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. 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 on ERESERVE 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 12 of the course.

2. In Week 13 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.

3. In Week 12 of this course, you will find some articles from The Wall Street Journal about pensions and the cutting of retirees benefits. You are all anticipating retirement, some more closely than others. [Believe me, retirement ain't all that its cracked up to be.] What do you think about companies' obligations to provide retirement benefits to their employees. What do you think about companies that CUT pensions that were guaranteed to their employees? What do you think are the obligations of employees to provide for their own retirement "pensions?" Use the ethical principles to justify the positions you take in these matters.

4. How about a real CHALLENGE! The Financial News is TERRIBLE these days --- especially if you are associated with a mortgage lending company or bank --- How about that Bear Stearns business!!! [Yikes!!! Welcome to 1929!] In Week 16, there are some readings about the moral effects of capitalist and commerce. You don't have to be a Socialist or a Communist to know that Capitalism is not what Adam Smith envisioned. Would you like to try to give an analysis of the moral climate of our current "crisis" [Can I use that word?] to shed some light on what is happening and what needs to be done to get things right??? 

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." [Just a matter of wondering???: Do you suppose that the race in the Democrat Primary has any relation to the issue of Affirmative Action??? You don't really need to address that --- it's just that some of the statements made lately about both candidates are really WEIRD!!!]