Prior to beginning work on this discussion forum, read Chapter 3: Philosophical Ethics and Business in your textbook (Hartman et al., 2021), Chapters 1 and 3 in A Companion to Business EthicsLinks to an external site. (Frederick, 1999), and In Defense of a Utilitarian Business EthicLinks to an external site. (Gustafson, 2013). Watch Kant’s AxeLinks to an external site. (BBC Radio 4, 2014). In addition, you may wish to review Chapter 2 in A Companion to Business Ethics (Frederick, 1999), Rethinking the Purity of Moral Motives in Business: Kant Against Moral PurismLinks to an external site. (Dubbink, 2020), and Aristotelian Practical Wisdom in Business Ethics: Two Neglected ComponentsLinks to an external site. (Steyl, 2020).

In this discussion forum, you will analyze the choice of lying by applying two ethical theories to the scenario detailed in the video. You should first apply one ethical theory to the scenario, either deontology, utilitarianism, or virtue ethics. Try to make the best case you can with the ethical theory, clearly articulating solutions it suggests. Afterward in the same post you should apply another ethical theory to the same scenario, where you are now analyzing the best outcome when this other ethical theory is applied.

Note: The written assignment this week, Ethical Theories: Trolley Problem, follows a similar format, asking you to apply two ethical theories. For the written assignment, you should apply a different pair of theories. For example, you could apply the ethical theories of deontology and virtue ethics in this discussion forum, then utilitarianism and deontology in the assignment. You could choose another combination but only among the theories of deontology, utilitarianism, and virtue ethics. In other words, between this discussion forum and the written assignment that follows, all three ethical theories should be applied, with one theory necessarily being used twice.

The aim of this discussion is for you to practice applying ethical theories and enhance your critical thinking skills so that these skills are developed when confronting ethical issues in business, as you will be doing in the rest of the course. While the scenario in this discussion was designed for developing such skills, you should not assume that there is a correct answer. The ethical theories of deontology, utilitarianism, and virtue ethics are applicable but also challenged in this scenario.

Rather than looking for the correct answer, you should focus on explaining how you think the ethical theories apply to the scenario, the difficulties the scenario presents to those applications, and the implications and solutions that the ethical theories offer. In other words, your post should explain how you reached your conclusions as well as your conclusion itself. It may take some time to think through the possibilities to find the best application of an ethical theory, or determine the most ethical course of action, so please allow yourself time to reflect.

In the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_uUEaeqFog

Kant’s AxeLinks to an external site. you will be given an ethical scenario to analyze. You may wish to review it with closed captioning turned on.

 

After watching the video, react to the ethical scenario by providing an ethical analysis with an ethical theory, and then take the same steps with another ethical theory. In both parts of your post, you should explain your choice to lie or tell the truth.

In an initial post of at least 400 words, citing at least two scholarly, peer-reviewed resources respond to the following:

• Identify the ethical theory you are applying to the scenario. Briefly explain the theory.
• Describe the best course of action in this scenario, according to the ethical theory. Briefly explain the scenario and how the ethical theory applies.
• Are there complications or challenges in the scenario that the ethical theory cannot fully address or resolve? Please explain these limitations to the ethical theory, if you believe there are any.
• Discuss the best ethical conclusion in this scenario, according to the ethical theory. Be specific.
• Then, answering the same questions above with another ethical theory, critique the ethical actions required by the second theory in the scenario described in the video.

Tutorial for Ethical Theories: The Man With the Axe