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title: Introduction
layout: slide
permalink: /business1syllabus/
---
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# Business ethics

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## Welcome!

* 3x5 cards
* Names
* Stories

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## About me

![Josiah in the snow](/images/josiah-snow.jpg)

- Grew up in the South... of CA
- First time living outside the country

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## About me

- "Graduate student in philosophy", i.e., prol
- Entrepreneur
![Prols](http://lh6.google.com/adswithoutproducts/RuYPB5NQzqI/AAAAAAAAAfI/r-ykclVmkqg/s400/hiepe-buch-riese-proletariat2.jpg)

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## Why are you here? 

* Name
* Hometown
* Something you are hoping for/ fearing from this class?

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## What is this class about? 

* Some of the hardest decisions we make have to do with business. 
* As employees, professionals, managers, investors, or entrepreneurs, we will make tough business decisions every day. 
* Even as consumers we will "vote with our dollars" when we buy product, use, re-use, and recycle. 
* This course attempts to help us to think deeply about the issues of wealth, fairness, politics, trade, payment, and work. The aim is that we can act well when hard decisions come.

Open your syllabus or follow [online.](http://www.keithbuhler.com/syllabus334)

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## Philosophy

* Philosophy in generally asks questions about foundations of the world and our knowledge of it: what is real, how do we know what we know, what is the meaning of life? 
* Philosophy is continuous with science, mathematics, religion. So when we conduct business, our whole world view is engaged. 

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## Philosophy -> Ethics

* Ethics is the branch of philosophy that investigates right and wrong, good and bad. 
* What is worthwhile or worthless? How to live a worthwhile life? 
* What is good? Who is truly enviable?

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## Ethics—> Business Ethics

In business ethics, we ask about foundations: 

* What is a good business? 
* What is good for a business? What is success? 
* What is property — public and private?
* What products or services should business not provide?
* Is money worthwhile? What does it outweigh?


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## Philosophy—> Business Ethics

These questions and more we will attempt to answer by:

- clarifying terms, 
- establishing secure ethical principles, 
- being sensitive to contextual details, 
- identifying reasonable answers, 
- evaluating arguments for and against each reasonable answer, and 
- coming to our own conclusions. 


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* We will consider arguments from Kantian, consequentialist, and religious standpoints
* However, our *official approach* to these questions will be from the standpoint of traditional virtue ethics.

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## Course Goals

* to understand business as part of life
* to understand business as part of applied ethics, public policy, and as a sub-discipline of ethical philosophy
* to become familiar with major ethical theories, especially: virtue ethics, utilitarianism, and deontology 
* to grow intellectually by critically analyzing articles, books, studies, and news articles about business
* to understand our own ethical tradition and others
* and thereby to become more virtuous people capable of handling difficult life circumstances.

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### Course outline

How to read it

8 Units:

* Philosophy
* Ethical Theories
* “Inside Job” Film
* Methods of Business Ethics
* Competition


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### Course outline cont'd

* Justice
* Universal Norms
* Incentives
* Employees
* Safety
* Environment
* Conclusions



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### Course Structure

* To accomplish our course goals, the semester is broken into 8 units of 1-2 weeks each. 
* Each Unit consists of (a) readings and quizzes, (b) lectures, (c) discussions, and (d) a unit paper. 
* The readings and lectures offer analysis, the discussions and papers synthesis. 

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|  Assessment category  |  Percent of semester grade |
| -----------------------| -----------------------|
| Readings (quizzes) |         20%   |  
| Participation (talk/write) |   20% |
| Tests (midterm, final)         |  30% |
| Unit Papers    |  30% |



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### Reading tips

* Read ahead. Read carefully. 
* You will get faster, but start slow and careful. 
* Try to read *and understand* the book. What is the main thesis? Is it true?  
* Take notes. Talk with each other before class. 
* More are tips [available online.](http://www.keithbuhler.com/philosophy-class)



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### Quizzes
Short reading quizzes assess that you read the day's text. These are easy points. Also, read to *understand*. Come to class with thoughts, questions. Ask yourself: What is the main point? What confused me? 

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###Attendance
* We need you here! Attendance is mandatory. 
* Roll will be taken each class by marking a 3x5 card.  
* (Being repeatedly or egregiously late will count as an absence.) 
* You may check your absences at any time by requesting to see your card. 
* I recommend you aim for perfect attendance to maximize your learning. 
* You are paying for this education including this class, so why wouldn’t you make the most of it? 

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### Attendance cont'd

* That said, I give everyone up to 3 "Personal absences". 
* These 3 absences apply for *for any reason*, including emergencies, family visits, sickness, sports, or sleep.
*  3 absences adds up to one week of classes you can miss with no penalty. 3 is usually sufficient for emergencies, and sometimes you just need a break. But after that, absences *require an excuse*. 
*  After 3 personal absences, any unexcused absences will cost 2% deduction from the semester grade *per absence*. 
*  6 unexcused absences is a letter grade and 9 will make a passing grade impossible. 

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### Participation


The primary competency of this class is philosophical dialogue. 

Hence, you must attend and participate. Class time is primarily focused on discussion of the material for which I expect you to be fully engaged.

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We do dialogue for five main reasons: 

1. You must take responsibility for your own learning. 
2. We can actually get to know each other.  
3. I learn best in discussion. 
4. Most people learn (and retain) best in discussion. 
5. Philosophy is dialogical. 

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### Participation

* *You are responsible to talk in class.* 
* Even if you are confused, tired, or unmotivated, I expect you to make yourself participate and engage. 
* Get out of your comfort zone into your growth zone. 
* Come *prepared*. Read, take notes, reflect, and come ready to share your viewpoint, defend it, listen to others' viewpoints, and critique theirs.  

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### Participation
Everyone starts at an 80% (B-) for the participation grade. You will move up or down depending on whether you pay attention and speak at least once per week. (I prohibit the use of electronic devices in class, although laptop users may request permission to sit in the front of class with their computers.) Other [discussion ground rules are posted online.](http://www.keithbuhler.com/discussion101)

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### Participation
To earn participation points, you will voluntarily share your thoughts in discussion at least once per week, and/or respond when called upon. You are not required to write posts on the discussion board online. By default, everyone is an "external processor".  *"Internal processors"*: Some may wish to opt out of speaking in class and emphasize writing.  To earn participation points, you will post class reflections online every week. You may elect to speak in class as well, and may be called upon.



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### Critical Reading:
Every student will present two group "critical readings." Your group of 2-3 people must meet ahead of time to read and discuss the assignment more thoroughly than your normal reading. You will then summarize the reading, analyze it, and present your own opinions. One or all of you will present your summary to the class. Instructions are posted online. 

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### Test
There are Quarter 1 and Quarter 3 exams. The exams might draw questions from quizzes, so pay attention to questions you may have missed. A study guide may be provided. New questions (on familiar material) may be introduced, or a new phrasing of questions  you have seen before.

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### Unit Papers
Every student will write several Unit Papers. These Unit Papers help you synthesize your own views after doing the readings and listening to lectures and participating in the discussions. This assignment is pass/fail, so follow the instructions closely. Be careful to cite your sources correctly. I will not tolerate plagiarism — unintentional or intentional.  If I detect plagiarism, I will contact you. The assignment will receive a zero, and disciplinary action may follow. The instructions are posted online. 

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### Extra Credit

Those who opt for extra credit may do so. Instructions are posted online. 

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### Miscellany:


1. **Bring your textbook** to every class. 
2. **Participate.** Participation is your responsibility; I may or may not call on you. Challenge yourself!
3. **Stay focused.** Do not distract yourself with side conversations, texting, Facebook, or doing anything else in class. Take a short mental break or bathroom break if you need to, but come back. (If you have an important phone call or text, please step outside the class for a moment, then return.)
4. **No smart phones.** No other electronics, laptops, iPhones, or iPads, iPods, smartphones, etc. Unplug, listen and engage.
4.  **Laptop/tablet users** must request permission to use their device. If approved, you must sit in the front row.
5. **Be respectful of others**: Pay attention when a neighbor is talking. No teasing. Don’t pack up early. 
6.  **Contact me.** Best method is to chat after class. I read every email but may not respond to every email. You need a response, and I haven’t responded within three (3) business days, email again with the subject “nudge”. Please use keith.buhler@uky.edu.
7.  **Contact**. For short, quick questions, use Twitter (keith\_buhler)
8.  **Email**. You are expected to have an active e-mail account that you check regularly, and to check “news” or "announcements" section on Canvas (or Discovery, etc.). Section related announcements will be made on this platform and/or via e-mail  (e.g. if I am sick, pointers for home work, change in due dates).
6. Disabilities can be accommodated if you are registered with the Disability Resource Center. See  http://www.uky.edu/StudentAffairs/DisabilityResourceCenter/
7. Make up work is not accepted after the due date, unless you obtain prior (email) permission. 
8. **Plagiarism**. Do not plagiarize. Intentional or unintentional plagiarism will result in a a zero for the assignment, and jeopordizes your standing in the class. Do not intentionally take anyone else’s work nor provide your work to anyone else (under whatever auspices). You’ll submit your papers to SafeAssign on Blackboard to help avoid accidental plagiarism. Don’t even think about stealing someone else’s thought/work.  Cite your sources. [See also the UK academic integrity appendix](https://www.uky.edu/Ombud/What_Is_Plagiarism.pdf).
9. **Enjoy philosophy.** We are not merely solving abstract puzzles here, but digging deeply into human thinking in a way that could change your life forever. The more you and your fellows allow yourselves to acquire a “taste” for the material, the more inclined you will be to give it the real effort required to master it.


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## 2 minutes left
* Questions?
* Write a short response: "What are your HIGHEST HOPES for this class after our first meeting?""
* No reading due -- but review syllabus and Monday's assignments
* You can review these slideshows! -- www.keithbuhler.com/slideshows
* Friday: discuss business ethics in a bit more detail

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# Business Ethics Week 1 

### What is business ethics?

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## Ethics applied to business

* Most basically, business ethics is ethics applied to business. 
* *Either* philosophers who think deeply about these issues.  
* *or* businessmen who care about creating an ethical culture, conducting their trade ethically, and being socially responsible. 

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Business ethics is done by those with a philosophy background or those with a business background. 

I am an entrepreneur as well, but we are approaching it from philosophy and ethics. 

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## Unethical business

Businesses and businessmen (gender neutral) can go do bad on purpose or on accident. (Compare "sins of commission" and "sins of ommission.")

Companies can be bad to their employees, bad to their customers, bad to other companies, bad to the government, or bad to the world at large. 



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## What is philosophical ethics? 

* The best thinking about the best ideas in the universe
* Eg: goodness, truth, and beauty; justice, utility, rights, obligations, and personal virtues.  

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## Philosophical methods

How does a philosopher do his or her job? 

**Philosophical ethics is reflective.**

* * We have to stand back from our personal knee-jerk viewpoint or cultural viewpoints. Sometimes they are right, sometimes not.
* What if something deep about our collective way of viewing things is wrong? How would we correct it? Only by stepping back and considering views wide afield. 
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## Philosophical methods

**Philosophical ethics is dialogical.** 

* We have to converse with each other. 
* Understand before you disagree.  (Then, disagree!)
* Asking questions, and following the argument. 


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The best way to practice philosophical thinking is to jump in. 

I’ll walk you through a dialectical argument. You can see how I pose the question, define the possible answers, and examine each answer, eliminating bad answers, and highlighting the good one (or ones). 

You can stop me at any time to object, express agreement, or ask a question. 


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**Here’s the question: What is the point of business?**

Let’s reflect.

(Hypothesis 1, 2, 3 on the board)

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### What's the point of business?

**Hypothesis 1: The point of business is to make money for the business owner and employees.** 

* But it can’t just be that. For what if a snake oil salesmen “makes money” by cheating people out of their money. 




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### What's the point of business?

* Hypothesis 1: Making money

**Hypothesis 2: The point of business is to “busy” itself producing goods and services necessary for community.**

* A community needs food, water, shelter, clothes, and so on.
* A community can each provide all their needs for themselves, or it can “divide and conquer”, each doing one task. For example, farmers provide food and water, homemakers cook, tailors provide clothes, carpenters build shelters, blacksmiths build tools for farming and cooking, and so on. These would be the “farming business” (agriculture), the homemaking business (parenting), the clothing business (fashion and textile manufacturing), the carpentry business (general contractors, engineering, project management), tools, and so on.
* But people are not just machines made of meat — they need “something to do. They need friendship, fun, art, religion, society, and entertainment. 


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**Hypothesis 3: Business is what keeps everyone “busy”**

* Once everyone’s basic “necessary” needs are met, people need “something to do.” Religion, art, philosophy, science, sports, music, friends, and other “unnecessary” things. These things are not necessary for survival but necessary for humanity, necessary to thrive. 
* So, divide and conquer: teachers and wise ones provide education, singers and story-tellers and actors provide entertainment, common meeting places such as houses, churches, and halls provide a place for society and culture. 
* These are all businesses.
* But what is the point of these things? 

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* Hypothesis 1: Making money
* Hypothesis 2: Providing needs
* Hypothesis 3: Business is what keeps everyone “busy” being human
* **Hypothesis 4: Business is any human activity one can undertake and trade for some other good.** 

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If we have time... 

## Discussion Ground Rules

1. Be kind. 
2. Say what you think.
3. Truth hurts.
4. It’s good to learn you’re wrong.
5. Ask questions. 
6. Answer questions.
7. Listen to your neighbor. 
8. Silence is OK too. 

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## 2 Minutes Left
* Questions?
* Write a short response: What is purpose of business?
* Read first handout! 

Kreeft's essay is organized funny.

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