Business Ethics (PHIL 320)-- Spring Semester, 2011
Metropolitan State University
First Position Paper Assignment
Second Position Paper Assignment
Paper writing guides:
Note: their will probably be some changes as we go along. Hit the refresh button on your browser to make sure you have the most current version.
Date |
Topic |
Reading (Note: MM=Moral Mazes; BEF = Business in Ethical Focus) |
Writing |
Handouts |
Jan. 14 |
Introductory Session |
None |
Cases for Discussion | |
Jan. 21 |
Free market purism vs. stakeholder theory |
BEF, Ch's 8 (Freidman) 9 (Freeman), and 10 (Hasnas); MM, Intro and Chapter 1 |
Response paper |
Four Perspectives on Businesss Behavior; Discussion Project: Applying Stakeholder and Stockholder Theories |
Jan. 28 |
Background: approaches to ethics |
BEF Ch's 3-7 (pp. 29-60); MM Ch. 2 |
Response paper |
Discusssion Project: Applying Kant's Categorical Imperative |
Feb. 4 |
Background: economics |
BEF Ch's 43 (Smith), 2 (Sen), 12 (Heath), 42 (Locke), 44 (Marx) |
Response paper |
Notes on Ethics and Markets |
Feb. 11 |
Background: theories of justice |
BEF Ch's 45-48 (Rawls, Nozick, Nielsen. Cohen) |
Response paper |
Notes on Rawls and Nozick |
Feb. 18 |
Employment at will or Due process |
BEF Ch's 22 (Werhane and Radin), 23 (Epstein), Case Studies 1 and 3; MM Ch. 3 |
Response paper |
Possible questions for first exam; Discussion Project on Employment at Will |
Feb. 25 |
Intellectual property |
BEF Ch's 49 (Hettinger) and 50 (Paine), Case studies 7 and 8 |
Response paper;First Position Paper |
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March 4 |
How people get ahead in business |
BEF Ch's 30-32, pp.324-355 (Affirmative action); MM Ch.4 (review Ch 3) |
Response paper |
Discussion Project on Affirmative Action Arguments; Some Arguments about Affirmative Action; Jackall's Rules |
March 11 |
Spring Break – no class |
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March 18 |
Whistleblowing |
BEF Ch's 24 and 25, pp.267-278; MM Ch. 5 |
Response paper; First exam; Possible Exam Questions |
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March 25 |
Occupational Safety |
BEF Ch's 28 and 29, pp.302-315; MM Ch. 6 |
Response paper |
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April 1 |
Environmental responsibility |
BEF Ch's 18-21, pp.189-245 |
Response paper; |
Video links: Ray Anderson's TED talk; |
April 8 |
Global business and sweatshops |
BEF Ch's 15, and 16, pp.154-180 |
Response paper;Second Position Paper Note: you have the option of turning in the second position paper next week (on the 15th)--but notice that the reading assignment for that date is much heavier. |
PBS version of "China Blue" |
April 15 |
Truth, Lies and Bluffing |
BEF Ch's 36-38, 51, pp.400-439, 584-592; MM Ch. 7 |
Response paper |
Possible questions for second exam |
April 22 |
Free choice or distorted desires? |
BEF Ch's 52-56, Case Studies 9 and 10, pp.592-644 |
Response paper |
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April 29 |
Wrap up |
MM, Ch 8 |
Second exam; Possible exam questions |