Abstract This paper defines what culture is and discusses what hurdles an outsider faces when joining a new organization. The focus is an example of a new work place and dress code ethics.
From the Paper "Culture had been defined not as the behavior of the people living in it; it is the "it" in which they live. The culture of an organization includes the language, dress codes, and habits of the operations, value systems, an ethics? code, attitude and interactions between various strata of the organization and work principles. Norms-are the organized and shared ideas of what the members in the organization do and feel, and how these norms should be regulated. The basic needs are physiological, needs for security, affiliation, to feel self-esteem and for self-actualization (Harvey and Brown, 1976)."
Abstract This paper states that American has great pride and belief in its destiny and in the rightness of its Constitution. But, it also has assumptions of superiority, imperialism, and hypocrisy. The author reviews the writings of Thomas Paine, Crevecoeur, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Herman Melville.
From the Paper "In literature as well, we see these American attitudes come out. In The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Hester Prynne is marked as an adulteress, but the Reverend is just as guilty as she is. However, he pretends to be holier than thou (moral superiority), until the truth comes out."
Abstract Immanuel Kant had a supreme interest in making major political changes for the better of society. Kant's beliefs were what was considered morally right today should not be affected by the unethical behavior or judgments of yesterday. This paper discusses Kant's theory on pure and practical reasoning, how the individual applying this notion affects the entire human race, and can produce the end result of freedom and happiness.
From the Paper "For example, the con artist will convince many elderly people that they will make a major contribution to saving the world by allowing him to use their checking account to deposit and take large sums of money. They claim they cannot use any more accounts in their name for insurance reasons. The elderly, wanting to do a good deed, gives the person access to his or her bank account. The con artist cleans out the elderly persons bank account, which had their life savings in it, and skips town. Only later, is it discovered that he uses fake identities. Kant's moral law says that we must not consider any previous experiences when making a decision to do what is moral. Lying and deceiving someone is definitely not ethical. Would it be unethical to use an elderly person who was aware of what was going on to catch the con artist, without the thief knowing this was a setup? If the decision to carry out the setup excludes all previous actions, then Kant's moral law suggest that lying and deceitfulness is unethical, although this procedure may prevent many other elderly people from becoming victims. "
This essay illustrates that the separation of law and morality is both possible and impossible, depending on how one defines the phrase "separation of law and morality".
Abstract The essay explores the legal positivist separation thesis. It approaches the question of whether it is possible to separate law and morality from two aspects- first, the content of the law and secondly, the judicial decision maing process. The writer makes reference to the policy of removing part-Aboriginal children from their families and communities, and placing them in special purpose institutions to support his argument.
From the Paper "It has been described as ;arguably the most tragic and shameful chapter in Australia";s history.; From the late nineteenth century to the late 1960's, Australian governments carried out the policy of removing part-Aboriginal children from their families and communities, placing them in special purpose institutions. Often, these removals were carried out by force. The purpose of this removal policy was to assimilate the part-Aboriginals with the white community as the full-blooded Aboriginals were believed to be a doomed race in the sense that they would die out. A large number of the children suffered physical and emotional mistreatment following the removal from their families. The children who were removed under this policy came to be known as ";the stolen generation" This sets the backdrop against which I will discuss whether it is possible to separate law and morality with respect to the Australian court"s law making power.4 The separation of law and morality is the foundation of legal positivism. Positivists often criticize natural law theorists for blurring the line between law and morals. This essay aims, by examining three stolen generation cases, to illustrate that the separation of law and morality is both possible and impossible, depending on how one defines the phrase ";separation of law and morality."
Abstract The paper explores the arguments of five scholars - Robert L. Berger, Benjamin Freedman, Velvl W. Greene, J. Katz and Robert S. Pozos - on whether it is ethical to use data collected from experiments done to prisoners in Nazi concentration camps. The paper examines which of the five scholars presents the most convincing argument while also presenting significant moral dilemmas related to the subject.
From the Paper "During the Nazi regime, certain groups of people were targeted, not only for execution, but also for dehumanization. People such as the Jews and the Sinti and Roma were subjected to treatment more brutal than that of animals. In concentration camps such as Dachau and Aushwitz-Birkenau, inmates were forced to play the parts of guinea pigs in horrific experiments. For example, in Dachau, male prisoners became human subjects in experiments that involved a torturous procedure including being submerged in an ice water bath for periods as long as seven hours. The scientists running the tests claimed that the results were going to be applied in the cases of German soldiers suffering from hypothermia. Much of the data from these experiments were recovered and later published raising a bioethical debate concerning whether or not it was appropriate to use such information."
Abstract In recognition of the important role that multinational business plays in global peace and prosperity, the Caux Round Table Principles for Business was established in 1986 to define a world standard against which business behavior could be measured. This paper discusses its implementation and adherence using examples from large multinational businesses.
From the Paper "While many other multinationals such as Phillips, Motorola, Hewlett Packard, and Kodak have also withdrawn from Burma, many continue to do business (Chase Manhattan, Colgate, Ford, Halliburton). Experience has shown that sanctions mostly work only when they are widespread and to that extent unless the international business and political communities unite in a total embargo, it is unlikely that isolated actions by companies like Levi Strauss are going to have much impact on improving the fundamental rights of the Burmese people."
Tags: sanctions, embargo, levi, strauss, trade, economic, interaction, industry, unions
Abstract This paper states that business ethics is a major topic especially in the telecommunications industry. This paper is a critical report explaining and comparing the current state of ethics both in the USA and around the world. The author concludes that ethical standards must be met by all industries to insure a healthy world economy.
From the Paper "One of the biggest scandals to hit the industry involves WorldCom, Inc. who recently revealed a $3.9 billion financial discrepancy leaving the entire telecommunication industry reeling. Telecom executives that once sought to emulate WorldCom are now rushing to insure employees and investors and perhaps even themselves, that their companies are sound and forthright."
Abstract The writer compares ethical models used in business in the United States with those used in the United Kingdom. The writer works to display similarities as well as differences to provide a solid understanding of entrepreneurship in the United Kingdom.
From the Paper "As history has shown the business models of England and Scotland are similar to the business models in the states. Each of them project long term as well as short term goals that are designed to promote growth and financial solvency. The difference between the models in the three nations are imbedded in cultural differences as well as differences in currency. The 24/7 model seems to be solid and appears able to avoid embarrassing failures such as the recent Enron problems."
Abstract The paper shows that the people who evaluate health programs should be equipped to tackle ethical and moral problems at all junctures of their job. The paper provides a list of obligations which an evaluator should observe, such as attentive listening and thorough investigation.
From the Paper "Demand services that are uniform with the existing need to ascertain that the level of care, service type, and service intensity asked for are in total consideration of the actual needs of the health program. However, additional requests can be made, subject to unanticipated expansion. It is not proper to overstate a request, be it in expectation of gaining a cushion or a fractional denial. An evaluator must handle the present needs without supporting any service reliance that is not necessary."
Abstract This paper explores the incidence of bribery in business, looking first at the harm it does to legitimate businesses. The ethical dilemma of whether or not to give bribes is investigated. It uses examples like Enron and WorldCom to illustrate its points. It concludes with the short and long?term effects of bribery in business.
From the Paper "Payment of bribes and kickbacks continue to be a problem that plagues the business world in the United States and abroad. Business executives pay bribes for a wide variety of reasons. These include bribes paid to agencies to obtain a choice contract for their company, and bribes paid to regulatory agencies to ignore environmental, safety, or health transgressions."
Abstract This paper examines the controversial issue of withholding medical care and nutrition from a patient with a terminal illness or on life support. There have been several cases which have reached the high courts recently in which this matter is being argued. This paper explores which body has the right to decide if this treatment should be stopped - the medical facility, the family members or the court.
From the Paper "What care is 'futile'? Throughout the years, the question of whether or not to withhold certain treatments to terminally ill patients has been addressed. Do we continue to treat people who are still alive, even if we know that there is no hope? This is a question that has been asked over and over again by various parties. This notion is an ethical dilemma because it involves the notion of ending a life by witholding medical attention. Some religious groups feel that patients should be treated at all costs up until the end, while other people disagree with the notion and say this is immoral; these people have such a low quality of life, they should be relieved of their pain and suffering as fast as possible. Much like abortion, another ethical dilemma, it is difficult to say which side is right or wrong. Hence, an analysis into the situation must be consiered."
Abstract This paper examines leaders such as Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi and Henry David Thoreau who have questioned and even disobeyed certain laws for the good of a greater cause and who recognized the value of peaceful protest. It analyzes different types of protests and evaluates whether they are justified.
Outline
Introduction: Theories on the Origins and Nature of Protest
Violent Political Protest
Urban Riots
Assassinations
Revolutions
Terrorism
Peaceful Political Protest
Picketing
Sit-ins
Boycotts
History of Protest
Laws Against Protest
Peaceful Leaders
Martin Luther King
"I Have Been To The Mountaintop"
"Montgomery Bus Boycott" (Time Magazine)
"Civil Rights and Social Wrongs?? (AA Review)
Mahatma Gandhi
"The Story of My Experiments with Truth: An Autobiography?
"Community, Violence, and Peace"
Henry David Thoreau
Civil Disobedience
Definition
Applicability to Modern Society
Just Cause, Civil Protest and the Law
Theories on and Approaches to Conflict and its Resolution or Management
Evolution of the Concept of 'Just Cause'
Alternative Means for Achieving Social-Political Change
Non-violence
Is it Effective?
How has it evolved?
Civil disobedience
Legal/Constitutional Restrictions on Breaking the Law for "Just Cause"
Conclusion
From the Paper "While there is certainly no legal or moral justification for violent acts for the sake of change, there are legal and peaceful alternatives to questioning authority available, such as picketing, sit-ins and boycotts. One of the most famous boycotts in protest history was the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which constituted the official beginning of the Civil Rights movement. The protest occurred when the black community of Montgomery, Alabama decided that they would boycott the city buses until they were no longer required to give up their seats for whites."
Abstract Paper discusses the current ethical situation in the U.S., honor codes, ethics policies both in university settings and business. The writer offers examples and perspectives and develops logical progression to potential solutions.
From the Paper "The Starwood Hotels & Resorts chain recently commissioned a study. They questioned 401 business executives and CEOs with an average household income of $187,000 on a variety of golf and related issues. Golf is considered the game of business, an honorable sport where the players themselves are responsible for policing their own activity. But with that honorable environment in mind, it turns out that 82 percent of those executives admitted to cheating on the golf course. An astonishing commentary one might say on the average golfer. However, that astonishment quickly turns to disgust when one finds out that the survey also found 86 percent saying they cheated in business. With the current public downward spiral of many a CEO and major corporation on the skids of corruption and lies, one can only wonder what the true story about the American ethical situation really is. Are these trends indicative of an greater erosion of societal morals, or is it a case of a few bad eggs spoiling the bunch? I believe that honor is not dead in our culture, but it has definitely become a lost cause. If we as a society do not embrace it and proclaim it, however, it will soon die."
An analysis of the works of the philosopher Aristotle and the economist Karl Polanyi, evaluating Aristotle's arguments on slavery and economic exchange.
Abstract This paper examines Aristotle's arguments on slavery and economic exchange. The paper outlines how Aristotle validates the concept of slavery under one principle of economic exchange. The paper also provides that when measured against economist Karl Polanyi's definitions of the market principle, Aristotle's views on slavery fall into his own definition of the "unnatural" category of economic exchange.
From the Paper "Economist Karl Polanyi and the philosopher Aristotle have differing views on economic exchange. According to Polanyi, the three principles of exchange are market principle, redistribution, and reciprocity. The market principle describes the buying and selling of goods and services based on the laws of supply and demand, and often involves bargaining. Redistribution is the moving of products from the local level to a hierarchical center, reorganization of those products, and sending them back down to the local level. Redistribution is a form of exchange that works with the market system."
Psychology of ethical leadership & decision-making examined. Argues that unethical behavior in organizations is not necessarily driven by profit motives, but psychological factors.
3,375 words (approx. 13.5 pages), 9 sources, 1996, $ 119.95
From the Paper "Most discussions of ethical conflict within a business organization are dominated by the assumption that executives are constantly faced with a trade off between ethics and profits The discussions almost seem to assume that ethical behavior is unprofitable and that executives will always be torn between doing the ethical thing and the profitable thing.
The focus of this study is quite different. It is the contention here that most unethical behavior in organizations emerges from psychological tendencies. These psychological tendencies influence executive decision making and lead to unethical behavio. The foundation article for this study is an..."
