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.

SAMPLE QUESTION:

Does information technology make privacy obsolete? How can privacy be protected in the age of advanced information technology? How do you protect your privacy at home and at the office within the context of advanced systems of information technology?

1. I cannot let you out of this course without challenging you to think carefully about Sexual Harassment (the dirty-little-secret of corporate life). What are the essential features that constitute sexual harassment? (Dodds' article is a big help here.) In what way is sexual harassment a violation of the Deontological approach to ethics. Apply your reflections to the Salomon Smith Barney Case, which you will find linked to the "Sexual Harassment" unit in Week 8 of the course.

2. Imagine that you are designing the qualities of the ideal corporate leader for business practices in the 21st century. What would this corporate leader look like? What values and virtues should he/she possess? How should he/she relate to lower level employees, to other corporations, and to the social community of which the corporation is a member? What should he/she do to set the proper moral climate for the corporation? You should feel free to wax eloquent on these matters.

3. Do you think corporations have a responsibility for the environment? If so, what kind of responsibility? Use the stakeholder theory and the Utilitarian ethical system to develop your answer.

4. In Week 9 of the course, you will find an article called "Blogging about the Workplace" from USA Today (05/27/05). Reflect on the actions of  Peter Whitney. Do you think he engaged in unethical behavior? Explain. If his company attempted to restrict his "electronic activity" Do you think his rights would be violated? Explain. Formulate 2 company policies (using the phrase "Company X WILL . . .) that will protect both an employee and the company in matters of this sort.

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION. There are readings on Week 10 to prime your thoughts about this difficult issue, which is a ghost continually haunting the U.S. Supreme Court. Some of the readings relate to affirmative action in academe but many of those reflections are equally applicable to the workplace. You should focus on the applicability of affirmative action to the WORKPLACE. The principle of justice should be an important part of your discussion. Also go to Week 15 and click on the U.S. Bill of Rights, scroll to the bottom and click on the 14th Amendment. Read section one and pay special attention to the "equal protection clause."