College of
Business
Administration
College of
Business
Administration
Questions for Seminar Presentation on Virtue Theory
(Rachels Ch.12)Submitted by: Brent Gilmore and Erin Pyle
1. Rachels notes that St. Augustine distrusted reason. Must one subordinate oneself to the will of God by being obedient to His commandments, or do you think reason alone can provide the basis for being morally good?
2. Are the Ten Commandments from the Bible representative of the virtues our society holds important today? Do you think the list is incomplete? What additions, deletions, or alterations would you make?
3. Do you think virtue/character induces behavior, or vice-versa? Can a person be innately virtuous or without virtues?
4. Do you support the argument that the theory of virtue is a complete theory in itself, or do you rather believe it should be used as a supplemental theory?
5. Why is virtue ethics most actively promoted by feminist philosophers?
6. Which virtues do you think are most important in a business environment? Are any virtues less important in the corporate environment? Are there any virtues that only matter in a business environment?
7. According to Socrates, ethics and politics are synonymous. Both are concerned with recognition and achievement of the "good." Do you agree?
8. In "The Ring of Gyges," Gyges takes a ring from a dead body. The ring allows him to become invisible. If you had the ring, would it change your life in any way? Imagine the possibility of going anywhere and doing anything without being seen.
9. The story "The Good Samaritan" teaches that God values mercy. Would you tell this story to your children? Have you ever gone out of your way to help someone in need? Regarding the American society as a whole, do you believe that Americans are merciful?
10. How does modern America measure up to the portrait Alex de Tocqueville paints in "The Influence of Democracy," written more than a century and half ago?
11. Is friendship a virtue? Do you agree with Aristotle's proposition that there are three types of friendship: friendship of pleasure, friendship of utility, and friendships in virtue? Can you identify people in your life that fall into any of the three categories? Do you have any friends that fall into the "friendships in virtue" category?
12. Based on the Theodore Roosevelt's speech in Chicago in 1899, do you agree with his belief in hard work? After considering this, would you continue to work after winning the state lottery for $100 million? Would you like to retire at a young age so you can 'enjoy' the rest of your life? In the past 100 years, do you think the work ethic has changed? Retirement and welfare are relatively new concepts. Has the work ethic of yesteryear changed to one of self-sufficiency?
13. Have you celebrated flag day? Have you hung a flag to express your loyalty to the country? What does the American flag mean to you?
14. What are your views on hochverrat and landesverrat? Even though we do not use these terms in the American military, is it possible to assume that occasionally these terms may apply to American soldiers making ethical choices regarding loyalty? Is it ethical to draft a soldier into the army against his or her will and then expect the soldier to be ethically responsible for his or her own actions?
15. Your close friend or family member is also your coworker. In confidence, she tells you that she "borrowed" $200 from the company's petty cash fund to make her rent for that month. She says she will return the money in two weeks, after she receives her next paycheck. The loss will probably go unnoticed. What would you do? Which virtue outweighs the other - the virtue of loyalty or the virtue of honesty? Is one more important than the other?
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