Bus560 Business Ethics

Principe 560-20140105

Jeffrey A. Principe

Aspen University School of Management

BUS560 Business Ethics

Professor Campbell

January 5, 2014

Check Your Understanding:

1. Why do we study ethics?

“The field of ethics is the study of how we try to live our lives according to a standard of “right” or “wrong” behavior—in both how we think and behave toward others and how we would like them to think and behave toward us.” (Ghillyer, 2013, p. 4). We study ethics to ensure the values we may have not inherited are learned prior to giving the wrong impression to others as a “winner takes all” world. Some people have no ethics and not study of right will help them, this would be a way to learn to get around without looking immoral as they are.

I have met numerous types of people in my time, most good people or with good intentions. With that said, I have met people that will give you that comfortable feeling even while they are out to destroy you through manipulation. Maybe studying ethics will also teach us to spot the unethical people as well as keep our own, moral compass aligned “The study of ethics involves two basic questions: What is the right thing to do, and why should you do the right thing?’ (Bowie & Schneider, 2011, p. 37).

2. Why should we be concerned about doing “the right thing”?

We ultimately should never be concerned with doing the right thing; it should just be our natural instinct to do so. “…cultural, or philosophical beliefs by which judgments are made about good or bad behavior. These beliefs can come from many different sources…” (Ghillyer, 2013, p. 4). These internal values keep us as a positive influence on society, as well as keeping the value of trust from our peers and superiors. “…It is something that most people can understand and support. It is this basic simplicity that can lead you to take ethical behavior for granted— you assume that everyone is committed to doing the right thing, and it’s not until you are...