Student Resources - Readings

Glossary of Ethics Terms

Glossary of Philosophical Terms

Peter Landry

Ethical Decision Making

A Framework for Ethical Decision Making: Developed by Manuel Velasquez, Claire Andre, Thomas Shanks, S.J., and Michael J. MeyerDescription: "Ethics or morality poses questions about how we ought to act and how we should live. It asks, "According to what standards are these actions right or wrong?" It asks, "What character traits (like honesty, compassion, fairness) are necessary to live a truly human life?" It also asks, "What concerns or groups do we usually minimize or ignore? And why might that be?" Admitting our blindness is the beginning of vision."

Calculating Consequences: Developed by Manuel Velasquez, Claire Andre, Thomas Shanks, S.J., and Michael J. Meyer Description: "This article discusses the Utilitarian approach to analyzing ethical dilemmas, including the problems with using the theory."

Can Ethics Be Taught?: Developed by Manuel Velasquez, Claire Andre, Thomas Shanks, S.J., and Michael J. Meyer

Common Good: Developed by Manuel Velasquez, Claire Andre, Thomas Shanks, S.J., and Michael J. Meyer Description: "Commenting on the many economic and social problems that American society now confronts, Newsweek columnist Robert J. Samuelson recently wrote: "We face a choice between a society where people accept modest sacrifices for a common good or a more contentious society where group selfishly protect their own benefits." Newsweek is not the only voice calling for a recognition of and commitment to the "common good." Daniel Callahan, an expert on bioethics, argues that solving the current crisis in our health care system--rapidly rising costs and dwindling access--requires replacing the current "ethic of individual rights" with an "ethic of the common good."

Conscience and Authority: Developed by Manuel Velasquez, Claire Andre, Thomas Shanks, S.J., and Michael J. MeyerDescription: "This article discusses the Milgram Experiment involving "mock shocks" and obedience to authority."

Consistency and Ethics: Developed by Manuel Velasquez, Claire Andre, Thomas Shanks, S.J., and Michael J. MeyerDescription: "This article discusses how consistency, sometimes called the hallmark of ethics, affects ethical decision making."

Ethical Relativism: Developed by Manuel Velasquez, Claire Andre, Thomas Shanks, S.J., and Michael J. MeyerDescription: "This article discusses the theory of "ethical relativism" (i.e., that morality is relative to one's culture) and describes the challenges of applying the theory."

Ethics and Virtue: Developed by Manuel Velasquez, Claire Andre, Thomas Shanks, S.J., and Michael J. MeyerDescription: " This article describes the theory of "virtue ethics" (i.e., how there are certain ideals that we should strive for in order to fully develop as humans) and how people develop their virtues."

Everyday Ethics: "Morality Requires Regular Reflection on the Day-to-Day Decisions That Confront Us." By Thomas Shanks, S.J. Description: "This article discusses items such as: how we should treat each other; what are the challenges to acting ethically; and how people need a systematic approach to living an ethical life."

How Did I Live Today?: Thomas Shanks, S.J., Ph.D., Executive Director of the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics Description: The author recommends that everyone ask themselves five questions at the end of the day.

Justice and Fairness: Developed by Manuel Velasquez, Claire Andre, Thomas Shanks, S.J., and Michael J. Meyer Description: "This article discusses the concepts of justice and fairness with examples using real life examples. The articles describes the different kinds of justice, such as distributive justice (i.e., the extent to which society ensures that benefits and burdens are fairly distributed); corrective justice (i.e., the extent to which punishments are fairly administered); and compensatory justice (i.e., the extent to which individuals are fairly compensated for any injuries suffered."

Rights: Developed by Manuel Velasquez, Claire Andre, Thomas Shanks, S.J., and Michael J. Meyer Description: "This article discusses what constitutes a "right" and describes the different kinds of "rights" and the conflicts inherent in certain rights."

Thinking Ethically: Developed by Manuel Velasquez, Claire Andre, Thomas Shanks, S.J., and Michael J. Meye rDescription: "This article describes various methods that can be used for making ethical decisions - the Utilitarian approach; the Rights approach; the Fairness or Justice approach; the Common-Good approach; and the Virtue approach. The article closes with a brief discussion about ethical problem solving."

What is Ethics?: Developed by Manuel Velasquez, Claire Andre, Thomas Shanks, S.J., and Michael J. Meyer

Who Counts?: Developed by Manuel Velasquez, Claire Andre, Thomas Shanks, S.J., and Michael J. MeyerDescription: "For over eight years the three monkeys immobilized in harnesses have sat staring helplessly from their cages. Their paralyzed limbs dangling at their sides have been useless appendages since researchers eight years ago cut their nerves in experiments. According to the director of the National Institutes of Health, they now "give evidence of frequent, unrelievable pain." Experimenters plan next to surgically remove the tops of the monkey's skulls, insert electrodes to take brain measurements, and finally kill them, all as part of a research project on spinal cord injuries financed by the National Institutes of Health. Clearly, the experimenters would never have done to humans what they did to these monkeys. What is moral standing?"

A Stakeholder theory of the modern corporation: Author: R. Edward Freeman Reprinted in Perspectives in Business Ethics by Laura P. Hartman Publisher Boston : McGraw-Hill, c2002. Edition 2nd ed. Available through the UH library

Just because it’s legal is it Ethical?: Author: Seglin, Jeffrey L., 1956- Title: The good, the bad, and your business : choosing right when ethical dilemmas pull you apart ; Foreword by Norman R. AugustinePublisher :New York : John Wiley & Sons, c2000 ISBN 0471347795 (alk. paper) Available through the UH Library

Obedience to authority - an experimental view: Author: Stanley Milgram Reprinted in Perspectives in Business Ethics by Laura P. Hartman Publisher Boston : McGraw-Hill, c2002. Edition 2nd ed. Available through the UH library

The Ten Commandments: Source: Exodus 20:1-17, The Bible Reprinted in Perspectives in Business Ethics by Laura P. Hartman Publisher Boston : McGraw-Hill, c2002. Edition 2nd ed. Available through the UH library

Utilitarianism, Chapters II and V: Author: John Stuart MillReprinted in Perspectives in Business Ethics by Laura P. Hartman Publisher Boston : McGraw-Hill, c2002. Edition 2nd ed. Available through the UH library

When and why did Business Ethicists go wrong? The case of Dow Corning Corporation :Author: Daryl Koehn Reprinted in Perspectives in Business Ethics by Laura P. Hartman Publisher Boston : McGraw-Hill, c2002. Edition 2nd ed. Available through the UH library

Corporate Social Responsibility

Corporate Responsibility: News Batch - an internet guide to understanding of policy issuesDescription: "Article provides detail about key corporate scandals such as Enron, Tyco, WorldCom, Adelphia, Imclone, and others." http://www.newsbatch.com/corp.htm

Arguments For and Against Corporate Social Responsibility: Author: N. Craig Smith Reprinted in Perspectives in Business Ethics by Laura P. Hartman Publisher Boston : McGraw-Hill, c2002. Edition 2nd ed. Available through the UH library

The Divine Right of Capital: Is Maximizing Returns to Shareholders a Legitimate Mandate?: Author :Kelly, Marjorie, 1953- Book Title :The divine right of capital : dethroning the corporate aristocracy Publisher: San Francisco, CA : Berrett-Koehler, c2001.Edition : 1st ed.ISBN : 1576751252 Available through UH Library

Wealth of nations Author: Smith, Adam, 1723-1790. Book Title :Wealth of nations [electronic resource] Publisher: Hoboken, N.J. : BiblioBytes ; Boulder, Colo. : NetLibrary, eBook ISBN: 058505 Available through UH library

How Business Can Be Good (and why being good is good for business) Author: Jeffrey L. Seglin Source: SOJOURNERS Magazine (January-February 2000)

Unjust Rewards Author: Ken Silverstein Source: Mother Jones, May/June 2002

Leadership, Morality, Trust

Corporate Codes and Ethics Programs Author: Michael C. DeckReprinted in Perspectives in Business Ethics by Laura P. Hartman Publisher Boston : McGraw-Hill, c2002. Edition 2nd ed. Available through the UH library

Doing well by doing good: Can business be ethical? Author: UnknownSource:The Economist April 22, 2000

Morality - the basic rules Author: Robert Solomon Reprinted in Perspectives in Business Ethics by Laura P. Hartman Publisher Boston : McGraw-Hill, c2002. Edition 2nd ed. Available through the UH library

Profitable Ethical Programs Author: Jason Lunday Reprinted in Perspectives in Business Ethics by Laura P. Hartman Publisher Boston : McGraw-Hill, c2002. Edition 2nd ed. Available through the UH library

Scandals shred investor’s faith Author: John Waggoner & Thomas A. Fogarty Source: USA Today, May 2, 2002

Should ethics be taught in college Author: David ThiesReprinted in Perspectives in Business Ethics by Laura P. Hartman Publisher Boston : McGraw-Hill, c2002. Edition 2nd ed. Available through the UH library

The Good Samaritan Source: Luke 10:30-37, The Bible Reprinted in Perspectives in Business Ethics by Laura P. Hartman Publisher Boston : McGraw-Hill, c2002. Edition 2nd ed. Available through the UH library

Ethics Articles by Discipline

More ethics articles can be found at the following websites

Markkula Center for Applied Ethics
http://www.scu.edu/ethics/