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COSC2130 Tutorial/Laboratory Sheet # 2

Philosophy of Ethics

Tutorial Sheet

1. You ere tau!ht ho to a"alyse a case stuy uri"! lab sessio" 1. $ea thefolloi"! case a" a"ser the %uestio"s that follo&

You have just been appointed to the board of directors of XYZ.com.

Unfortunately, the company has been experiencing some difficult financial

times, resulting in revenue losses in three of the last four quarters. As you

assume your ne position, you discover that to proposals are on the table.

 !ach proposal has been put forth as a means for dealing ith XYZ"s

immediate financial problems.

 #roposal $% recommends that all employees be retained, but that an

immediate free&e on salary increases 'raises( for all employees be imposed

 for the next six months. '!mployees may even be as)ed to ta)e a *+ cut in

 pay if things do not improve by the end of that period.(

 #roposal $ recommends that ages not be fro&en, but that *+ of the XYZ"s

or) force be laid off. '-ne piece of reasoning behind this proposal is that

ta)ing more drastic measures ill protect/ 0*+ of XYZ"s or)ers and ill 

 send a message to 1all 2treet and local investors that XYZ is serious about

improving its financial position and that it ill soon be a stable company

once again.(

3he board is evenly split, seven members favoring proposal$ % and seven

 favoring pro4 posal $. Yours ill be the tie4brea)ing vote.

'"alyse the ile((a i" the folloi"! sce"ario fro( the )a"ta!e poi"t of both

1.1& utilitaria" a"

1.2& eo"tolo!ical ethical )iepoi"t.

2. *hat is ethical relati)is(+

3. *hat ,e(pirical- e)ie"ce is ofte" prese"te to support ethical relati)is(+

. *hy ca"t happi"ess be the hi!hest !oo for hu(a"s accori"! to

eo"tolo!ists+

. *hat is the cate!orical i(perati)e+

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. 5ase 2tudy6 $ea the folloi"! sce"ario a" a"ser the %uestio"s that follo&

it4 or5s i" a" accou"ti"! fir( i" Sy"ey. 6e has a lot of )aca"t ti(es i" his

ha"s uri"! the lea" perio of the busi"ess. 6e ofte" chats o"li"e ith his

frie"s a" so(e ac%uai"ta"ces. 7" aitio" to that he spe"s a lo"! ti(esurfi"! o" the "et brosi"! iffere"t ebsites.

it48s collea!ue& 9e" (a5es a co(plai"t about hi( to the Syste(

'(i"istrator ,:arc- ho is his frie". 9e" (e"tio"s it48s rec5less use of

"et to the syste( a(i"istrator hile ha)i"! lu"ch ith hi(. :arc feels

alar(e about this& as soo" as he retur"s fro( the lu"ch he ru"s a etaile

sca" o" it48s or5statio". To his shoc5 he fi"s out so(ethi"! suspicious.

9ut i" orer to co"fir( his suspicio"s he "ees to o so(e (ore a"alysis.

's a part of the hole process :arc i"stalls a script i" it48s ho(e ri)e

,hich cannot be seen by 7it& as it is hidden-. To ays later he fi"s out thatit4 has bee" )isiti"! por"o!raphic ebsites as ell as the ault chatti"!

ebsites. 6e i((eiately ta5es the (atter to the :a"a!i"! ;irector of the

epart(e"t ho the" calls it4 e

1. *as the Syste( '(i"istrator ethical i" oi"! hat he i+ Pro)ie a"e

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Laboratory Sheet

3oday"s s)ill set6 ;oderated group discussion 'a very poopular intervie technique

used by prospective employers these days(

Your lab&assita"t ill i)ie the hole class i"to 3 !roups. Each of the !roups ill beallocate o"e of the folloi"! assertio"s&

1& Perso"al (orality is a" o