Ethics in Business Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Ethics in Business - Assignment Example Discussion A utilitarian approach holds that the morally right course of action is the one that produces the greatest balance of benefits over harms in any situation for everyone affected. Utilitarianism aims at producing benefits regardless of whether they were arrived at by lies, coercion or manipulation. This approach argues that; individuals ought to do whatever produces more total happiness than doing anything else would. This means that the morally right action is the one that will most likely maximize utility. ‘The highest good is the good will.’ This is the Kantian approach argument which states that to act from a good will is to act from duty. An action is made good by the intentions behind it rather than the consequences. Motives of self-interest cannot contaminate truly moral actions since an action is truly moral only if it is morally motivated. The major assumption of this approach is that actions that enhance the bottom line are acts of self-interest (this is well illustrated from Hugo’s case). Aristotle and other Greek philosophers came up with the Justice/ Fairness Approach to ethics which states that; ‘equals should be treated equally and un equals unequally’. ... The seven step decision making model is useful in making better decisions. Every decision making model applied begin with identifying the problem that requires a decision making process to be established. The seven step decision making model, developed by Rick Roberts, is detail oriented and it is preferred to have as much knowledge as possible concerning the decision. Hugo, an assistant brand manager for a floor cleaning system, has for a long time been disturbed by the marketing practices in the company that promulgate the physical attractiveness phenomenon. From Hugo’s case, there are various ethical issues that require a decision making process be established and the possible courses of action undertaken. The ethical issues that this case presents are clear. Identifying these ethical issues being the first step of the decision making process, this case is a clear indication of favouritism and discrimination according to the justice approach to decision making. The marketin g practices used in this case promulgate the physical attractiveness phenomenon. Appearance of the company’s products is being depicted through physical attractiveness to serve as an informational cue from which extensive information of the products is inferred. This triggers assumptions causing powerful effects that are beneficial for individuals whose appearance is higher in physical attractiveness and detrimental for individuals whose appearance is lower in physical attractiveness. According to the utilitarian approach, this course of action produces maximum benefits for the company at large. This case continues to argue that it is financially advantageous to use physically

Animals are Friends, not Scientific Experiments Assignment

Animals are Friends, not Scientific Experiments - Assignment Example They are funded by big companies and sometimes by research agencies. These experiments have however, more often than not, been counter-productive as they fail to understand the basic fact that humans and animals have very different bodies. Drugs may thus not be safe for humans while they are safe for animals and vice-versa. This leads to disastrous consequences where both animal and human lives are lost due to the side-effects on the bodies of both. The basic purpose of the experiments remains unfulfilled and many lives are lost in the process. The issue has also been dealt from the angle of the ethical treatment of animals, in the article. It argues against the use of animals in scientific and medical experiments. Instead, it proposes the use of other techniques that would be able to predict the effects of drugs on human beings. The loss of animal and human lives can thus be minimized, leading to a more harmonious existence for the whole of mankind. This would lead man to treat anim als as friends and not as objects for scientific research (Killing Animals and Humans). Animals are Friends, not Scientific Experiments â€Å"Killing Animals and Humans†, an article that appears on the website of the organization Animal Aid talks about how the entire process of killing animals for the benefit of human beings is a futile exercise. ... The reason that is provided for the insensitive slaughter of these animals is the development of drugs that may be used for the treatment of diseases in human beings. The article hints that the humanitarian side of the debate is often overshadowed by the financial aspect of it. The reason for this may be that these experiments are often funded by big firms and research institutions that have their own lobbies. The article reveals in great detail, the different methods that are used to torture animals and the inhumanity of such an approach. The article also exposes the flaws in the legislative structures of nations across the world where atrocities against animals are often not taken very seriously. The essay also busts the myth about the utility of these experiments to the human race. It cites examples of lives that have been lost as a result of these experiments. As opposed to the common perception that these experiments lead to the loss of only animal lives, it also leads to the lo ss of human lives. These experiments often overlook the fact that animals and humans may not react in the same manner to the same drugs. The different effects that these drugs produce have led to many mistakes in the field of medicine, something that is the public is often not aware of. The essay talks of how medicines that have worked on animals that are as close to the human race as chimpanzees has failed completely on humans. An administration of these drugs to humans without proper research into the human anatomy would always lead to disaster, according to the article. As a result of these mindless experiments, thus, no purpose is fulfilled except the deaths of many humans and animals. The article, as a means of a solution, proposes a paradigm shift in the way experiments