Essay about Business Ethics and Kant - 1466 Words

Introduction The purpose of this paper is to discuss how Adelphia Communications’ leadership, particularly the Rigas family, violated the trust of the public and its investors through unethical and illegal business practices. First, a synopsis of the Adelphia scandal will be presented. Next, a brief overview of ethics and how they apply to maintaining good business and public trust will be discussed. Following the ethics overview, an outline of deontology and Kant’s Categorical Imperative will be covered. Finally, the business practices and ethical issues with the Adelphia scandal will be analyzed using the deontological framework and Kant’s Categorical Imperative. Adelphia Scandal Adelphia Communications is a company that specializes†¦show more content†¦According to James Brown, a former Adelphia executive, â€Å"it became a part of the corporate culture of Adelphia to conceal information that might be disadvantageous for the company† (Barlaup, 2009). Records falsification was not the only illegal activity the Rigas family was wrapped up in. The family used company funds, unbeknownst to their investors, to finance personal endevours and interests. Examples include using corporate money to build a $12.8 million golf course on the Rigas property, using the company plane for personal vacation trips including a safari to Africa, and funding for two Manhattan apartments for his family (Markon, 2014). Not only this, but John Rigas purportedly used the company jet to fly a Christmas tree two times to his daughter in New York (Barlaup, 2009)! All of these incidents are just brief excerpts of the fraud and misuse of company funds that John Rigas and his family committed without any intention of ever paying back into the company. These actions, namely lying and stealing, prove to be the heart of the two moral issues that will be further analyzed. Ethical Issues and Morality The major ethical question that the Adelphia Communications case raises is: by lying and stealing, did the Rigas family act in a morally despicable way that caused public distrust or were their actions morally acceptable in order to preventShow MoreRelatedSexist vs Misanthrope1018 Words   |  5 Pagesjournal will express how ethics theories take place into people personalities and thoughts. It focuses in a social dilemma about a misanthrope and a sexiest living their normal lives, and how they are influenced by their judgments in the decision making process. First of all, Harold, as a misanthrope person dislike people in general, no mattering gender, age, race, social preferences, etc. He does not treat people differently, therefore he does not discriminate. In a business environment, he would hireRead MoreAlbert Carr, Milton Friedman and Immanuel Kant970 Words   |  4 PagesEthics is related to an individuals principled judgments about right and wrong . The decision that is made by the individual will influence the business environment ethical circumstance. Therefore, every decision that is made by the employees must use their moral judgment to decide what they think is the right actions to behave. Wherein this action may possibly involve rejecting the primary focus of the company, which is to maximizing the profit. In addition, Albert Carr, Milton Friedman, and ImmanuelRead MoreKantian Ethical Analysis1614 Words   |  6 Pagesb) - Kantian Ethical Analysis: 1 - Introduction and brief explanation of Kantian ethics: German philosopher Kant was first to introduce the Kantian ethics; hence, the named after him. According to Professor Elizabeth Anscombe, Immanuel Kant was Unitarianism’s rival; he believed actions that are taboo should be completely prohibited at all times. For instance, murder should be prohibited. Even though nowadays a person cannot be punished if death is involved as a self defense, from Kant’s perspectiveRead MoreMilton Friedman And Richard Freeman Essay932 Words   |  4 Pages Business ethics Name Institution Date Questions 1: Milton Friedman and Richard Freeman represent differences that exist on the positions held by scholars with regards to the obligations of a business firm. The major difference between the two is on the issues of corporation’s responsibilities to the society and the obligations to different groups. To whom does the corporation owe much responsibility? Friedman offers his views based on the shareholders theory. In his theory, he adoptsRead MoreEthics And Morality : The Trolley Problem1231 Words   |  5 PagesThere is something known as â€Å"The Trolley Problem† that is utilized as a hypothetical situation in the study of ethics and morality. The most famous trolley problem is that: you are driving a trolley and on the track ahead of you, there are five men working who will be killed unless you pull a lever to divert the train to the other track. However, on the other track there is one man working who will be killed if you choose to divert the train. What would you do? In this situation, people based onRead MoreKant And Kant s Theory1368 Words   |  6 Pages Chapter 11: Question 8 What can be known According to Kant? Immanuel Kant (1731) was commonly known as the opponent of the utilitarianism. Kant believed that there are certain actions such as the murder, theft and lying that were prohibited regardless of the associated happiness that the action would bring. According to Kantian, there exist two questions, which human beings need to ask themselves before acting. One needs to rationalize, if everyone can act as he/ she proposes to act. If any caseRead MoreA Critical Evaluation of Worldcoms Ethical Problems Using the Deontological Framework1576 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿WorldCom Ethics Introduction The objective of this study is to examine the case of WorldCom and to answer the question of what are the ethical problems raised in the WorldCom case and to critically evaluate WorldComs ethical problems using the deontological framework. Finally, this study will assess WorldComs ethics and Immanuel Kants Categorical Imperative. I. WorldCom Ethical Problems Raised It is reported that the case study of Moberg and Romar (2003) notes WorldComs encounter withRead MoreEssay about Kants Formalism Theory716 Words   |  3 PagesKants Formalism Theory The theories of Immanuel Kant, a German philosopher, have had an impact on the formulation and shaping of ethics today. Immanuel Kant graced this earth from 1724 to 1804. During his eighty year life time, he formulated many interesting ideas regarding ethical conduct and motivation. Kant is strictly a non-consequentialist philosopher, which means that he believes that a persons choices should have nothing to do with the desired outcome, but instead mankind simplyRead MoreImmanuel Kant s Ethical Theory1111 Words   |  5 Pagesinspector. Kantian Ethics Kant s ethical theory is deontological theory. In deontological theories actions are evaluated as ethical or unethical based on one duty. Kantian ethics theory includes duty for the sake of duty regardless to human happiness, unlike utilitarianism. Immanuel Kant defined duty as â€Å"the action which is objectively practical according to this law and excludes inclination from its determining grounds is called duty† (Kant, 1956, p. 83). According to Kant, all acts have a maximRead MoreImmanuel Kant And The Ford Pinto Case991 Words   |  4 Pages Immanuel Kant and The Ford Pinto Case Immanuel Kant ¶s theory on morals states that  ³nothing can possibly be conceived in the world, or even out of it, which can be called good, without qualification, except a good will. ´ 1 Kant points to other human qualities such as courage, intelligence, wit and others that are  ³undoubtedly good and desirable, ´ 2 however, can become bad if the will of the person using them is not good. Kant maintains that in order for an action to be considered moral, it