Current events

Underground parks in cramped cities
http://www.iflscience.com/technology/solar-technology-could-make-underground-parks-cramped-cities-possible

Should pregnant women be treated like injured workers?
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/12/01/opinion/women-who-work.html?referrer=

Should we rely on private money to ensure public goods like parks? Why or why not?
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/12/01/opinion/the-billionaires-park.html?referrer=

End of Course Reflection (by 10 Dec)

Please comment on at least several if not all of these questions -- use separate posts if you like.   

What have you learned in this course that surprised you?

Would you take another course in philosophy if money/time weren't major barriers?  

Do you have an understanding of the philosophical dimensions of the study and critique of business?

Have you developed an appreciation for the relevance of ethical questions in our daily lives?

Have you improved in your skills of analysis and critique, as well as in written and oral communication due to this course?

5th night Study Group work (initial post by 6 Dec; followup up by 8 & 10 Dec)

1. Post your Case Analysis here by Sat 6 Dec. 
1. Blood for Sale (Case 15.1 p. 679) by Tan Soup
2. Cocaine at the Fortune-500 Level (Case 15.2, p. 681) by ABA
3. Right to Work (Case 15.3, p. 682) by MoM
4. Nike's Suppliers in Vietnam (Case 5.8, p. 243) by Team Success
2. By Mon 8 Dec. read the other Case Analyses and then each student individually will choose one to discuss online. Your original post should be 100+/- words.  Summarize the problem/issue in this topic:  what is the problem? What are the various issues? What is at stake?    
3. Each student individually will followup by Weds 10 Dec with at least two subsequent responses that reflect substantive engagement in the discussion.  300+/- words.  Some avenues to consider in your entries: Do you agree with the study group’s main ethical issue? Their analysis of the situation? Their alternative solution? Their application of our theories?  You may focus your comments on the problem/situation in general or on particular points/aspects of the case. Be sure to include references to/application of/even offenses or violations of the various theories we are considering (ethical/economic/rights /justice/environmental). In all instances, at minimum be professional while striving to be scholarly.

NOTE: In this discussion you should move from any superficial or pragmatic problems/issues to discussion of the more substantive issues: ethical, economic, rights, justice, and/or philosophical issues attached to this problem.
      
Locate the various authors read for this session.  Here your discussion should identify where the authors fit – are they for/against? Does an author offer an alternative or merely criticize another’s viewpoint? Is the author offering a persuasive argument or merely an informational paper on the question at hand?

What, in your opinion, is an informed position or resolution to this problem? i.e., from your assessment of the various positions argued by the professional authors read on this topic, does any one of them have a good solution/resolution, or, from working with topic, do you see what may be a better alternative?

*** this assignment plus your in-class case presentation constitutes your Group Work, 20% of your course grade ***

5th night Reflections on Honest Work (due by 8Dec)

Consider our 3 guiding questions:

• Am I doing the right thing?
• Am I doing it the right way?
• Am I doing it for the right reasons?

What have you learned in this class about Honest Work?   Aristotle says their are many paths of vice, fewer of the Golden Mean -- paths to virtue.  Are you confident about your ability to discern right from wrong action? Explain.

Can virtuous behavior be taught?  In other words, is there any point to having a ethics course to encourage ethical behavior?  Or, does learning about ethics just teach people what to say to better avoid getting caught?

4th Session: Leadership (Initial 1 Dec; Followup 3 Dec)

You can answer 1-2 of these questions with regard to business or just to your life.  Refer explicitly to your readings/videos where applicable.  These questions will be the basis of in-class discussion also.

1) What makes a good leader?  Is being ethical a part of good leadership?
2) How can we create better environments for good ethical decision-making?  I'll give an example.  As a college professor, I would hope that my students, particularly the younger ones, don't put themselves in situations where bad-decision making is more likely to happen -- that usually means drinking.  To tie to the UVA situation, excessive alcohol use is often part of the problem with sexual assault and rape.  If I were queen :) I would try to change campus culture around drinking.
3) Should a good leader be aware of diversity in culture and societal practice?  Should she cultivate diversity in her employees?  Why or why not?  Tie to Kwame Anthony Appiah's TED talk on religion.
4) Is there virtue in simplicity?
5) Discuss the leadership style of people in authority that you have known personally:  which styles helped you develop and perform best?

4th Session Honesty (initial posting by 1 Dec; followup by 3 Dec)

How important is honesty in business?  Isn't it ok to lie (a little? a lot?) to close a deal?  Do the standards of lying vs. truth apply the same way in advertising?  Explain, using at least one of your readings or videos for Session Four.

3rd Session: Singer

Peter Singer is a very famous philosopher who has worked a long time on poverty.  He is also very provocative in other ways (particularly his views related to abortion).  Here's an interview from the Colbert report, though, on poverty:
http://thecolbertreport.cc.com/videos/8nmnda/peter-singer

Q: From your readings, other video, and video listed above, what is Singer's argument about poverty?  Do you agree with it?  Explain.  Assuming that you agree with him at least somewhat, is there something you can do, especially during this holiday season, that helps you address Singer's concerns?