PHI 135 - Business Ethics

Business occupies a central place within American public culture. Both those who own and those who run private firms enjoy significant power, prestige, and moral responsibility. In this course, we will bring the tools of moral philosophy to bear on the relationships between the firm and its investors, its customers, its employees, and the community at large. What rights does the firm have in these relationships? What are the firm’s obligations?  Working with classic and cutting-edge texts in business ethics, we will explore moral questions that confront business owners and managers in our current social and political context. How should the firm respond to the kinds of inequality that pervade American society? Does the firm owe its employees “meaningful work”? What is the purpose of modern advertising? What responsibility does the firm have for its environmental impact? What moral concerns arise as private firms become more involved in higher education, in journalism, or in the penal system?

Satisfies the Philosophical and Religious Perspectives requirement.
Satisfies the Justice, Equality, and Community requirement.

Prerequisites & Notes
There are no prerequisites, though students may benefit from prior experience with moral philosophy.