Q7_10417

This week we will continue to examine some of the issues attendant to global ethics through the eyes of a moral universalism approach and a revisit to, in some respects the flip side, ethical relativisim. Simply stated, moral universalism is that ethical position that believes that there is a universal ethics that applies to all regardless of race, sex, culture, etc. The pillar of the moral universalism philosophy is that there is a universal moral code applicable to everyone no matter where they are. You will recall from last week that ethical relativism looks to the mores and values of a particular society in judging whether behavior is ethical.

Can there be such a thing as a universal moral code? One of your readings for the week, “Is there a Universal Moral Code”, presents in the form of blogs, both sides of the argument. I encourage you to examine both sides and see which is the more persuasive to you. As you consider the arguments and counter-arguments, also bear in mind Kant’s principle that one should act as if his action will become universal.

In our review of some unique 21st Century problems, we will consider the ethical issues businesses face by examining how certain decisions impact the environment and the implications of new technology such as the internet on the ethical decisions that are made. In looking at the environmental issues our focus will be on corporate responsibility and sustainability. For our purposes sustainability is concerned with the use and exploitation of scarce and limited resources—how best to meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. “The Ethical Dimension of Sustainability” provides an excellent overview of this critical ethical issue.

If we take a look at manufacturing companies for example, what responsibilities do such companies have to protect the environment? Do these companies have an ethical obligation to go beyond what the EPA or other regulators might require? In many instances companies confronted with environmental issues will seek to resolve their ethical dilemmas by relocating the company to a friendlier environment.

The advances in technology, including but not limited to the internet, have had a profound effect on the way businesses operate and in turn have intensified the ethical decisions that must be made. In some respects the technology has outpaced our ability to regulate and this creates its own problems. Note in particular your reading, “Unchartered Territory: When Innovation Outpaces Regulation”. The internet is a prime example of an innovation that has outpaced regulation where, for example the concept of cyber bullying is not limited to individuals but has an effect on the way businesses compete with one another. Advertising campaigns based on the disparagement of a competitor can be viral in a matter of seconds, and of course decisions communicated in e-mails sent in a moment of rage create their own problems.

In considering the environmental and technology issues, keep in mind that these are a reflection of the ethical climate and culture within the corporation. As we have previously noted it is the leadership that sets the tone for this climate. Although technology does not change the fact that the leader sets the tone and creates that ethical climate for the organization, it does magnify exponentially the reach and consequences of the decisions that are made.

A central theme of our consideration of the ethical issues presented by technology concerns what is responsible use of this technology. Learning Activity # 2 explores this issue and gives you an opportunity to practice using your ethical analysis on actual business situations.  Learning Activity #1 invites you to consider Moral Universalism as opposed to Relativism, to think about whether there is any reconciliation between the two alternatives, and to analyze where the traditional ethical theories fall within that spectrum.  Are they universal or more relative?