Business Law
Chap. 2
Chapter 2
Ethics in Our Law
2.1 What is Ethics?
Goals:
Define ethics
Describe each element of the definition
Define business ethics
Ethics
Deciding what is right or wrong in a reasoned, impartial manner
1. Three elements:
Decision about a right or wrong action
Decision is reasoned
Decision is impartial
Explain how a Decision about a Right or Wrong Action involves ethics
Explain how Reasoned Decisions involve ethics
Impartial Decisions
Define Impartiality-
Explain how being impartial involves ethics
Explain how organizations and institutions should deal with impartiality
Explain how the law is an institution and how ethics relates to it
2. Business Ethics
Define Business Ethics –
Explain how profit maximization affects business decision making
2.2 Reasoning About Right and Wrong
Business Law
Chap. 2
Goals:
Reason based on consequences
Reason using ethical rules
3. Basic Forms of Ethical Reasoning
Describe the two basic forms of Ethical Reasoning
Consequence-based reasoning
Define Consequences-based reasoning –
Ethical rules reasoning
Ethical Reasoning Based on Consequences
Three steps:
Describe alternative actions (1)
Forecast consequences (2)
Evaluate consequences (3)
Ethical Reasoning Based on Consequences
Describe how to choose alternative actions (1)
Describe how to Forecast consequences (2)
Describe how to Evaluate consequences (3)
4. Fundamental Ethical Rules
Business Law
Chap. 2
Definition Describe how Decisions based on authority affect our ethical reasoning
Describe how Decisions based on reasoning
Define Universalizing—
Describe how one universalizes to reason ethically
Define Moral Rights
2.3 How Is Ethics Expressed in Our Laws?
Goals:
Explain how our laws reflect ethics based on consequences and ethics based on reasoning
Discuss why we are obligated to obey laws
5. Our Laws Reflect Ethics Based on Consequences
Describe how laws are determined, enforced, and ethically reasoned
Provide three examples of current laws created since Post 9-11 and how they were ethically
reasoned in our government.
6. Our Laws Reflect Rule-Based Ethics
Describe how laws today reflect rule-based ethics
Business Law
Chap. 2
Provide three examples of laws today that reflect rule-based ethics
Define Civil Rights –
How do the courts, our legal system, protect human rights?
Explain the “Law and the Internet” case on page 26, and describe what human rights were violated
and what precedent was set forth.
7. Other Ethical Goals Reflected in Our Laws
Describe the arbitrary process of creating rules or laws
How must rules be communicated and applied? And explain why this is the case.
8. Explain Why are We Obligated to Obey Laws?
Define Integrity –
What affect does integrity have on making ethical decisions?
Define Fidelity Bond –
Business Law
Chap. 2
Explain when a fidelity bond could be used.
9. Are We Ever Justified in Violating the Law?
Why do people violate laws? What is their belief system?
Define Civil Disobedience -
Martin Luther King, Jr. believed that civil disobedience can be justified to be ethical when:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Define Scofflaws –
Create an annotated bibliography. Find three current events that involve civil disobedience. Read and
summarize the article and site the reference. Have all three on one sheet with reference sited and
summary below. Make copies for everyone in class.
10. Current Events (Ethics in our Laws)
Create an annotated bibliography. Find 2 ethical issues in today’s society. Read and summarize the
article and site references. Have both on one sheet with reference sited and summary.The articles
should contain an ethical decision making issue.