Directions:

You are to write two (2) essays selected from the four (4) essays below. The essays should be about one to one and one-half (1-1/12) pages in length (about 300-500 words), typed double-spaced in MS Word. [SUBMISSION SHOULD BE BY E-MAIL ATTACHMENT  AND NOT BY INCORPORATING YOUR ANSWER INTO AN E-MAIL MESSAGE: <Lawrence.Ulrich@notes.udayton.edu>] You are to (1) recount what the authors you have read on the topic have said, (2) try to relate ideas with each other, and (3) state your own reactions/reflections about the issues under exploration. Please be clear about where your opinion begins. You should not merely state an opinion but give carefully considered reasons for your opinions. Remember that this is a philosophy course and the reasons, which you develop and organize to support your opinions, will be more important than the opinions themselves. Ultimately you should demonstrate that you (1) have read the text(s), (2) are familiar with the ideas, (3) have thought about them carefully, and (4) have been able to formulate soundly based opinions as a result of the reading you have done.

1. What is Sissela Bok's position on lying and its impact on business practices? How does this position relate to Kant's position on lying in his Deontological theory? What is the result of lying and deception on developing trusting relationships in business activities?

2. How does Robert Olick characterize the concept of "integrity?" How could "integrity" be considered to be the integration of all the virtues. Analyze an example of the violation of integrity from one of the cases in this examining period on the "Readings Assignment" webpage.  

3. Outline what you would consider to be the necessary conditions for ethical advertising. What ethical theory or theories and principle(s) give you guidance in forming these standards? Explain. How does the case of Nexium/Prilosec or the case of Viagra and AIDS [Readings for Week 7] measure up to the standards you have set.

4. Explain the stakeholder theory. How is it an example of the Utilitarian ethical theory. How could Merk have benefited from using the stakeholder theory in its research, production, and sale of Vioxx [Readings for Week 9]?

The discussion area and group assignments for this TD2EX will be posted on the course webpage and in QuickPlace on February 28 and will run until midnight on March 7.