Summer Courses

Distance Studies (May 4 - July 24)

Philosophy 2074F (Business Ethics)

It is sometimes said that the phrase “business ethics” is an oxymoron. In this course we will attempt to dispel this popular conception. By working our way through many of the moral issues to which the practice of business gives rise, we will show that the interests of business people and moral philosophers converge. Topics include: What is the relation between business and free market capitalism? What is the nature of moral reasoning? Do corporations have social responsibilities? What social responsibilities do corporations have when operating in the global context? Are there universal ethical principles which can guide the conduct of multinational corporations? Do international sweatshops violate human rights? Can the capitalist market economy be justified? What constitutes a just distribution of the goods and services produced by society? Is affirmative action morally justified? How much information about a product is a corporation morally obligated to disclose to consumers, and how and to whom should this information be disclosed? Is business bluffing ethical? When is advertising ethically questionable? What rights and obligations do employees and employers have in the workplace? Do employees have the right to know of work-related safety hazards? Is whistle-blowing morally justified?

Philosophy 2700F (Intro to Ethics & Value Theory)

In this course, we will study the nature and justification of ethical and value judgements, the analysis of key moral concepts (duty and good), and a variety of contemporary ethical and value theories and their application to moral issues of social concern, for example, abortion, our treatment of non-human animals, and obligations to the global poor.