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CaseStudy.docxCase Study #1: Choose one of the following three cases from the textbook and apply Catholic social theory to the case you choose.
The People's Car
A.G. Parfett & Sons
Do You Know What You Are Eating?
Each student will produce a paper consisting of at least 3 pages (750 words). The papers will be typed in double space, 1.25" margins and 12 pt Times New Roman font. This papers should ethically analyze a case we have studied in class. Links to the cases to be analyzed for this assignment can be found below.
• In this paper, students should focus on applying the ethical theory of virtue ethics and/or conscience to one of three cases.
• The purpose of this paper is to deepen one's inquiry into the subject matter by applying ethical principles to business practices.
• This is not a superficial opinion paper, i.e.,what one liked or didn't like about a particular case, or a simple statement of how one would resolve the case.
• This paper should focus first on demonstrating knowledge of an ethical theory or principle.
• The paper should then thoroughly apply that theory and principle to the specific case the student has chosen.
• You are not being graded on your opinion, or what you liked or didn't like about a particular case, so spending a great deal of time and space addressing these issues is not going to improve your grade.
• Students should avoid attempting to apply every theory and principle learned in the class to any given case. This will only result in a superficial analysis.
• This paper should reflect a serious grappling with the challenging issues raised by these ethical dilemmas.
1) Avoid the temptation to immediately take sides on a case, or to advocate for, or to engage in a diatribe against a company, or person. The point isn't to be on the right side, it is whether or not you can explain, illustrate and apply moral theory. You certainly can have an opinion and express moral approval or disapproval for actions taken in these cases, but make sure your paper is about applying ethical theory and not about how much you despise a company, an action, or an attitude.
2) Since I am grading you for your ability to describe, illustrate and apply moral theory, it is to your advantage if you begin your papers with an ethical discussion and to later move on to a discussion of the case.
3) Avoid simply retelling the case story descriptively. I have memorized these cases and don't need a recap. Again, I am not grading you on your ability to paraphrase a story. I am grading you on the ability to accurately describe, illustrate and apply ethical theories and principles.
4) Instead, pick out those actions in the case that you think are morally significant. (Often there are many different actions being taken by a variety of actors.) Analyze these actions, taking them apart and digging deeper. If the characters have not expressed their motivations or they have not been addressed, use your imagination to construct likely motivations for the various actors. Be fair. Not everyone who has done a bad thing necessarily has evil motivations. Similarly, not everyone who has done a good thing has good intentions. Most people have a variety of motives for their actions. Imagine yourself in these circumstances and what your own motivations might be. Companies and their agents are profit motivated, but most people dedicate their life to more than just profit. The more you recognize the complexity of motivation and intention, the better you will become at the art of ethical reasoning.
5) Use your imaginations in regards to the act-in-itself and the consequences when evaluating a case. What realistic options were available to the actors in the story? What options were they aware of, and which ones could they have been aware of? How do you think each of these options would have played out had they been chosen?
6) Fact check your paper. In the past, many papers and posts have based their argument on information that was factually incorrect.
