University of Phoenix Material

Ethical Systems Table

• Fill in brief definitions of each primary ethical theory.

• Identify alternate names or variations of each ethical system based on your reading of the text and supplemental materials.

• Match the real-world examples listed below with the corresponding systems. The first one has been completed for you in the table.

Real-World Examples

A. I believe people should be able to eat sand if they like the taste of it.

B. I believe that if sand is going to be eaten, it should be available for everyone to eat.

C. I believe people should be able to eat sand because it is the right thing to do.

D. I believe people should be able to eat sand because it is good for one’s health.

E. I believe people should be able to eat sand if they decide they want to, regardless of whether it is someone else’s sand.

F. I believe people should be able to eat sand if they want to because they are free to make the decision themselves.

G. I believe I will eat sand because it is the standard meal for my community.

• Develop your own workplace example that fits with each system. Present each workplace scenario in a substantial paragraph of approximately 40 words. Although the table field will expand to accommodate your workplace examples, you may list them at the end of the table; make a note in the table to see the attached examples, however, so your facilitator knows to look for scenarios below the table.

• Format references consistent with APA guidelines and include them after the table.
Theory/System and Brief Definition Other Names Real-World Example Workplace Example
Duty-based ethics

Regardless of consequences, certain moral principles are binding, focusing on duty rather than results or moral obligation over what the individual would prefer to do (Treviño & Nelson, 2011, Ch. 2).

In ethics, deontological ethics, or deontology (Greek: deon meaning obligation or duty), is a theory holding that decisions should be made solely or primarily by considering one’s duties and the rights of others. Some systems are based on biblical or tenets from sacred. Deontology, pluralism, moral rights, rights-based

Categorical imperative

Golden rule C. I believe people should be able to eat sand because it is the right thing to do. It is my duty to follow through with instructions my boss gives me, even if I do not agree with the concept. It is my moral obligation to respect authority figures.
Consequence-based ethics
Rights-based ethics
Human nature ethics
Relativistic ethics
Entitlement-based ethics
Virtue-based ethics

References

Treviño, L. K., & Nelson, K. A. (2011). Managing business ethics: Straight talk about how to do it right (5th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.