ethics and philosophy 3

Ethical Issues in Business and Society

IDIS 302.004 SP 15

Professor Franklin Bridge

Case Assignment # 1

Due February 25, 2015 at 5:00 P.M.

ALL papers must be 3-5 pages, double-spaced, typed, and in 12pt. Times New Roman font and in proper ESSAY format (MLA or APA). Papers MUST be submitted via Saiki by 5:00 P.M. on February 25th! For each day the paper is late, one letter-grade will be deducted.

Directions: In concise and complete sentences (using essay format), explain your ethical reasoning! To help you form your ethical conclusion, you MUST utilize the theory of ethical egoism . For example, you may say “I came to this conclusion by utilizing the theory of ethical egoism…” and explain (in detail) how that theory applies.

If you wish to quote something directly from the reading, please use the simple format of putting the author’s last name and page number in parenthesis after the quotation and before the period: example – “Philosophy is wonderful” (Author, 1).

Additionally, feel free to use Socrates’ infinite wisdom to help you with this assignment.

Follow precisely the steps below in analyzing this case study.

1. How would a person representing ethical egoism advise you in deciding on the right thing to do in the ethical scenario below? Why would they advise you as they do?

2. Next, indicate clearly what you think are the strengths and weaknesses in the ethical egoist's advice to you.

3. Finally, what would you do in this case and why if you found yourself in the position of the person who bought the ticket for his/her neighbor? Why?

"The Lottery Ticket"

Your neighbor, with whom you are friendly but not friends, asks you to buy a random lottery ticket for her when you are pulling out of your driveway to go to the Royal Farm Store. She says to you laughing, "Just buy my ticket with my dollar and make sure you don't get it mixed up with yours in case mine wins!" "You bet," you say and drive away. At the Royal Farm Store you smile to yourself and decide to actually follow your neighbor's instructions precisely and buy her a random ticket with the dollar she gave you. You then place the ticket in your shirt pocket so that you can remember that it is the ticket you bought for her. You then buy a "set number" ticket for yourself with your own money.

When you get home your neighbor is not around, so you go inside and later learn that the random ticket you bought for your neighbor with her money won the lottery jackpot of $1.8 million. You could really use the money, as you are behind n your rent, car payments and owe $4,000 on your credit cards- not to mention that you need money to complete your college education. What would you say to your neighbor when she calls you asking whether her ticket was the winning ticket? Why?

Remember: What would an ethical egoist advise to say to your neighbor and why?

What would you say to your neighbor and why?