Ethics and Business
PHI 2631, Prefix: 82306, Fall 2002
Objective
The aim of the course
is to clarify our thinking about business and ethics.
Contents
1. Introduction (who
we are, what we study, how we learn)
2. What is business?
3. What is ethics?
4. How should we
understand the academic discipline called business ethics?
5. Special issues in
business ethics
5.1. Some institutional ethical
issues in business
5.2. Some ethical dilemmas faced
by managers and consultants
5.3. Business environment and
ethics of personal (career) development
Learning Methods
We will use a
combination of lectures, discussion, collegial consultations, group work, and
individual thinking and writing. This course cannot be passed by individual
study only.
There will be a final
exam on 12/4 (during the last lecture).
Other assignments
include:
2 concept
clarification papers, 2-3 pages/each, the first is due on 9/18, the second is
due on 10/4;
1 research paper, 7-12
pages, due on 11/29;
1 business case
presentation per a group of three students, these presentations
(3/session) are scheduled after the first paper is due.
Readings
1) Theodore C. Denise,
Nicholas White, Sheldon P. Peterfreund, Eds., 2002. Great Traditions in
Ethics. 10th edition. New York: Wadsworth.
2) Elaine Sternberg,
2000. Just Business: Business Ethics in Action. 2nd edition,
[1st edition 1994] New York: Oxford University Press.
Evaluation and
attendance
Final exam, concept
clarification papers (taken together), and business case paper each count for
20% of the grade. The research paper counts for 40% of the grade. Low
attendance (without instructor’s approval or without approved medical excuse)
can lower the student’s grade by as much as 30%.
The selling of
recordings or notes of the lectures is prohibited.
Instructor
M.Sc. Ari Lindeman
Department of
Philosophy, USF
Office hours and
location: Monday 9-10 am, FAO 206
Office phone: 974-5885
E-mail:
alindema@helios.acomp.usf.edu