Assignment: Discuss Alfred North Whitehead’s statement

1.    Discuss Alfred North Whitehead’s statement: “What is morality in any given time and place? It is what the majority then and there happen to like and immorality is what they dislike.” Consider the following questions as guide:

a.     Businesses can have ethical standards, but Businesses are not moral agents. Do you agree or disagree?

b.     Is it true that the “bottom line” of business is profit and profit alone?

c.     In business, are there other less tangible goals that are intrinsic to and just as important as making money?

d.     Why should we be moral as individuals?

e.     Why should a corporation or organization be moral?

2.    How would you apply the first formulation of Kant’s categorical imperative to a Business environment?

Consider deontological ethics, teleological ethics, moral objectivism, and ethical relativism in your argument. Provide at least 3 valid reasons to support your argument. Also, be sure to include the following in your paper:

Identify your argument—or thesis statement—within the introduction of your paper.

Include definitions of utilitarianism, Categorical Imperatives, Process Philosophy, moral relativism, moral absolutism, ethical relativism, moral objectivism, deontological ethics, and teleological ethics.

Consider morality and ethics from the perspective of Alfred North Whitehead’s process philosophy, and Immanuel Kant’s universal categorical imperative. Could you argue that Businesses can have ethical standards, despite the fact that Businesses are not moral agents? Why or why not? Please explain.

Distinguish between descriptive and normative definitions of morality

• Use proper grammar, spelling and punctuation.
• You may find that you change your mind on the issue as you are writing your paper. That is fine, but be sure to present your ultimate decision at the beginning of the paper, and stick to it consistently throughout. This may require that you go back and change the first few paragraphs that contain your thesis statement.
• Your argument should be clear, concise, and supported with logically valid claims.

Please submit your assignment.

For assistance with your assignment, please use your text, Web resources, and all course materials. 

Reference

Feldman, J. (2012, August 27). Sunday Dialogue: How Corporations Behave. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/02/opinion/sunday/sunday-dialogue-how-corporations-behave.html?ref=ethics

• Identify different fields of philosophical enquiry