Ethics

Summary Paper

Jennifer Stephens

Ashford University Online

BUS 670: Legal Environment

Rosa Miles

February 14, 2011

Ethics Today

Ethic in general is the principles of right and wrong that are accepted by an individual or a social group. Each person possesses his or her own set of beliefs and values. Example, a person stealing to feed their family. Stealing is wrong regardless. Stealing is never an option. To steal is wrong (it's illegal), and it goes against a commandment (God's). Stealing to feed the family is wrong and there are many societies out there that have enough charity groups which are more than willing to help people in this kind of situation. Most of our ethical belief are accepted from or imposed upon us by our family, culture, and organizational affiliations. Individuals need ethics in the workplace, school, and home.

Types of Ethical Theories

According to this week reading there are four ethical theories. They are profit maximization, justice theory, right theory, justice theory, and utilitarianism. Teleological ethical theories are theories that focus on the consequences of a decision. Deontological ethical theories are theories that focus on decisions or actions alone. Right and justice are both deontological theory whereas, profit maximization and utilitarianism are teleological theory. Right theory includes a selection of ethical viewpoint holding that certain human rights are essential and must be respected by other humans. The major strengths of rights theory is that it protects fundamentals rights, unless some greater right takes precedence. (Mallor, Barnes, Bowers, & Langvardt2010)

The ethical theories that recommend actions that are fair to those involved are called justice theory. Ethical decisions must be steady with the ethical theory unless justifying situations that can be acceptable survive in the case (Rainbow 2002). The strength of the justice theory lies in its basic premise, the protection of those who are least...