Utilitarianism and Business Ethics Utilitarianism is a normative‚ consequentialist‚ empirical philosophy which links the idea of a good action to one which promotes maximum pleasure or happiness‚ found by adding up costs and benefits (or pains and pleasures). It has two classic formulations - Bentham’s hedonistic (pleasure-based) act utilitarianism and Mill’s eudaimonistic (happiness-based) rule utilitarianism. In this article we make some preliminary comments on Bentham and Mill before analysing
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essay I will discuss Utilitarianism by first explaining how Utilitarians are consequentialists who base their actions on the pleasure of pain of their consequences. Secondly‚ Jeremy Bentham will be discussed as the propagator of the Principle of Utility which determines human self-interest and voluntary action to achieve the greatest good or greatest pleasure. Thirdly‚ I will discuss John Stuart Mills and his more complex version of Utilitarianism. To clarify the Utilitarian theory I will illustrate
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Define utilitarianism. Discuss how utilitarianism might be applied to contemporary organizational communication. Give examples of the results of this application. Utilitarianism is one of the major systems of ethics in which the ethical or right action is one that brings the greats good for the greatest number. It can be applied to achieve the total happiness for everyone in the organization‚ not just the larger corporation. By thinking about how major decisions will affect not only the employs
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Utilitarianism Utilitarianism the ethical doctrine of the greatest happiness of the greatest number should be the criterion of the virtue of action. The principle that utilitarianism use in making moral decisions is a form of moral hedonism; that people should seek pleasure and avoid pain. Utilitarianism seeks to produce the greatest good for the greatest number. But‚ the problem is in determining what the greatest good is. Utilitarian define the “good” as good is what equates pleasure and reduces
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Applying Virtue Ethics in the Real World MGT407 M1:A1 03 – MAR – 2012 Read the Ethical Dilemma on page 106 of the Nelson & Quick text. Answer the following questions. 1. Summarize the dilemma. 2. Using consequential‚ rule-based‚ and character theories‚ evaluate Juanita ’s options 3. What should Juanita do? Why? ------------------------------------------ Whenever a young child is faced with a dilemma or reaches and ethical crossroads so often a parent
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Utilitarianism as an ethical theory Utilitarianism is the view that an act is right if it equals the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. Utilitarians describe moral actions as actions that boost something good and lessen something that is bad. Virtue‚ knowledge‚ and goodwill are all good but they are only good if they give people a pleasurable existence. Pain is the only thing that is intrinsically bad. Utilitarians focus on the result of an act instead of the inherent
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Deontological theory claims that someone acts out of duty not because it makes you feel better. In this theory the duty is defined by many sources like religion‚ language‚ metaphysics‚ biology‚ culture and psychology. Immanuel Kant’s ethical theory is deontological. He perceives moral duties as the law‚ unchangeable and firm. (www.pages.drexel.edu) Teleological comes from the Greek word telos meaning “end” and logos meaning “science”. (www.britannica.com) Teleological basically describes the theory that
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and Legal Compliance “What does it mean to say that a rule would produce the best consequences?” The theory of “utilitarianism is a huge interest and influence. Additionally we may ask how “utilitarianism” is discussed and how might it be criticized or defended? Utilitarianism Jeremy Bentham an English philosopher and political thinker has been described as the modern father or utilitarianism. According to Law (2012)‚ “He defended the greatest happiness principle‚” which claims that an action
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Ethical Relativism: the Hands-off Theory Ethical relativism is a simple concept. It is defined as the idea that ethical values are relative to the culture in which they are found. As exemplified in Hinman’s Ethics‚ a businessman in different parts of the world may use a bribe in order to reach an agreement with an associate‚ whereas in America‚ bribes are frowned upon and often illegal. The ethical value‚ bribing‚ is used differently between an American and a foreign businessman. But is there
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Moral relativism is an ethical theory that refers to the concept that there is more than one correct moral judgment. The moral judgments are either correct or incorrect only relative to some specific standpoint. This does not mean that one standpoint is more privileged than any other standpoint. This comes from the idea that cultures from around the world tend to show different moral values; there are no general moral values that everyone in the world shares‚ and no one should push their own moral
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