Template: Assignment 4-1: Ethical Judgments

Action Items • Review Chapter 4 in Thinking Critically About Ethical Issues • Review Key Points 4.1: Part I: Can one ever go wrong by following one’s conscience? • Follow the instructions for assignment 4-1, as described online • Review the example listed there • Fill in the blue parts with your answers • Submit to DB
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Inquiry #4: Express your judgment by providing premises (as many as you need) and conclusion (your ethical judgment).

1) Marvin manufactures locks and keys for automobiles. He has a mail-order business, in which he offers master keys for automobile locks.
2) Marvin realizes that his customers include more than a few thieves.
3) Stealing is wrong.
i) Marvin feels that he is not responsible for the illegal ways his products might be used.
n) Assisting in crimes is unethical.
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n+1) Thus, it is wrong to steal and unethical to produce products that you know are being used to steal.

Inquiry #6: Express your judgment by providing premises (as many as you need) and conclusion (your ethical judgment).

1) Lucille owns a telephone answering service. She often monitors calls to check the service her operators give.
2) If she doesn’t let them know she is monitoring, then it is unethical.
i) Others may consider this to be spying.
n) Spying is unethical.
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n+1) Thus, if Lucille is going to monitor the calls and not let them know she is listening, then it is unethical.

Inquiry #8d: Express your judgment by providing premises (as many as you need) and conclusion (your ethical judgment).

1) Alan agreed to work Monday through Friday 9-5, for a lower rate and is paid to do so.
2) Alan comes late and leaves early and sometimes take an afternoon off.
3) Getting paid to work a certain amount of time and not doing it, is wrong.
i) Alan thinks it is ok to leave early and sometimes take an afternoon off because he works for a lesser amount.
n) Alan is the one who agreed to lesser amount.
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n+1) Thus, since Alan agreed to work for a lesser amount the set days and times, then he should do it and not sneak out because that is wrong.

Inquiry #8f: Express your judgment by providing premises (as many as you need) and conclusion (your ethical judgment).

1) Fred is an honor student at a nearby junior college.
2) Fred pays his way by stealing automobile tires, radios, and stereo tape decks and selling them.
3) Stealing is unethical.
i) Fred doesn’t feel guilty because no one is really injured.
n) No remorse is wrong.
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n+1) Thus, it is unethical to steal and wrong to not feel remorse for doing it.

Inquiry #10c: Express your judgment by providing premises (as many as you need) and conclusion (your ethical judgment).

1) Harry has been a police officer for a year in a small city.
2) Harry has seen many violations of department policy.
3) Violating policies is wrong.
i) Harry is seriously considering turning these men in.
n) Doing the right thing is ethical.
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n+1) Thus, if Harry turns the men in for violating policies, he will be doing the ethical thing.

Inquiry #10d: Express your judgment by providing premises (as many as you need) and conclusion (your ethical judgment).

1) An airline pilot’s doctor has discovered he has a heart murmur.
2) The airline pilot can retire in one month.
3) The doctor not sharing this information is unethical.
i) Flying with a heart condition can be deadly.
n) The pilot is responsible for everyone on the plane.
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n+1) Thus, the pilot should not be allowed to fly with a heart murmur and the doctor should let them know.

Inquiry #12: Express your judgment by providing premises (as many as you need) and conclusion (your ethical judgment).

1) A cosmetologist believes his job is to help his clients feel that they are or could be attractive.
2) He realizes some of his compliments are false and some of his products he sells do not live up to advertising claims.
i) Making people feel good about themselves is good.
n) Selling products that don’t live up to advertising claims is bad.
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n+1) Thus, the cosmetologist making people feel good about themselves is good, but he shouldn’t sell them bad products.