Learning Journal 1

Learning Journal 1
Journal Entry 1

    After reading the Chapter 1 and 2 of Business Ethics, the most important thing I have learned is that ethics is an effective instrument that could help us make better decisions about what we should do in our lives and business. Currently, a topic discussed intensely in China is that whether we should help falling elders. The cause of this discussion is that some of the falling elders who accept the assistance or their relatives allege that it is the people who help make them fall and then ask for compensation. Since many Chinese are afraid of this type of event, sometimes they are blind to those falling elders.
    In terms of deontology, there is no doubt that choosing to help the elders is a good conduct versus not helping as it show your beneficence, does not harm others and meets the expectations of those elders. On the other hand, according to the principle of autonomy, people have the rights to choose not to help, but it may not meet the principles of beneficence and nonmaleficence if the elders are seriously hurt just because of lacking immediate assistance.
    In terms of virtue ethics, people are not required to be obliging. If someone is not an obliging person, it is defensible for them not to help the elders who fall. Conversely, if someone always shows and flaunts their character of being obliging but does not help the falling elders just because of worries about being framed, his conduct is not defensible as he does not show integrity or wholeness on this virtue.
    The last decision guide, consequentialism, is the central of this case because most of the people who do not help the falling elders are worried about the negative consequences they may receive, such as lawsuit and compensation. When people encounter this situation, they can firstly consider and observe how the falling elders will be affected if no one helps them. If help is really required, they should help the elders without hesitation.... [continues]

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