Business Law class Chapter 2 is titled: Ethics in our Law This presentation was used in my Business Law class at Littlestown High School. Most of the notes are based on the textbook from South-Western: Law for Business and Personal Use 15th Ed. by Adamson-Mietus

1. Business Law
Chapter 2: Ethics In Our Law

2. What is Ethics?
 What does ethics mean?
 Think of a situation where ethics would be
involved.

3. What is Ethics?
 Ethics is deciding what is right or wrong in
a reasoned, impartial manner
 Key elements:
impartial
decision, reasoned,

4. Ethics: Decision
 To involve ethics, a decision must affect
you or others in some significant way.
 There are many examples of decisions
that do not involve ethics.
 Give an example for a decision that
involves ethics, and one that does not.

5. Ethics: Reasoned
 The decision must be made objectively
without emotions.
 It is often very difficult to remove your
emotions from a decision.
 People generally get guidance about right
and wrong from their religion (Bible,
Koran, Torah, etc.) or the law.

6. Ethics: Impartial
 Impartiality is the idea that the same
ethical standards are applied to everyone.
 There should be a fairness involved when
dealing with ethics.
 We must balance our self-interest and
views with that of others.

7. What would you do?
You’re at a friend’s house for a party. While
having a great time dancing, you
accidentally knock over a porcelain picture
frame and it cracks. The frame looks old
and nobody saw you bump it.
What will you do about it?
How do you feel after making that decision?

8. What would you do?
 As you’re walking home from school you
notice a soccer ball left out on the field by
the gym class. You play soccer and your
ball is worn out so you pick up the ball
from the field and take it home.
Can you justify taking the ball?

9. What would you do?
Jack’s car was struck by a man who ran a stop
light. After surveying the damage, Jack sees
he’ll need a new left fender, head light assembly,
and a bumper. His left door is rusted out at the
bottom but was not damaged. He decides to hit
it with a hammer and say it was damaged in the
accident so he can get it replaced at no cost to
himself.
How will Jack justify this? Has he hurt anyone?

10. Behind all businesses, schools, and
organizations, there are people. When we
wrong an institution, the government or
any kind of organization, we injure or
wrong people. Someone will be affected
by your decision. Many people today
justify stealing or short changing their
work, their school, or our government.

11. Forms of Ethical Reasoning

Based on Consequences
–
–
–
–

Right and wrong is based on the results
Not based on morals or rules, but greater good
Positive consequences = right
Negative consequences = wrong
Based on Ethical Rules
– Acts are judged either right or wrong regardless of the
results

Both types of reasoning can be used in deciding
ethical questions, usually with the same result.

12. Consequence-based Reasoning
 An individual will examine possible
courses of action and their consequences.
After evaluating the consequences, a
person selects the action that results in
the best outcome.
 When deciding which action to take,
consideration is given to others involved.
 A person’s goals and values affect their
reasoning.

13. Rule-based Reasoning
 A higher authority or standard sets rules to
follow.
 The Good—the primary goal toward which
human life should be directed.
 In rule-based reasoning, the act is
evaluated instead of the consequence.
 Universalizing—looking at an action and
seeing what the world would be like if
everyone did it.

14. Moral Rights
 All human beings have dignity and worth
therefore they must be treated with
respect.
 Humans are unique because of their
potential for reasoning about right and
wrong.
 This means humans have moral rights.

15. Moral Rights
 Rightful claims on other people that flow
from each person’s status has a human
being.

16. Laws
 In this country, the people determine the
laws that bind them.
 Do you agree with the above statement?
Why or Why not?

17.  We elect our officials who, in turn, make
laws that are acceptable to the majority of
people they represent.
 ‘Majority rules’ is a popular statement that
means elected officials enact rules and
regulations that are acceptable by the
majority of voters.
 Majority rules is based on consequencebased ethics.

18. Civil Rights
 Personal, human rights are recognized
and guaranteed by our Constitution.
 Freedom of religion, speech, the press,
unreasonable searches and seizures,
speedy and just trial, vote, etc.
Read Law and the Internet p. 26

19. What’s Your Verdict?
 Read What’s Your Verdict?
p. 27
Is there any ethical justification for treating
Smyth and Brown so differently?

20. Obeying Laws
 Why do you obey laws and rules?
??
??
??
??
??

21. Why Obey Laws???
 Based on Ethical reasoning
 Integrity—the ability to do what is right
even in the face of temptation to do
otherwise
 Afraid of punishment/consequences
 To maintain Civil order

22. What’s Your Verdict? p. 28
 Is there ethical justification for Dr. King’s
actions?
 Under what circumstances would you
consider committing civil disobedience?

23. Are we ever justified in violating the law?

24. Yes!
 Any law that goes against basic human
rights, dignity, and common justice for all
may be deemed unethical.
 How do you change the law?

25. How to change the law
 Work within the system to make a change
 Write your local/state government official
 Vote
 Be informed and educate others
 Civil Disobedience

26. When is civil disobedience
allowed?
 Law goes against ethic reasoning
 No political means to change
 Disobedience is nonviolent
 The common good is enhanced above
one’s self interest
 Disobedience is public
 Offender is willing to accept the
punishment

27. Responsibilities of An American
Citizen
The duty to obey the law
The duty to respect the rights of others
The duty to inform yourself on political issues
The duty to vote in elections
The duty to serve on juries if called
The duty to serve and defend your country
The duty to assist agencies of law enforcement