PHIL400 FA24

Business Ethics (PHIL400)
Amy Umaña
Mondays & Wednesdays  ·  9:30am–10:45am  ·  LA5–149

As one of the main (sub-)branches of philosophy, (normative) ethics is primarily about the moral standards of rightness and wrongness that govern action. Applied ethics is concerned with the practical application of normative ethics—that is, with the deployment of normative concepts in present and future situations, and with an eye toward determining what agents ought to do in their workaday circumstances. Among these applications is business ethics, which is the philosophical study of the applied ethical dimensions of productive organizations and commercial activities. The subject matter of business ethics is important and relevant since we all engage in commercial transactions daily. This course will raise ethical questions both internal and external to business organizations as they arise in our globalized economy. We will consider various important ethical questions pertaining to competitive markets and corporate responsibility, economic justice and consumer rights, the use and protection of information, employee rights and corporate responsibilities, affirmative action, and environmental responsibility.

Notes:

  • This course is cross-listed with CBA400, and so satisfies that requirement for any student in the College of Business.
  • This course can satisfy GE area upper-division C or upper-division D.

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