Exam 2: Deciding Whats Right: a Prescriptive Approach

Reference: Matching Key Terms and Descriptions (each can be used more than once) -Focuses on the results or consequences of the decision or action.

The ___________ states that an ethical decision should maximize benefits to society and minimize harms.

The prescriptive approach is to ____________ as the descriptive approach is to _____________.

Reference: Matching Approach and Weakness (each can be used more than once) -This approach that stresses community standards is limited in business because in many areas of business there is limited agreement about what the standards are.

A virtue ethics perspective considers the actor's character,motivations,and intentions.

An ethical dilemma is defined as a situation where two or more "right" values are in conflict.

Reference: Matching Approach and Weakness (each can be used more than once) -It is difficult to obtain the information required to evaluate all of the consequences for all indirect and direct stakeholders.

According to Lawrence Kohlberg,developer of a key theory of moral reasoning,role taking is useless as nothing is gained by putting yourself in the shoes of others.

Ethical dilemmas represent conflicts in values.

If you are asked to make hastily a decision that you believe raises potential ethical issues you should be a good team player and proceed with the decision.

You are working with an important vendor who has offered you a "sweet" deal.However,the vendor has made it clear that he wants a decision now and your internal warning system (i.e.your gut)is telling you that this deal might be an ethical dilemma.Using what you have learned from this chapter,briefly describe how you should proceed.Will you answer him now? How will you think about the "dilemma" and respond to the vendor?

Utilitarianism is the best known example of a consequential theory

Reference: Matching Key Terms and Descriptions (each can be used more than once) -The______________ approach best known as consequentialist theory is Utilitarianism.

Although all of the philosophical approaches have limitations,an individual must choose one approach and follow its guidance in every situation.

A challenge involved in using a strictly consequentialist approach is that it is often difficult to obtain the information required to evaluate all of the consequences for all stakeholders who may be directly or indirectly affected by an action or decision.

Reference: Matching Approach and Weakness (each can be used more than once) -An individual's principles may be in conflict with what is best and causes the least amount of harm to another individual.For example,an individual who believes that he or she should not lie would be conflicted about telling the Nazi's he or she is hiding Jews in the basement.

Generally,ethical dilemmas are not routine.Therefore,there is no way that an individual can be prepared or informed for a problem ahead of time.

A virtue ethics perspective requires a moral actor to look to the community that will hold the moral actor to the highest ethical standard and support the moral actor's intention to be a virtuous person.