Instructor: Dr. Lowell Kleiman Department: Philosophy Course Title: Business Ethics
Division: Humanities Cat. No.: Pl 25

This course will provide the student with the tools to,
(a) examine and understand the major competing ethical theories, Egoism, Utilitarianism, and the various forms of 'traditional moralism';
(b) apply ethical theory to contemporary moral issues in business, economics and social policy;
(c) to clarify and deepen beliefs about the rights and wrongs of Affirmative Action and Reverse Discrimination, Truth in Advertising, Insider Information, Corporate Loyalty and 'Whistle Blowing', Employee Rights, Sexual Harassment, Corporate Social Responsibility and other related issues.

Procedures for Accomplishing these Objectives:
Lectures; Class Discussion; Student Reports.

Requirements for Completion of Course:
(a) Your final grade will be determined by a set of four out of five in-class short answer examinations. Exams are worth 50% of the final grade, are cumulative and are kept on file by the instructor. No make-ups.
(b) You are required to submit an analysis of three reading assignments, which are worth 50% of the final grade. (Please keep copies.) Each piece should be about three typed pages in length. If the analysis is submitted on or before the exam on the same topic, you may revise the analysis for a better grade. See attached description for more details. Papers submitted the last meeting of the semester, of course, cannot be revised.
(c) You may submit a term paper (2500 words, approx.) for extra credit. Papers should be typed and should include appropriate bibliography and footnotes. All topics must be approved by Oct. 15, outlines by Nov. 15. The deadline is Dec. 1. The grade of the paper may be substituted for one exam grade.
(d) Class participation will be considered especially in the case of borderline grades. Unless otherwise informed, I will assume that any student with three absences has dropped the class. Lateness or leaving the class before the end of the hour counts as partial absence. Let me know in advance if you must leave early or you may receive a full absence.

Text:
Business Ethics, second edition, by William Shaw (Wadsworth Publishing, 1996).

Weekly Assignments:

1-2 General Introduction
Is there `Business Ethics'? 1-21.

3-4 Normative Ethics
Is there a universally valid code of conduct?
Egoism 46-49.
Utlitarianism 50-56.
Traditional Moralism 57-62.

5-6 Justice
What is economic justice?
The Utilitarian Approach 90-93.
The Egalitarian Approach 103-112.
The Libertarian Approach 95-101.

7-8 DiscriminationOnThe Job
Is discrimination always bad?
Affirmative Action 308-322.
Comparable Worth 323-325.
Sexual Harassment 325-329.

9-10 Personal Choices
To whom shall I be loyal?
The Company 275-279.
The Client 279-288.
Fellow Employees 288-290.
The Public 290-293.
Myself 293-296.

11-12 Consumers
Must the buyer beware?
Product Regulation 344-368.
Truth in Advertising 369-373.

13-14 The Environment
Does business owe anything to the environment?
Environmental Protection 386-399.
Future Generations 401-408.

1. What is the issue in the selection you are analyzing? Explain all sides. (Keep in mind that you will be drawing some conclusion at the end. See item #6 below.)

2. Key quotations from the text should be used.

3. A good example (either your own or one drawn from the text) must be used to illustrate each generalization in the commentary.

4. The ideas must follow a logical order. (A brief outline helps to insure this.)

5. Are there objections to your views? How do you respond? (If there are no objections, then you are missing the basic controversy. Try again.)

6. What is your conclusion? State your opinion drawing upon the previous discussion explicitly giving reasons for your judgment. Convince me that you are right.

7. The paper should be properly edited for grammar and spelling, etc. (If you are unsure of your written English, see me or visit the Writing Center in the Islip Arts Building.)

8. The paper should be typed, with a finished and professional appearance.

9. One final hint: your paper must not be mechanical but must show thought. Remember the main ideas that we discuss in class and that you read. Memorize important details; go over in your mind the main issues until you feel comfortable to explain them to others. When putting your ideas on paper, try to imagine yourself describing those same ideas to a sympathetic but critical listener.