Questions on Business Ethics
1. Some business ethicists argue that “acting” ethical in order to increase profits in the long run is unethical- that businesses should be ethical because they want to contribute to the community. How do you feel about that statement? I feel like the people acting ethical in order to increase profits are just lying to the business they work for, they have to lie in order to make a profit, which I think is extremely wrong because in the first place the sales people shouldn’t be lying to the consumers. 2. Why do you think the title of this article is “Business Ethics –Like Nailing Jell-O to the Wall”? I think the article is called “Business Ethics –Like Nailing Jell-O to the Wall” trying to give exact details for something that it is not possible to know about exactly. 3. Do you agree that the government should regulate aspects of a business to ensure they operate ethically? If so, what sorts of things should be regulated? I definitely believe they should regulate aspects to ensure they operate ethically; they should sell the product or service for what it truly is for and not lie about other things. 4. “No corporation is truly ethical unless it has banished all forms of external motivation for employees”. What do you think this statement means? This statement means that a corporation is not completely ethical unless the employee has removed themselves from ambition. 5. Reconsider the story discussed earlier about Sally the convenience store owner who gave a carton of milk to the poor mother. What would a deontologist say about Sally’s action? What would a utilitarian say? The deontologist would find an alternative solution; they would see it as something wrong. An utilitarian would see it as a way to make her child happy. 6. Do you prefer deontology or utilitarianism? Why? I prefer utilitarianism because the end result is what matters, whether the person is happy in what he or she is doing.