Ethical Systems Table 1

PHL/323 Version 4

Jeannie Hubbs University of Phoenix Material

Ethical Systems Table
Directions:

1. Fill in brief definitions of each primary ethical theory.

2. 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.

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.

3. 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.

4. Format references according to APA standards and include them after the table.

Ethical Theory Other Names for Real-world

Brief Definition Workplace Example
or System Theory Example
Duty-based Regardless of Deontology, I believe It is my duty to follow through
Ethics consequences, certain pluralism, moral people should with instructions my boss gives
moral principles are rights, rights-based be able to eat me, even if I do not agree with
binding, focusing on duty sand because the concept. It is my moral
rather than results or it is the right obligation to respect authority
moral obligation over what Categorical thing to do. figures.
the individual would prefer imperative
to do (Treviño & Nelson,
2007, Ch. 4).
Golden rule
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.
 Ethical Systems Table 2
PHL/323 Version 4

Some systems are based

on biblical or tenets from
sacred.

Consequence- An Ethics based on the Goal-based Ethics I believe The organization restricts
based Ethics results or outcomes of Teleological Ethics people dishonest conduct as the actions
decisions and action Consequentialism should be carry potentials and can
where the ends justify the able to eat eventually ruin a company’s
Social Contract sand accreditation.
means as the main Theory
determinant if actions are because it is
being ethical or not. Utilitarianism good for
their health.
Kant’s Role
Ethical Altruism
Ethical Egoism

Rights-based (right-based ethics) is "a Divine Command I believe It is the duty of the
Ethics family of moral and Theory people employees to follow through
political theories that -Utilitarianism should with honesty policy of the
make use of the idea of a -Kant’s Theory of be able organization as the moral
social contract" (Hampton Ethics to eat obligation they are bound to
1995). The social contract -Libertarianism sand if to respect authority figures
notion rooted in Hobbes -Pluralism they and abide with the policy.
and Kant. In Hobbes want to
opinion people are becaus
rational and want to live e they
out their lives are free
to make
In peace and security. the
"Kant proposed that the decision
'idea' of the 'Original themsel
Contract' could be used to ves.
determine what policies
for a society would be
just" (Hampton 1995).
Only the consent of 'real'
people can be legitimating
and their make-believe
agreements have moral
force for us. "The process
by which these people
reach agreement is
morally revealing"
(Hampton 1995).

Human Nature According to the human- -Existentialism I believe The employees believe they
Ethics based ethics, all, and -Rationalism people should maintain honesty in the
only, humans count or are -Relativism should be workplace as they are happy with
valuable in themselves. able to eat it.
-Pluralism
Human beings are both sand if they
the actors and the proper like the taste
subjects of morality of it.
 Ethical Systems Table 3
PHL/323 Version 4

Relativistic Ethics based on a belief Ethical I believe The employees do not really care
Ethics that there is no moral Egalitarianism I will eat about honesty but they have to
absolute or moral right sand follow through with the
Rightness and self becaus established norm in the
and wrong as the morals interest
of right and wrong largely e it is organization.
depend on the social the
norms. standar
d meal
for my
commu
nity.

Entitlement- Ethics based on the belief Lawful Rights I believe Honesty is the best policy. The
based Ethics that individuals have right that if employees believe that it their
to access or receive a sand is right to receive honest
value or benefit provided eaten, information and dealing in their
by law. then it workplace thus everyone must be
should bound to stay honest.
be
availabl
e for
everyon
e to eat.

Virtue-based Ethics tied to the morality Golden Mean I believe An employee believed that telling
ethics of the agent doing the people a lie to cover up a co-employee
Confucianism should who is badly needing his job as
action. This Ethics is
bound to moderation of Virtue Ethics. be able the sole family provider will not
actions by the moral to eat be considered immoral.
agent. sand if
they
decide
they
want to,
regardle
ss of
whether
it is
someon
e else’s
sand.
 Ethical Systems Table 4
PHL/323 Version 4

Reference
Treviño, L. K., & Nelson, K. A. (2007). Managing business ethics: Straight talk about how to do

it right (4th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

Virtue Ethics [Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy]. (n.d.). Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

Retrieved November 1, 2010, from http://www.iep.utm.edu/virtue/