaborative teamwork between the two and thus would greatly benefit the organization in the end. The power of good decision making comes from good ethics. Unless the environment in an organization is ideal, all employees, managers or directors are prone to sometimes respond to bad ethics either as a result of pressure or frustration. Emotions at times may leave one feeling powerless, depress, furious or jealous and thus develop moods, which are beyond one's control."
Tags: employees, managers, morals, organization, communication
This paper discusses that, today, in the real world of business, companies are faced with issues, not only of profit maximization, but also of ethical responsibility.
Abstract This paper stresses that the various mathematics-driven theorems for profit maximization in an ideal business world do not account for the "real" workplace, where decisions must be made that take into account the moral and ethical repercussions of the firm's activities. The author cites the Williamson model to understand the tradeoff between profit and social responsibility, focusing on two components: The executive's willingness to forego profit for the amenity, and the effects of the amenity on profit. The paper points out the importance of supporting the family life of workers because the long-term effects of these kinds of policies are that a firm retains valuable employees, which impacts its profit maximization potential.
Table of Contents
Changing Theories of Profit Maximization
Static Theories in Imperfect Settings
Social Responsibility
From the Paper "The social responsibility of business has received a great deal of attention in recent years. A large literature on the subject has emerged, evaluating the implications for profits, stock returns, and even individual careers. One strain of literature provides prescriptions for businesses, attempting to dictate the appropriate behavior of business with regard to socially responsible actions. At first glance, the divergent view of businesses? obligations to society seems unrelated and contradictory. It is difficult to identify the attributes of acts to be characterized as socially responsible. A popular management text says that there is no single agreed-upon concept of social responsibility for business firms and managers. Views of what constitutes a socially responsible act range from "profit making only," to "going beyond profit making," to "a social obligation, beyond that required by law and economics" "
Abstract Although affirmative action began as a means to bring segregation to an end, adversely, it became a means to end discrimination with discrimination. This paper argues that modern affirmative action causes more harm than good and creates tension in the work force, as well as America's established educational institutions. It argues that, for America to become a truly colorblind nation, it must wipe the slate clean and operate on the ethical merit system, instead of preferential treatment for people who no longer need it.
From the Paper "It is unbelievably hard to create a level playing field with the colorful history that America possesses. It is not legitimate to create one policy to appease an agitated nation by ending discrimination with reverse discrimination. Affirmative Action implicitly advocates reverse discrimination against white males and makes itself morally unacceptable by advocating that two wrongs make a right. In hindsight, reparations would have been a better solution to the problem. Giving high-level jobs to people under qualified for the positions has seemingly nothing to do with repairing past injustices."
Abstract This paper examines some of the issues concerning the ethics of photography and photojournalism. It uses as an example a front-page photograph from the "Los Angeles Times" showing a British soldier directing Iraqi civilians to take cover from Iraqi fire, which turned out to be a fake, a digital composite created by photographer, Brian Walski ,using photo-altering software. It looks at how, although the Walski photograph may have been altered with good intentions to better convey the "essence" of the war in Iraq, Walski acted unethically and violated several tenets of photojournalism. It argues how readers need to be able to trust that their photographs show what actually happened to form their own ideas and how breaching that trust only serves to make the public suspicious of all war reports, to the detriment of the entire news profession.
From the Paper "Walski's alterations differ from the Time Magazine and the Newsday photographs in another important respect. A look at past photographs from war coverage reveals how news photographs have tremendous power to influence public perceptions regarding the war. The image of the Vietnamese girl running naked after her village was bombed with napalm and the picture of the South Vietnamese police commander shooting a VietCong prisoner in the head have contributed to protests against the Vietnam War. In a more recent example, for many people, the photograph of young Elian Gonzalez cringing from an armed immigration agent gave the situation an air of menace (Frank 2003)."
Abstract This paper explains the medical technique of cloning and then looks at its moral, ethical, medical, and sociological implications. Arguments that both favor and oppose human cloning are discussed and analyzed. The paper presents scientific, ethical, and theological arguments on both sides of the debate.
From the Paper "Supporters of cloning believe that their efforts will mostly be for the good of humanity. The potential medical benefits of genetic engineering override any fears (perceived or real) from cloning. They agree that the technology should be pursued until safe and reliable and should be applied to humans with caution. They believe that there are dangers in attempting to make blanket legal and political assertions on human cloning. This issue is too important. It needs debate. They believe that a ban would be irreversible and preclude further discussions. They also believe that just as antibiotics vaccinations were eventually proven as lifesavers, this new technology should be embraced. Therapeutic cloning offers, for example, an in vitro embryo the chance to evolve into a human being free from painful and debilitating diseases."
Abstract This paper outlines a case study regarding the ethical issues surrounding Pepsi India, which conducted an aggressive marketing campaign that defaced the environment in India. It includes a description of the moral dilemma, those affected, Pepsi's past conduct in India, and other relevant factors. Suggestions for a resolution to the conflict are also provided.
From the Paper "The case study is regarding the ethical issues surrounding Pepsi India which conducted an aggressive marketing campaign which defaced the environment in India. Pepsi sells upwards of 160 million cases annually through 750,000 retail outlets across India. The principal moral agents involved are Pepsi marketing personnel, presumably in India, and those they hired to paint rocks with colorful Pepsi advertising in the Himalayans."
Abstract This paper on ethical decision making focuses on the importance of ethics involved in making sound decisions. This paper describes the ground rules, which should be considered in ethical decision making. The paper also gives a real-life example of how a moral dilemma in a working environment may be handled with ethics. Consequences of an ethical decision are also listed.
From the Paper "The word Ethics is closely linked to words such as good, moral and proper. Ethics elucidate how a conscientious person should behave by providing a way to choose between competing options. Ethics basically pertain to well based standards of being equitable or impartial, i.e. what humans ought to do in terms of obligations, benefits to society, fairness or specific virtues. Decisions that are based on Ethics provide the pathway for evaluating options more carefully. Ethical decision making does not only emphasize on the doctrine based on the importance of ethics but it also emphasizes on ethical sensitivity to implication of options, the competence to appraise convoluted, equivocal and inadequate facts and the ability to implement ethical decisions effectively."
Abstract This paper is devoted to the dilemma of clarifying the ethical, legal, and public relations matters pertaining to toxic, production waste dumping. It is written from the perspective of the Vice President of Production and de facto head of the company seeking to dispose of the waste. The paper considers the potential legal liability of the company regarding toxic substances, the substance's effects on the local environment and health of the local population, and any breaches of ethics committed by the parties involved.
From the Paper "Firstly, the company is responsible for keeping abreast of all legal aspects of dumping. This includes but is not limited to which wastes can be contained in holding ponds, as dictated by the current laws of the state and nation. The holding pond must be in line with regulations regarding the disposal of the particular wastes involved. In the current scenario, it is at least gratifying that the Vice President of the company attempted to make sure that the environmental consultant for the company agreed that the dumping would be in compliance with all of the legal strictures regarding the disposal of waste materials."
Abstract Today, many Americans are concerned with the ethical responsibilities of those working in the criminal justice system. This paper explores various codes of conduct for criminal justice professionals, while comparing and contrasting the elements of each profession. It looks at lawyers, judges, police officers, and probation officers.
From the Paper "The On September 22, 1978, ?the Judicial Conference adopted a Code of Conduct for United States Probation Officers that applied to all probation officers and pretrial services officers (Hughes, 1997).? The standards that were set focused on promoting integrity and impartiality. Probation officers are required to ?refuse gifts and favors, abstain from public comment about court matters, regulate extra-official activities, and refrain from partisan political activity (Hughes, 1997).? A new Consolidated Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees was adopted in 1995, which ?consolidated and replaced five judicial employee codes of conduct, including the code for probation and pretrial services officers (Hughes, 1997).? "
