- PPY-213: Business Ethics
- Fall Semester, 2001
- Jacksonville University
- Dr. Scott Kimbrough
Paper Topics
Write a 3-5 page paper on one of the topics below. Papers are to be typed and double-spaced, with reasonable margins. The due date varies depending upon which topic you choose. Late papers will be penalized one-third grade per two week-days late (e.g., dropping from a B+ to a B). Use the handout "Tips for Writing Philosophy Papers" as a guide in writing your paper.
You cannot choose a topic that overlaps with your research paper topic. For example, a student whose research paper deals with sexual harassment cannot choose topic one.
- Due Monday, November 5th: Debates over the appropriateness of affirmative action hinge on the right to equal opportunity. Belz argues that affirmative action violates that right by engaging in reverse discrimination. Ezorsky and Purdy maintain that anti-discrimination laws alone do not insure the right to equal opportunity because they do not level the playing field enough to address continuing disadvantages to minority groups. Whose conception of equal opportunity is a better standard for judging the acceptability of affirmative action? Defend your answer.
- Due Monday, November 5th: To avoid liability for sexual harassment, employers are required to maintain a non-hostile working environment. However, there is some dispute over what standard should be used to determine whether a working environment is hostile. Wells and Kracher argue that we should appeal to the perspective of the "reasonable victim" to determine whether a working environment is hostile. Feary, in contrast, argues for the traditional legal standard of the "reasonable person." Which of these standards should we adopt? Why?
- Due Monday, November 12th: In his paper "Zuckerman's Dilemma: A Plea for Environmental Ethics," Mark Sagoff distinguishes between arguments for environmentalism that appeal to instrumental value, and arguments that appeal to intrinsic (aesthetic or moral) value. According to Sagoff, environmentalists should not rely exclusively on instrumental arguments. What are his reasons for this claim? What objections would Norman Bowie and/or William Baxter make to Sagoff's argument? Do those objections refute Sagoff? Why or why not?
- Due Monday, November 19th: Spinello raises concerns about increasing invasions of privacy as a result of the heavy use of computers in the workplace. Describe some of the workplace threats to privacy he warns of. Applying Ian Maitland's discussion of meaningful work as a commodity in the labor market, consider whether or not the free market can address these privacy concerns. If you find that the free labor market cannot adequately address privacy concerns, consider what measures would be appropriate.
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