Riverside Community College District
Integrated Course Outline of Record
Philosophy 16
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COURSE DESCRIPTION
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16 Moral Reasoning in Business
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Units: 3.00
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Prerequisite: None.
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This course applies classical and contemporary theories of morality to problems, questions and dilemmas arising in business. Using the major concepts and principles of deontological and consequentialist reasoning, it examines and analyzes cases involving such areas as employer/employee relations, corporate responsibility, the ethics of globalization, development and world financial institutions, and truth-telling in business. Emphasis is on the development of moral reasoning skills that allow for meaningful analysis and evaluation of moral situations. 54 hours lecture.
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SHORT DESCRIPTION FOR CLASS SCHEDULE
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This course applies classical and contemporary theories of morality to problems, questions and dilemmas arising in business.
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ADVISORY ENTRY SKILLS
None.
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STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to:
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1. Distinguish moral reasoning from practical, legal and economic
reasoning;
2. Define utilitarianism, deontology, ethical relativism, virtue ethics,
and other terms used in moral discourse;
3. Recognize and apply the basic principles and concepts of
utilitarianism, deontology, ethical relativism, and virtue ethics in
business cases.
4. Develop and articulate careful and informed ethical analyses and
evaluations of business cases that distinguish moral claims from
other kinds of claims, isolate the relevant facts, explain the
sources of moral problems, and address methods for their
resolution;
5. Use the principles and standards of philosophical reasoning about
morality in considering personal moral decisions.
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COURSE CONTENT
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TOPICS
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- Introduction to ethics; explain basic moral concepts and terms;
- Deontology; application to business cases;
- Consequentialism and Utilitarianism; application to business cases;
- Virtue ethics; application to business cases;
- Moral Relativism; application to business cases;
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METHODS OF INSTRUCTION
Methods of instruction used to achieve student learning outcomes may include, but are not limited to:
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- Presenting class lectures/discussions/demonstrations in order to familiarize students with traditional ethical theory and contemporary moral problems in business; model philosophical analysis, reasoning, and organizations of ideas.
- Creating small group activities in order to provide an opportunity to work with others to recognize the complexity of problems in business ethics.
- Developing and assign class exercises that require analysis and understanding cases, texts, and independent and rational thinking about contemporary moral problems in business.
- Showing videos/films/audio tapes in order to focus discussion on contemporary moral problems in business.
- Conducting individual conferences in order to assist in the organization of essays and the analysis of traditional ethical theory and contemporary ethical problems as applied to business cases.
- Developing and assigning web-enhanced/online/distance learning tasks such as further reading, investigation of philosophy websites to deepen understanding of the contexts and traditions in which ethical discussion is conducted, and discussion board postings that allow the student to express reasoned viewpoints about assigned topics.
- Inviting guest lecturers to class in order to present ethical issues which will encourage independent and rational discussion of contemporary ethical problems in business.
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METHODS OF EVALUATION
Students will be evaluated for progress in and/or mastery of learning outcomes by methods of evaluation which may include, but are not limited to:
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- Oral reports/presentations designed to analyze contemporary moral problems in business and assess the role of traditional ethical theory in regard to these problems.
- Quizzes and examinations designed to evaluate ability to identify key philosophical ideas, terms, and traditions; compare and contrast ethical positions; explain and evaluate different responses to contemporary ethical problems in business and the arguments given in their support.
- Written assignments designed to provide the opportunity to analyze texts and cases, explain implications of ideas, critically assess ethical positions, and provide support for the claims made in these assignments.
- Group and individual projects designed to show evidence that students are able to solve problems and work with others to come to an understanding of different ethical theories, their application to contemporary moral problems in business, and to think independently and rationally.
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ASSIGNMENTS
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Required Reading Assignments
Required Writing Assignments
Other Outside-of-Class Assignments
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COURSE MATERIALS
All materials used in this course will be periodically reviewed to ensure that they are appropriate for college level instruction. Possible texts include:
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Beauchamp, Tom L. and Norman E. Bowie. Ethical Theory and Business.
any: Pearson- Prentice Hall, 2004.
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DeGeorge, Richard. Business Ethics.
any: Pearson-Prentice Hall, 2006.
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DesJardins, Joseph R. and John J. McCall. Contemporary Issues in Business Ethics.
any: Thomson-Wadsworth, 2005.
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Donaldson, Thomas, Patricia H. Werhane and Margaret Cording. Ethical Issues in Business: A Philosophical Approach.
-: Pearson-Prentice Hall, 2002.
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Pfeiffer, Raymond S. and Ralph P. Forsberg. Ethics on the Job.
any: Thomson-Wadsworth, 2005.
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Shaw, William H. and Vincent Barry. Moral Issues in Business.
any: Thomson-Wadsworth, 2007.
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Solomon, Robert C. and Clancy Martin. Above the Bottom Line: An Introduction to.
any: Thomson-Wadsworth, 2004.
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Velasquez, Manual G. . Business Ethics, A Teaching and Learning Classroom Edition: Concepts and Cases.
any: Pearson-Prentice Hall, 2006.
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Solomon, Robert C. and Clancy Martin. Above the Bottom Line: An Introduction to Business Ethics.
-: Thomson-Wadsworth, 2004.
- Business Ethics. Thomson-Wadsworth.
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| 02/07 |
| 1505 |