Deck 15: Ethics in Business

Question 1

One argument against manipulative advertising that Phillips considers is that it weakens the personal virtue of its practitioners and victims.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

R.M. Hare agues that the market economy is only defensible if it leads to the maximum satisfaction of preferences of the public.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Phillips argues that utilitarian arguments against manipulative advertising are conclusive-manipulative advertising is wrong because it decreases utility.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Phillips argues that manipulative advertising is wrong because it uses people as a means to an end.

Question 5

Holley's theory of the ethics of sales is based on the concept of a voluntary or mutually beneficial market exchange.

Question 6

Carson criticizes Holley's theory of sales on the grounds that a salesperson cannot be morally obligated to provide all the information a consumer might want.

Question 7

Desjardins and Duska argue that drug testing in the workplace is an unwarranted intrusion into the private lives of employees, and therefore drug testing in the workplace is morally wrong.

Question 8

Desjardins and Duska argue that drug use lowers productivity, and therefore employers have a legitimate interest in conducting randomized drug tests of employees.

Question 9

Desjardins and Duska argue that employers do not have a right to expect optimal performance from employees.

Question 10

Desjardins and Duska argue that if an employee can adequately perform at expected levels of production or perform the tasks in the job description adequately (not optimally) while under the influence of drugs, then drug use is rightfully private.

Question 11

Desjardins and Duska concede that drug testing might be justified if such testing led to knowledge that would enable an employer to prevent harm.

Question 12

In The Affluent Society, Galbraith discusses the __________ effect.

A) Diffusion
B) Indirect
C) Dependence
D) Lateral

Question 13

Galbraith stresses how advertising socializes people to embrace __________.

A) Negativism
B) Consumerism
C) Consequentialism
D) All of the above

Question 14

Which of the following is an argument against manipulative advertising considered by Phillips?

A) Manipulative advertising is wrong because it has negative consequences for utility.
B) Manipulative advertising is wrong because it violates Kant's Categorical Imperative.
C) Manipulative advertising is wrong because it weakens the personal virtue of its practitioners and victims.
D) All of the above

Question 15

According to Holley's theory, for a sale to be ethical, which of the following conditions must obtain?

A) Both buyer and seller understand what they are giving up and what they are receiving in return.
B) Neither buyer nor seller is compelled to enter into the exchange as a result of coercion.
C) Both buyer and seller are able at the time of the exchange to make rational judgments about costs and benefits.
D) All of the above

Question 16

Which of the following best represents Carson's theory of sales?

A) Salespersons should provide buyers with safety warnings and precautions about the goods they sell.
B) Salespeople should refrain from lying and deception in their dealings with customers.
C) Salespeople should not steer customers toward purchases that they have reason to think will prove to be harmful to customers.
D) All of the above

Question 17

What conclusion do Desjardins and Duska reach about drug testing in the workplace?

A) Employees are not forced to work for corporations that require drug testing as a precondition of employment. Since drug testing is fully voluntary, it is morally permissible.
B) Drug testing is permissible because drug users decrease productivity and pose an increased risk for workplace accidents.
C) Drug testing is a violation of privacy and is therefore categorically wrong.
D) Privacy is an employee right, and drug testing is compatible with this right only if the information it seeks is relevant to the employment contract.

Question 18

What do Desjardins and Duska say about drug testing and productivity?

A) They argue that drug use lowers productivity and therefore employers are justified in conducting randomized drug tests.
B) They argue that drug use has no impact on productivity and therefore employers are not justified in conducting randomized drug test.
C) They argue that unless employers can establish a conclusive link between drug use and productivity, randomized drug tests are immoral.
D) They argue that use of drugs is irrelevant; if an employees productivity is unsatisfactory, the employee should be terminated for poor work performance and not for testing positive for drugs.

Question 19

What do Desjardins and Duska say about the Harm Argument?

A) There is very little evidence that drug use causes harm.
B) The harm argument could justify drug use in occupations in which the potential for harm is clear and present.
C) The possibility of harm does not warrant the actual invasion of privacy that results from mandatory drug testing.
D) All o the above

Question 20

Desjardins and Duska argue that drug testing is morally justified in which of the following professions?

A) Philosophy professor
B) Corporate executive
C) Musician
D) Pilot

Question 21

Desjardins and Duska argue that the central question regarding drug testing in the workplace is __________.

A) Whether drug testing impacts productivity.
B) Whether the drugs being tested for are legal or illegal.
C) Whether drug testing is job relevant
D) All of the above

Question 22

Do you think advertising manipulates people into a life of consumerism? What is consumerism? Is consumerism a bad thing? Why or why not?

Question 23

Phillips considers and rejects a number of arguments against manipulative advertising. Assess each of these arguments.

Question 24

Consider Levitt's claim that consumers both want and need illusions of advertising. Do you agree or disagree with Levitt's claim?

Question 25

Explain Holley's theory of sales. On what grounds does Carson criticize Holley's theory? Do you agree or disagree with Carson's criticism?

Question 26

Explain Carson's theory of sales. Can you think of any objections to Carson's theory?

Question 27

Do you think sellers have an obligation to disclose information to buyers that goes beyond the requirements of the law?

Question 28

Do you think drug testing in employment is morally defensible?

Question 29

What conclusion do Desjardins and Duska reach about drug testing in the workplace?

Question 30

The State of Florida recently sought to require welfare recipients to take a drug test as a condition of receiving welfare. Is this an unjust violation of privacy?

Question 31

If persons working for Fortune 500 companies can be required to pass a drug test as a requirement of employment, is it unreasonable to require welfare recipients to pass a drug test as a precondition to receiving welfare? Discuss.