Individual Paper Assignment Instructions: Step 1 Sele 476826

Individual Paper Assignment Instructions1 Step 1 Select A Topicca

Identify and analyze an ethical dilemma by selecting a topic or case study, which can be from any area of interest such as pop culture, personal experience, or news events. Ensure the case involves a difficult or unclear decision. The chosen dilemma must be unique and not overlap with your group's case study. Provide background context for your selection, even if from pop culture, so that the reader understands the situation clearly. The paper should include an introduction with background, analysis of the dilemma using three ethical models, and a conclusion recommending the most ethical course of action.

The final paper should be approximately 1250 words, with proper citations for any external sources used. Submissions must be in Word format and include both your original work and any version aided by external programs, submitted as instructed by the deadline. Originality is essential; AI-assisted or copied work will be penalized, and suspected plagiarism will be reported. The assignment accounts for 30% of your grade. Contact the instructor with any questions.

Paper For Above instruction

Ethical decision-making is a fundamental aspect of responsible conduct in various contexts, ranging from personal choices to organizational policies. The process of analyzing ethical dilemmas involves understanding the complexity of the issues at stake, the perspectives of all stakeholders, and the moral principles guiding appropriate actions. This paper explores a selected ethical dilemma through the lens of three prominent ethical models—Utilitarianism, Deontological Ethics, and Virtue Ethics—to determine the most ethically sound course of action.

Introduction and Background of the Dilemma

The ethical dilemma selected for this analysis is derived from a real-world scenario involving whistleblowing within a corporate setting. In this case, an employee discovers that their employer is engaging in environmentally harmful practices that violate legal standards and threaten community health. The employee faces the difficult decision of whether to report the misconduct, risking retaliation and job loss, or to remain silent and protect their own interests while allowing environmental damage to continue. This dilemma captures the moral tension between loyalty to one's employer and the obligation to act ethically to safeguard the environment and public welfare.

The background context includes recent regulatory changes in environmental law that the company has ostensibly adhered to, but with internal knowledge revealing violations that are concealed from authorities. The employee, aware of these violations, struggles with the potential consequences of whistleblowing, including damage to their reputation and financial stability, versus the moral imperative to prevent environmental harm and uphold legal and ethical standards.

Analysis Using Ethical Models

Utilitarianism

Utilitarianism, popularized by Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill, evaluates the morality of an action based on its outcomes, emphasizing the greatest good for the greatest number. Applying this model to the dilemma, the employee must consider the overall benefits and harms of reporting or concealing the misconduct.

If the employee reports the violations, it could lead to environmental remediation, community health protection, and legal accountability—benefits that outweigh the company's profit motives. Conversely, remaining silent may preserve the company's reputation temporarily but perpetuates environmental harm and risks long-term societal consequences. The utilitarian approach would likely endorse whistleblowing if it results in the greatest net positive impact, such as safeguarding community health and the environment, even if it causes personal hardship for the employee.

Deontological Ethics

Deontological ethics, associated with Immanuel Kant, centers on adherence to moral duties and principles, regardless of consequences. From this perspective, the employee has a duty to uphold moral principles such as honesty, justice, and respect for the environment.

Kantian ethics would argue that the employee has a moral obligation to report the misconduct because failing to do so violates the principle of honesty and the duty to prevent harm to others. Kant's categorical imperative suggests that one should act only according to maxims that can be universalized—a principle that supports transparency and environmental responsibility. Thus, from a deontological standpoint, whistleblowing is the ethically required action because it aligns with moral duties to act truthfully and uphold societal values.

Virtue Ethics

Virtue ethics, rooted in Aristotle's philosophy, emphasizes moral character and virtues such as courage, integrity, and justice. This approach assesses what a virtuous individual would do in the situation.

Conclusion and Recommendations

Analyzing the ethical dilemma through the three models reveals a convergence towards whistleblowing as the ethically appropriate action. From a utilitarian perspective, reporting leads to the greatest overall benefit by protecting environmental and public health. Deontologically, the duty to act truthfully and uphold justice mandates disclosure, regardless of personal risks. Virtue ethics emphasize moral character, advocating for the courage to do what is morally right.

While the decision involves personal risks, the alignment of these ethical frameworks supports the conclusion that whistleblowing is the most ethical course of action. Organizations and individuals should foster environments that support ethical decision-making and protect those who act in accordance with moral principles, thereby strengthening societal trust and accountability.

References

1. Beauchamp, T. L., & Childress, J. F. (2019). Principles of Biomedical Ethics. Oxford University Press.
2. Bentham, J. (1789). An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation. Clarendon Press.
3. Kant, I. (1785). Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals. Hackett Publishing.
4. MacIntyre, A. (2007). After Virtue: A Study in Moral Theory. University of Notre Dame Press.
5. Mill, J. S. (1863). Utilitarianism. Parker, Son, and Bourn.
6. Rawls, J. (1971). A Theory of Justice. Harvard University Press.
7. Solomon, R. C. (1992). Ethical Virtues and Professional Practice. The Journal of Business Ethics, 11(8), 651-661.
8. Trevino, L. K., & Nelson, K. A. (2017). Managing Business Ethics: Straight Talk about How to Do It Right. Wiley.
9. Verhey, A. (2018). The Moral Dimensions of Environmental Ethics. Ethics & Environment, 23(1), 45-63.
10. Williams, B. (1985). Ethics and the Limitations of Moral Philosophy. Harvard University Press.