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Full-Text Articles in Arts and Humanities
Occupational Safety And Paternalism: Machan Revisited, Earl W. Spurgin
Occupational Safety And Paternalism: Machan Revisited, Earl W. Spurgin
Earl W. Spurgin
In 1987, Machan provided a libertarian case against the right to occupational safety. Since before Machan’s essay appeared, many business ethicists and legal scholars have given considerable attention to the overall position Machan endorses: the acceptance of employment at will and the rejection of employee rights. No one yet has given adequate attention, however, to the fact that Machan’s argument against the right to occupational safety actually stands or falls independently of his overall position on employee rights. His argument ultimately rests on two values: the promotion of employee interests and anti-paternalism. Insofar as those who support the right to …
The Goals And Merits Of A Business Ethics Competency Exam, Earl W. Spurgin
The Goals And Merits Of A Business Ethics Competency Exam, Earl W. Spurgin
Earl W. Spurgin
My university recently established a business ethics competency exam for graduate business students. The exam is designed to test whether students can demonstrate several abilities that are indicative of competency in business ethics. They are the abilities to "speak the language" of business ethics, identify business ethics issues, apply theories and concepts to issues, identify connections among theories and concepts as they relate to different issues, and construct and critically evaluate arguments for various positions on business ethics issues. Through this paper, I hope to begin a discussion among business ethicists about both the merits of a competency exam and …
What's So Special About A Special Ethics For Business?, Earl W. Spurgin
What's So Special About A Special Ethics For Business?, Earl W. Spurgin
Earl W. Spurgin
In business ethics literature, debate over a special ethics generally has framed examination of the rules governing business. By constructing a dilemma faced by proponents of a special ethics, I argue that this framing is misguided. Proponents must adopt either an insular or a derivative conception. The former, the view that business is insulated from moral rules, is problematic because arguments used to support it force proponents to accept the idea that each aspect of life is insulated from moral rules. This idea, however, renders philosophically insignificant the claim that business has a special ethics. Proponents no longer make a …
What's Wrong With Computer-Generated Images Of Perfection In Advertising?, Earl W. Spurgin
What's Wrong With Computer-Generated Images Of Perfection In Advertising?, Earl W. Spurgin
Earl W. Spurgin
ABSTRACT. Advertisers often use computers to create fantastic images. Generally, these are perfectly harmless images that are used for comic or dramatic effect. Sometimes, however, they are problematic human images that I call computer-generated images of perfection. Advertisers create these images by using computer technology to remove unwanted traits from models or to generate entire human bodies. They are images that portray ideal human beauty, bodies, or looks. In this paper, I argue that the use of such images is unethical. I begin by explaining the common objections against advertising and by demonstrating how critics might argue that those objections …
Historical Dictionary Of Ethics, Harry Gensler, S.J., Earl Spurgin
Historical Dictionary Of Ethics, Harry Gensler, S.J., Earl Spurgin
Earl W. Spurgin
The Historical Dictionary of Ethics covers a very broad range of ethical topics, including ethical theories, historical periods, historical figures, applied ethics, ethical issues, ethical concepts, non-Western approaches, and related disciplines. Harry J. Gensler and Earl W. Spurgin tackle such issues as abortion, capital punishment, stemcell research, and terrorism while also explaining key theories like utilitarianism, natural law, social contract, and virtue ethics. This reference provides a complete overview of ethics through a detailed chronology, an introductory essay, a bibliography, and over 200 cross-referenced dictionary entries, including bioethics, business ethics, Aristotle, Hobbes, autonomy, confidentiality, Confucius, and psychology.
Ethics: Contemporary Readings, Edited By Harry J. Gensler, Earl W. Spurgin, And James C. Swindal, Harry Gensler, S.J., Earl Spurgin, James Swindal
Ethics: Contemporary Readings, Edited By Harry J. Gensler, Earl W. Spurgin, And James C. Swindal, Harry Gensler, S.J., Earl Spurgin, James Swindal
Earl W. Spurgin
No abstract provided.
Can Businesses Be Too Good? Applying Susan Wolf's 'Moral Saints' To Businesses, Earl Spurgin
Can Businesses Be Too Good? Applying Susan Wolf's 'Moral Saints' To Businesses, Earl Spurgin
Earl W. Spurgin
Susan Wolf famously argues that moral sainthood is not an ideal for which persons should aim because it requires one to cultivate moral virtues to the exclusion of significant, nonmoral interests, and skills. I find Wolf's argument compelling in her context of persons, and seek to demonstrate that it remains so when the context is expanded to businesses. I argue that just as moral perfection precludes individuals from challenging societal norms and traditions in ways that benefit us, moral perfection prevents businesses from challenging norms and traditions in ways that can promote positive social change. I also describe, and respond …
Unfettered Or Tempered Capitalism? How Best To Promote Virtuous Characters, Earl Spurgin
Unfettered Or Tempered Capitalism? How Best To Promote Virtuous Characters, Earl Spurgin
Earl W. Spurgin
The article reviews the book "The Bourgeois Virtues: Ethics for an Age of Commerce," by Deirdre N. McCloskey
Looking For Answers In All The Wrong Places, Earl Spurgin
Looking For Answers In All The Wrong Places, Earl Spurgin
Earl W. Spurgin
In recent years, many business ethicists have raised problems with the "ethics pays" credo. Despite these problems, many continue to hold it. I argue that support for the credo leads business ethicists away from a potentially fruitful approach found in Hume's moral philosophy. I begin by demonstrating that attempts to support the credo fail because proponents are trying to provide an answer to the "Why be moral?" question that is based on rational self-interest. Then, I show that Hume's sentiments-based moral theory provides an alternative to the credo that points toward a more fruitful approach to business ethics. Along the …