Eth 501 Module 1
Trident University International
Daniel Carnley
Module 1 Case Assignment
ETH 501: Business Ethics
Dr. Susan Gunn
24 January 2015
Introduction
Adelphia Communications, one of the largest cable companies is the nation at its height, is now out of business as of 2006 due to several unethical decisions by the Rigas family. Any organization, if operated under unethical decision making to this extent, would be destined for failure and Adelphia Communications is no exception. The two main unethical actions underlined are untruthfulness and stealing. Were these actions justified, deontologically speaking? How does Immanuel Kant’s categorical imperative apply to these two unethical actions in a business scenario?
The Scandal
Adelphia was a cable television …show more content…
One example of the Rigas family using the company as a personal piggy bank was the purchase of an almost thirteen million dollar golf course built on the Rigas family property. Another example of the Rigas family using the company as a personal piggy bank was the use of company jets for personal use. On one occasion a company plane was used to deliver a Christmas trees to John Rigas’ daughter in New York. After that tree was not good enough for her, John Rigas used the company plane again to deliver another one. (Barlup, Hanne, & Stuart, 2009) A company jet was once used for an African safari. (Markon & Frank, 2002) Ellen Rigas, John Rigas’ daughter, not connected to the company in any way, received millions of dollars to fund her personal ventures. A couple more examples of the use of company money for personal use were the purchase of timber rights for the family and funding of a local hockey team. Examples such as these were not mentioned in any of the financial statements; however some of the amounts were later added as a small footnote in the company filings. (Barlup, Hanne, & Stuart, …show more content…
Everyone has the duty to make the right decision or action. The question with deontological ethics, however, is to whom or what is that duty. Utilitarian ethics have an easier way of determining the choice or decision at hand. What maximizes the most amount of good for the most amount of people? Deontological ethics, however, makes decision independent of consequences for the majority or for one’s self. A deontologist makes a decision because it is right. Also, deontological decisions are found to be moral only if the motivation is moral. If the motivation is not ethical, then the action itself is not ethical regardless of how much good was done in the process of doing that action. (Deontological ethics,
Daniel Carnley
Module 1 Case Assignment
ETH 501: Business Ethics
Dr. Susan Gunn
24 January 2015
Introduction
Adelphia Communications, one of the largest cable companies is the nation at its height, is now out of business as of 2006 due to several unethical decisions by the Rigas family. Any organization, if operated under unethical decision making to this extent, would be destined for failure and Adelphia Communications is no exception. The two main unethical actions underlined are untruthfulness and stealing. Were these actions justified, deontologically speaking? How does Immanuel Kant’s categorical imperative apply to these two unethical actions in a business scenario?
The Scandal
Adelphia was a cable television …show more content…
One example of the Rigas family using the company as a personal piggy bank was the purchase of an almost thirteen million dollar golf course built on the Rigas family property. Another example of the Rigas family using the company as a personal piggy bank was the use of company jets for personal use. On one occasion a company plane was used to deliver a Christmas trees to John Rigas’ daughter in New York. After that tree was not good enough for her, John Rigas used the company plane again to deliver another one. (Barlup, Hanne, & Stuart, 2009) A company jet was once used for an African safari. (Markon & Frank, 2002) Ellen Rigas, John Rigas’ daughter, not connected to the company in any way, received millions of dollars to fund her personal ventures. A couple more examples of the use of company money for personal use were the purchase of timber rights for the family and funding of a local hockey team. Examples such as these were not mentioned in any of the financial statements; however some of the amounts were later added as a small footnote in the company filings. (Barlup, Hanne, & Stuart, …show more content…
Everyone has the duty to make the right decision or action. The question with deontological ethics, however, is to whom or what is that duty. Utilitarian ethics have an easier way of determining the choice or decision at hand. What maximizes the most amount of good for the most amount of people? Deontological ethics, however, makes decision independent of consequences for the majority or for one’s self. A deontologist makes a decision because it is right. Also, deontological decisions are found to be moral only if the motivation is moral. If the motivation is not ethical, then the action itself is not ethical regardless of how much good was done in the process of doing that action. (Deontological ethics,