PHILOSOPHY 4
Philosophy 305
Business Ethics
Ticket #18094
Fall 2009
Fridays 2:00-4:45 PM; Jerome Richfield (JR) 244
Instructor:
Jake Blair, Ph.D.
Office: Sierra Tower 535
Office Hours: Fridays 12:30-1:30 PM
Email: jacob.blair@csun.edu
Required Text:
Course Reader, available at University Reader (go to to order your reader).
Course Description:
In this class, we will be examining arguments concerning what is good, bad, right and wrong in the realm of business, the workplace in general, and public policy as it relates to business and the workplace. Some of the topics we will cover are whether corporations have a moral obligation to help meet the needs of society, the ethical issues that arise is advertising, the tension between environmental issues and economic growth, sweatshops, employee rights and privacy, and issues in leadership. Students will be encouraged to draw their own conclusions regarding the morality of the issues and practices we discuss. We will discuss important moral theories (e.g., utilitarianism and deontology) as they become relevant to certain issues and/or arguments.
Course Objectives:
1. Become familiar with some of the major topics in business ethics.
2. Recognize and explain in clear and concise writing (in your own words) the logical structure of the relevant philosophical arguments; i.e. identify the premises of the relevant arguments and explain both the evidential support for each of the premises and how the premises support the relevant conclusion.
3. Analyze the relevant philosophical arguments, i.e. be able to communicate in clear and concise writing (in your own words) why you think the claims made by the philosophers under discussion are or are not justified.
4. Gain an appreciation for the complexity of philosophical debate and as a result argue for your own views in a judicious manner.
Course Website:
Course Grading:
• Essay Exam 1 (25% of your grade)
• Essay Exam 2 (35% of your grade)
• A Cumulative Take-Home Final Exam (40% of your grade)
• Two Extra-Credit Assignments (Up to 6 points on the final exam)
• Note: I will use "+" and "-" in my grading
• There are no make-up exams
Plagiarism:
Plagiarism runs contrary to the purposes of the University and will in no way be tolerated. If you are caught plagiarizing or cheating in any way, you will receive an automatic F for the class and I will report you to the appropriate University authorities. It is your responsibility to ensure that your work is not plagiarized. Please see me if you have questions on this issue.
Tentative Course Outline [The entirety of what follows is subject to change. You are responsible for being aware of any announcements concerning any changes to this course outline]:
Week 1 (Aug 28th):
Introduction to the class; the nature of arguments.
Week 2 (Sept. 4th):
Corporate Social Responsibility and Downsizing:
Milton Friedman, "The Social Responsibility of Business is to Increase Its Profits"
R. Edward Freeman, "A Stakeholder Theory of the Modern Corporation"
John Orlando, "The Ethics of Corporate Downsizing"
Week 3 (Sept. 11th):
Whistleblowing:
Sissela Bok, "Whistleblowing and Professional Responsibility"
Richard De Georges, "Whistle Blowing"
Week 4 (Sept. 18th):
Bluffing in Business:
Albert Z. Carr, "Is Bluffing in Business Ethical?"
Thomas Carson, "Second Thoughts about Bluffing"
Norman E. Bowie, "Does it Pay to Bluff in Business?"
Week 5 (Sept. 25th):
Review
ESSAY EXAM 1
Week 6 (Oct. 2nd):
The Enron Scandal:
"The Smartest Guys in the Room"
Group Discussion
EXTRA CREDIT ASSIGNMENT 1 ASSIGNED.
Week 7 (Oct. 9th):
Ethics of Advertising, Marketing, and Sales:
EXTRA CREDIT ASSIGNMENT 1 DUE.
Robert Arrington, "Advertising and Behavioral Control"
Alan Goldman, "The Justification of Advertising in a Market Economy"
Thomas L. Carson, "The Ethics of Sales"
Week 8 (Oct. 16th):
The Environment and Economic Growth
William F. Baxter, "People or Penguins"
Peter Singer, "The Place of Nonhumans in Environmental Issues"
Douglas Husak, "The Immorality of SUVs and Trucks"
Week 9 (Oct. 23rd):
The Controversy Over Wal-Mart:
"Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price"
Group Discussion
EXTRA CREDIT ASSIGNMENT 2 ASSIGNED
Week 10 (Oct. 30th):
Review
ESSAY EXAM 2
EXTRA CREDIT ASSIGNMENT 2 DUE
Week 11 (Nov. 6th):
Sweatshops:
Ian Maitland, "The Great non-Debate Over International Sweatshops"
Chris Meyers, “Wrongful Beneficence: Exploitation and Third World Sweatshops”
Week 12 (Nov. 13th):
Employee Rights and Privacy:
Joseph Desjardins and Ronald Duska, "Drug Testing in Employment"
Michael Cranford, "Drug Testing and the Right to Privacy"
Week 13 (Nov. 20th):
Leadership:
Joanne B. Ciulla, "What is Good Leadership?"
Niccolo Machiavelli, "Is It Better to Be Loved than Feared?"
Week 14 (Nov. 27th):
No Class. Happy Thanksgiving!
Week 15 (Dec. 4th):
Take Home Final Due
* I reserve the right to change any part of this syllabus as the course progresses.
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