Exam 1: Ethical Theory, Philosophical Foundations, Our Reasoning Flaws, and Types of Ethical Dilemmas

The United States Declaration of Independence is grounded in natural law.

"If you think what we're doing now is bad, you should have seen our actions 10 years ago," is an example of:

Warren Buffett is credited with the development of the "Front Page of the Newspaper" tests as a means for resolving ethical dilemmas.

Randy White is the executive director of a non-profit preschool for special needs children. Part of Randy's responsibilities include fundraising for the preschool. Because of his experience and success in operating specialty pre-schools, Randy is sought after as a consultant at locations around the country to assist in the start-up and operation of such facilities. Randy does so quite frequently. Randy does not take vacation time for this work, and his consultant fees (which range from $750 - $1500 per day) are kept by him as personal income. Randy uses his secretary at the preschool to book his travel arrangements and prepare his consultant reports and bills for these outside engagements.

Kant would label paying lower wages in developing countries than the wages paid in developed economies as unethical.

Plato and Aristotle have which ethical school of thought in common?

The Theory of Moral Sentiments:

Taking information from a confidential file accidentally left on your desk is not unethical.

Medical Purchasing Agents (MPC) is a company that represents groups of hospitals as their agents for purchasing medical supplies. MPC is able to obtain discounts for the hospital group because of their sheer volume needs when they are grouped together. MPC's CEO, CFO and general counsel own 51% of the stock of a company called Medi-Pump. Medi-Pump is the sole supplier to the hospitals for feeding pumps, IV pumps and other forms of hi-tech medical pumps and supplies. MPC has negotiated a low-cost supply contract from Medi-Pump to the hospitals. MPC:

Ralph has used all but one day of his personal leave time (PLT). His company's policy is that PLT can be used for illness, family needs, or medical appointments. Ralph has used his PLT days when he was hung over or when a friend wanted to spend the day with him. Ralph's grandmother, to whom he is very close, passed away, and he would like to go to her funeral, but it will take a day of travel, a day for the funeral, and a day to return. Ralph has asked his supervisor for additional time off in order to go to the funeral. Which of the following is correct?

Professor Reba McGintry is the head of the Student Conduct Board. Charges have been brought against three students who are also members of the university basketball team. The charges are based on the criminal charges brought by the local district attorney against the three men for sexual assault. Professor McGintry's husband was one of the staff attorneys in the DA's office who made the decision to go forward with the prosecution. Professor McGintry:

If I discovered that I unintentionally violated a federal environmental regulation, I should just wait and see if anything happens before taking any action.

An agreement by an agent to accept a 10% commission from a seller who will sell goods to the agent's employer is ethical so long as the agent would have chosen that seller anyway.

One of the questions in the Laura Nash model is to examine your intentions in choosing a particular course of conduct.

James Dodgsen is a student in a graduate course in business. The professor in the course has given Dodgsen and his classmates a surprise quiz in class. Dodgsen did not do the reading for class that day because he had been grading papers as part of his TA position. He has been prepared for every other class that semester. As he glances as the quiz questions, he realizes that he does not know any of the answers. However, he sees that Jane Frampton, the student who sits next to him, is well prepared and answering the questions with great ease. He can see her answers because of her large, block-style printing. Dodgsen copies her answers.

Which of the following would be consistent with the Divine Command Theory?

Jane Smithson's 13-year-old son has an essay due in school tomorrow. Her son has been ill and unable to finish the essay. Jane felt it best to let her son go to sleep so that he could return to school tomorrow. Jane writes the essay for her son. Jane has concluded her writing the essay was justified and necessary. Into which school of ethical theories would Jane fall?

Your supervisor has told you that he wants to "get rid of Jane."   Jane is a Hispanic female co-worker who is very bright and capable and hardworking. Your supervisor has asked you to document everything Jane does and says that will help build a case for termination. Because you are just doing what you are told to do, there is not an ethical breach in doing as your supervisor instructs you.

Labeling infertility surgery as "diagnostic surgery" in order to allow the patient to recover the costs from an insurer is unethical.

You work for a school district as a facilities coordinator. You drive to the various schools in the district and supervise construction and remodeling and assess various building needs. When you are traveling around to the various schools, you use a district vehicle that is clearly marked as such. One day you stop at the country club and have lunch before heading to the next school since the country club is on the way. You also stop at the bank drive-thru teller to do some personal banking business. Both the lunch and the bank stop fall into categories of ethical breaches.