Abstract This paper offers a survey of a corporation's ethical responsibility to its employees and the social environment it inhabits. It discusses the concept of social equity and the "contract" between a corporation and its external environment. The paper explores the impact of interest groups.
From the Paper "Businesses generally conducted their operations according to the theory of economist and Nobel Laureate, Milton Friedman who maintained that a corporation's sole purpose was to maximize profits for the benefit of it ..."
Abstract This paper discusses the decisions made about the management of Enron's organization. It explores
the assumptions about human behavior that were reflected in Enron's modus operandi. The author discusses the soundness of these assumptions and Enron's leadership. It appraises the partnership structures and financial maneuvering at Enron and the decisions taken by Enron executives involved. The paper expands on Enron's organizational response to the conflicts of interest surrounding the LJM partnerships. Finally, the implications of the Enron case regarding the leadership, governance and accountability of large, publicly traded firms.
From the Paper "Enron Corporation was once one of the world's largest electricity and natural gas traders. Enron filed for bankruptcy protection amid allegations of accounting fraud, unethical behavior and.."
Tags: Enron, business ethics, business management, leadeship, GAAP, auditing
Abstract This paper analyses the effects of the bankruptcy reform bill. It discusses who is helped or hurt by it and the balance of lobbying interests involved. The author explores the effect of the moral connotations of bankruptcy on a bill designed to favor the interests of the banking and credit card industries.
From the Paper "The essential feature of the Bankruptcy Reform Bill that passed Congress and was signed by President Bush is that it limits the bankruptcy options of households above the median income in each state Under the ..."
Abstract This paper discusses the roots of ethical theory. The author points out that ethics are valid principals for business management. The paper relates business ethics as a principle driven approach to business actions.
From the Paper "Contrary to popular belief, as noted by Elaine Sternberg, there are universally valid principals of business ethics that operate everywhere in the world. Business ethics are rooted in an entire body of ethical theory that can be traced back to ancient philosophers such as Socrates, Aristotle and Confucius. The purpose of this report is to answer the question posed in the title what is ethics. It will be argued that business ethics are a body of principles used to ..."
Abstract This paper points out and argues that regulatory loopholes enabled the Enron case. The author stresses that the Enron bankruptcy is a prime example of corporate governance.
From the Paper "The record bankruptcy of giant energy firm Enron was a landmark failure of corporate governance, a failure shared by corporate officers, the Arthur Andersen auditing firm responsible for verifying the accuracy of Enron's financial statements and ultimately of the governmental regulatory agencies that are charged with ensuring that corporations report financial data in an appropriate manner. Altogether Enron shareholders and its employees' retirement accounts lost more than ... billion, additionally revelations of fiduciary malfeasance included information regarding multimillion-dollar ..."
Abstract This paper explains that ethical implications surrounding a person's right to die are challenging even when that person has made clear his or her express wish to withhold medical treatment, as with Durable Medical Power of Attorney. The paper then discusses these implications by examining the ethical theories of Kant, Smith, and Mill that speak directly to the intrinsic value of the self, of happiness, and of pleasure.
From the Paper "In healthcare the decision whether or not to allow a patient to die can present the most acute of moral dilemmas. In many instances the patient expressly declares his wish to refuse medical treatment-to be allowed to die-in the event that his or her breathing or heart stop. In these cases the ailing party can ascribe Durable Medical Power of Attorney to a loved one entrusting that person to act in his or her stead and ensure that the hospital staff withholds the specified treatment."
Tags: utilitarianism, kant, smith, ethics of duty, j.s. mill, durable medical power of attorney, prima facie ethics, deontology
Abstract This paper compares the ethical codes of the American Counseling Association (ACA), the American Association of Christian Counselors ((AACC), and the American Association of Pastoral Counselors (AAPC). The paper looks at similarities and differences of the codes in the areas of duties, conflict of interest, fees, measurement, testing and governmental rules and regulations.
From the Paper T"he following essay compares the Code of Ethics for the of American Counseling Association (ACA), the Code of Ethics for the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) and the Code of Ethics for the American Association of Pastoral Counselors (AAPC). This comparison regards the similarities and differences related to duties to clients and the profession conflicts of interest such as dual roles, fees measurements and testing and governmental laws and regulations."
Tags: ethics, conflict of interest, codes, duties, rules, regulations
Abstract This is a paper discussing some basic tenets of business ethics as they are applied to business, government and community organizations.
From the Paper "Does a code of ethics have a place in the professional world or should professionals simply be expected to behave in the same ethical manner as a person outside of the office? There are several positions on this debate."
Tags: ethics, business ethics, professionalism, management
Abstract In this article, the writer provides an examination of Kant's moral philosophy. The writer studies Kant's philosophy illustrated in his work "Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals". In this study, the writer includes both strengths and weaknesses.
From the Paper "In order to understand the strengths of Immanuel Kant's views on morality and morals we must recognize that he argues for a realm of moral law that transcends both the realm of science and sensory experience. In "The Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals", Kant posits human reason with the ability to conceive of a world that is beyond that capable of being experienced by the sense or sensible experience. By using reason to rise above experience or sensory data, human beings are able in Kant's ... "
Abstract In this paper, the writer examines Kant's beliefs on morality and the universal good of will. The writer compares Hume's ideas on morality with those of Kant. In this article, the writer's opinion on this matter is also expressed.
From the Paper "Kant believed that will is the only thing inherently good without qualification and that we should behave according to the maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law. By behaving this way a person is hoping that everyone else will behave this way in the future and so good will can be spread. Kant maintained that the expression of the moral law provides a concrete practical method for evaluating particular human actions of different types. For instance if ... "
Abstract This article provides a comparison and contrast of the ethical ideas of Jean-Paul Sartre and Aristotle. The writer discusses the radically different approaches of Aristotle from the ancient Greek period and Sartre from the post-modern period. The writer examines the concept of human responsibility in both philosophers.
From the Paper "Ethical Philosophy Resolution or Paradox Moral experience which is to say human experience is loaded with paradox, because moral and ethical choices do not always present an opportunity to choose simply between good and evil. Instead one chooses between good and good or in the familiar phrase between the lesser of two evils. The history of philosophy, which one might think should supply resolution to the confusions and dilemmas of life does nothing so much as ask new and even more vexed questions. And these are questions that ... "
Abstract In this article, the writer argues against cloning. The writer describes the kinds of cloning that have been used. Various objections to cloning including moral, ethical and technological concerns are examined in this paper. The writer also discusses controversial types of cloning, including reproductive and therapeutic cloning.
From the Paper "Three kinds of cloning have been used; molecular cloning for genetic research in which scientists must make millions of identical copies of genes of molecular size, in order to have sufficient material for testing; cell cloning which produces cell-lines with the same properties; and nuclear-cell transplantation which puts nuclei from the cells of early pre-implantation embryos into unfertilized eggs from which the nuclei have been removed. The first two kinds of cloning are often called research cloning. The third kind is called reproductive cloning."
Abstract This essay begins with the central thesis of Jean Paul Sartre's version of existentialism which is "that in man, and in man alone, existence preceded essence." The paper extends this theory through a discussion of Sartre's literary and philosophical writings, to show that Sartre believed that each individual creates his/her own being and his/her own ethics. Existence, or being, springs from authenticity and subjectively responsible action. The paper concludes that, for Sartre, there can be no wrong or evil action if it comes from an essential, authentic being.
From the Paper "After the 1956 Soviet invasion of Hungary, Sartre could no longer support the Communist Party, though he still sympathized with the people's movement. True to his philosophy of action, he stated his disillusionment with the Party in May of 1968 in an essay "The Communists are Afraid of Revolution." He was now supporting an even more radical left French group called "les Maos." He was attracted to their ethical and political views, but never became a member."
Abstract This paper explains that developing and implementing ethics programs is essential to human resource management in the health care profession. The author contends that they are of the vital importance not only because of ethical medical treatment but also because of the emerging confidentiality issues related to electronic record keeping. The paper relates that, because of computers and the Internet, the private medical records of patients are at risk of unauthorized disclosure so the health care community has an ethical obligation to develop and implement appropriate ethics programs to deal with such risks.
From the Paper "Developing and implementing ethics programs is essential to human resource management in the health care profession, not only because of the vital importance of ethical medical treatment, but because of emerging confidentiality issues related to electronic record keeping. Because of computers and the Internet, the private medical records of patients are at risk of unauthorized disclosure, so the health care community has an ethical obligation to develop and implement appropriate ethics programs to deal with such risks. In explaining and discussing new approaches and directions being taken in this area, it must be noted first of all that the emergence of electronic health records systems presents new ethical challenges, for such records are far more vulnerable to unauthorized access by third parties."
Abstract This examines both sides of the file sharing issues around music and states that the music industry is ethically right in their position to sue those people who illegally download music. The author points out that the music industry has won cases against Napster and others that violate the law, which will help quell the piracy of illegal MP3s. The paper stresses that understanding the facts and statistical data about this issue eventually can lead to the downfall of those independent pirating networks , which violate copyright law in the United States and abroad.
From the Paper "This study examines the use of MP3 file sharing, which has become a major issue in how corporate music industry deals with 'pirated' songs on the Internet. By understanding the current manners of file sharing that are trying to get financial compensation for music, the industry and independent music "down-loaders" clash on these issues. In essence, file sharing is unethical and debases ownership within the rights of corporate entities that should profit from the artist properties that they rightfully own under copyright law In the recent battles that have arisen due to music industry corporations seeking to recover lost revenues to illegal downloading of songs, there is a strong argument on why file sharing is an ethical problem."
