Chapter 1 Ethical Reasoning: Implications for Accounting

Discussion Questions 1. Select one of the world’s religions and give a concrete example of how the Golden Rule applies in that religion.
"Every religion emphasizes human improvement, love, respect for others, sharing other people's suffering. On these lines every religion had more or less the same viewpoint and the same goal." The Dalai Lama

Students may use the Internet as resource when researching the use of the Golden Rule in different religions. At websites such as www.religioustolerance.org/reciproc.htm and www.scarboromissions.ca, the comparisons of world religions are made. The students can compare the provided information with their personal views on the Golden Rule. From the Baha’I Faith, “Lay not on any soul a load that you would not wish to be laid upon you, and desire not for anyone the things you would not desire for yourself.” Baha’u’llah in Gleaning (from www.scarboromissions.ca/Golden_rule/sacred_texts.php, February 7, 2010). From www.religioustolerance.org/reciproc.htm (February 7, 2010), Black Elk of Native American Spiritually is quoted “All things are our relatives; what we do to everything, we do to ourselves. All is really One.” Plato also stated, “May I do to others as I would that they should do unto me.” Many students may remember being reasoned with by a parent or teacher on such lines of thinking.

Students may remark that the appeal for many charities, particularly those who feed and clothe the less fortunate and those who provide disasters relief, are often based upon a form of the Golden Rule.

2. The following statements about virtue were made by noted philosopher/writers. (a) MacIntyre in his account of Aristotelian virtue states that integrity is the one trait of character that encompasses all the others. How does integrity relate to, as MacIntrye