Some ethical questions to discuss today. Professor Michael Sandel referred the following issues in his lecture on markets and morality. What are your opinions on these matters:- Is it wrong to drop litter if you are happy to pay the fine for doing so?
- Is it wrong to offer your children financial incentives for success at school?
- Is it wrong for the US government to introduce a $50,000 fee for people who wish to immigrate to the USA?
- Would it be wrong for the UK to pay Ireland to accept refugees that the UK did not want to take?
- Do you think health care, prisons, and schools should be run as businesses with the aim of making profits?
...and which of these people is the worst? Can you put them in order from worst to...err...least bad? (the best of a bad bunch?)
Alex sees an elderly neighbour drop a £20 note in the street. He knows that she does not have a lot of money. He picks up the £20 and keeps it for himself.
Beth was burgled, but she had home contents insurance and claimed for all the things that were stolen from her house. She also claimed for a digital camera and iPod, even though she never owned these.
Clive is the CEO of a car manufacturer. It is discovered that a very dangerous fault is affecting a very small number of the cars his company produce. The cost of paying compensation for deaths and injuries resulting from the fault is much lower than the cost of recalling all cars which might be faulty. Clive decides not to recall any vehicles.
Diane is a marketing executive for a major European producer of dairy products. She instigates an advertising campaign to tell young African mothers that breast-feeding is unhealthy, so that they become more likely to buy her company’s milk.
Edward is an accountant and realises that his wife, who works for the same company that he does, is claiming false expenses. He says nothing
1 comment:
Well. I would say Clive and Diane are the worst people. Because the activities which they did will influence many people. Others are not.
I think if all the public facility run as business are not good.
But some of them can run by business. People have choice. If they have money they can gain better service. If they are poor, they can get basic health care etc.
for the UK pay Ireland to accept refugees, I don't think it is wrong. It is a kind of business. Depending on what Irland thinks, if Irland agrees this, both countries are happy. :P
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