Business Ethics
Mary L Weed
Module 2 Written Assignment
Business Ethics
SUNY Empire State Summer 2010
Answer the following questions: 1. Shaw and Barry distinguish two different forms of utilitarianism. What are these two forms? Briefly describe each.
Act and Rule Unitarianism is the two forms that Shaw and Barry discuss.
Act utilitarianism is the belief that it is the right action that brings the greatest contentment to the greatest number of people. It is an idea that believes that the morality of an action is determined by its usefulness to most of the people that this act is in accordance with the moral rules since it brings greater good or happiness.
Rule utilitarianism on the other hand is the principle that an action can be morally right if it conforms to the rules that will direct to the greatest good or happiness. It adheres to the belief that the rightness of an action is determined by the rightness of its rules and that if the right rule is followed, the greatest good or happiness is achieved. It is an idea that believes that following the rules does not constantly produce the greatest good, however not following it will not produce the greatest good either. In actuality rule utilitarianism can become act utilitarianism because when breaking a rule produces a greater good, a sub rule can be made to handle exceptions. (Shaw, Barry, 21010, pgs. 80-82).
An example of Act utilitarianism can be seen with the dropping of the atomic bomb on Japan during World War We knew the Japanese were working on a comparable bomb that could have been used on us. We determined it would be to our benefit to drop a bomb first. In doing this we were able to save millions of Americans. This is an example of greater good for the greatest amount of people.
2. What do economists mean by the "declining marginal utility of money"? Economist define declining marginal utility of money as the following a utility is a definitions used to explain how much value
Module 2 Written Assignment
Business Ethics
SUNY Empire State Summer 2010
Answer the following questions: 1. Shaw and Barry distinguish two different forms of utilitarianism. What are these two forms? Briefly describe each.
Act and Rule Unitarianism is the two forms that Shaw and Barry discuss.
Act utilitarianism is the belief that it is the right action that brings the greatest contentment to the greatest number of people. It is an idea that believes that the morality of an action is determined by its usefulness to most of the people that this act is in accordance with the moral rules since it brings greater good or happiness.
Rule utilitarianism on the other hand is the principle that an action can be morally right if it conforms to the rules that will direct to the greatest good or happiness. It adheres to the belief that the rightness of an action is determined by the rightness of its rules and that if the right rule is followed, the greatest good or happiness is achieved. It is an idea that believes that following the rules does not constantly produce the greatest good, however not following it will not produce the greatest good either. In actuality rule utilitarianism can become act utilitarianism because when breaking a rule produces a greater good, a sub rule can be made to handle exceptions. (Shaw, Barry, 21010, pgs. 80-82).
An example of Act utilitarianism can be seen with the dropping of the atomic bomb on Japan during World War We knew the Japanese were working on a comparable bomb that could have been used on us. We determined it would be to our benefit to drop a bomb first. In doing this we were able to save millions of Americans. This is an example of greater good for the greatest amount of people.
2. What do economists mean by the "declining marginal utility of money"? Economist define declining marginal utility of money as the following a utility is a definitions used to explain how much value