Transcript Ethics In Our Law

Ethics In Our Law
Business Law I
Chapter 2
Mr. Kretschmer
What is Ethics?
Ethics = deciding what is right or wrong in
a reasoned, impartial manner.
To involved ethics, I decision must affect
you or others in some significant way.
To make ethical decisions, we must base
our decisions on reason and not emotion.
What is Ethics?
The law is often our authority that we refer
to as right or wrong. Some people may
refer to religious text as that authority as
well.
What is Ethics?
Impartiality is the idea that the same
ethical standards are applied to everyone.
Ethics does not value one person or group
of persons more than any other does.
Example:
“Men are not more valuable than women”
What is Ethics?
Impartiality requires that in making ethical
decisions, we balance our self-interest
with the interest of others.
Sometimes our self-interest can cloud our
perceptions to reason impartially.
Impartiality is important when
organizations or institutions are involved.
What is Ethics?
The people behind the organization are
injured when the organization is injured.
The law represents all of the people in our
country. When we injure the law, we are
injuring many other people who depend
upon the law for protection and fairness.
What is Ethics?
Business ethics are the ethical principles
used in making business decisions.
Ethics are not considered as much as they
should be in our free enterprise system
because of:
PROFIT MAXIMATION!
Reasoning About Right and Wrong
1.
Two basic forms:
Based on Consequences
Example: An act that produces good consequences
is good. An act that produces bad ones is bad.
2.
Based on Ethical Rules
Example: A decision of whether to lie or to
tell
the truth, both forms usually conclude that one
should not lie.
Reasoning About Right and Wrong
Consequence Based Reasoning
Describe Alternative Actions
2. Forecast Consequences
3. Evaluate Consequences
1.
1.
2.
Selecting the standard for judging consequences
as right or wrong
Counting the persons affected
Reasoning About Right and Wrong
The standard for judging right or wrong is
called “The Good”
“The Good” is the primary goal for which
human life should be directed.
“The Good” involves alternative basic goals
such as love, justice, truth, and pleasure.
Reasoning About Right and Wrong
Fundamental Ethical Rules
The standard for judging right or wrong comes
from either a recognized authority or human
reasoning.
Universalizing = Picturing in your mind everyone in
the world doing the same action.
Moral Rights are rightful claims on other people
that flow from each person’s status as a human
being.
Is Ethics Expressed In Our Laws?
In our country, the people directly or indirectly
determine the laws that bind us.
Majority Rule – What is it?
Are our laws based on this majority rule
concept? Do our legislatures vote for laws that
represent the majority of the people?
Is Ethics Expressed In Our Laws?
Sometimes our laws conflict with moral rights.
Example: Slavery
Civil Rights are personal, human rights recognized
and guaranteed by our Constitution.
Civil Rights = Freedom of religion, speech, and the
press; freedom from unreasonable searches and
seizures; the right to a speedy and impartial trial;
the right to vote; and many more.
Is Ethics Expressed In Our Laws?
Federal Judges – Appointed for life? They
are now free from the influence of the
populace and elected officials. This
permits judges to protect human rights
without risking their jobs.
Why Are We Obligated To Obey
The Law
Ethics demands that we obey
 We consent to be governed by laws
 We want to avoid punishment

Civil Disobedience
Open, peaceful, violation of a law to protest
its alleged injustice.
The goal is not to advance the self-interest
of one person but to make the legal
system more just.
Is Civil Disobedience Ethical?
Only when:
 A written law is in conflict with ethical reasoning.
 No effective political methods are available to
change the law.
 The civil disobedience is nonviolent.
 The civil disobedience does not advance one’s
immediate self-interest.
 The civil disobedience is public and one willingly
accepts the punishment for violating the law.
Any Questions?