Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Philosophy and ethics

Health: Advantages and Challenges

Nowadays, health is important for everyone. There are many reasons to take care of it, but it also presents challenges. In this essay, we will have a look at both sides of the argument.

The Benefits of Prioritizing Health

On the one hand, taking care of our bodies keeps us feeling strong and energetic. Regular exercise, balanced nutrition, and sufficient sleep prevent illnesses like heart disease and obesity. Also, mental wellbeing is essential for overall health. Another advantage is that healthy habits contribute to a longer, more fulfilling life. Avoiding substances like alcohol and attending regular check-ups can increase lifespan and improve health.

Health Challenges in the Modern World

On the other hand, not... Continue reading "Health and Remote Work: Advantages & Challenges" »

Understanding Statements

What is a Statement?

A statement is a declarative sentence capable of being either true or false.

Example: "Broccoli is a good source of vitamin A."

Non-Statements

Non-statements include:

• Questions (open-ended)
• Commands
• Exclamations
• Suggestions

Example: "Is it cold outside?"

Argument Structure: Indicators

Conclusion Indicators

Words that often signal a conclusion:

• Therefore
• Thus
• Consequently
• For this reason
• So

Premise Indicators

Words that often signal a premise:

• Since
• Because
• For
• For that reason
• In that
• As
• Given that

Deductive Argument Forms

Invalid Argument Example 1

This example demonstrates a common logical fallacy:

• Premise 1: All banks are financial institutions.
• Premise 2: Wells Fargo is a financial institution.
• Conclusion: Therefore, Wells Fargo

Understanding Sympathy

1. Earthquake in China vs. Pinky

2. Using imagination to understand someone else’s pain

3. Challenge of 'blind' sympathy

Adam Smith described sympathy as an automatic reaction. Whenever we see people in pain, we cringe. Whenever we see people happy, we cannot help but smile. Through our own faculties and senses, we attempt to imagine what it is like to feel another person’s life with our own. But the sympathy we feel for others is limited by their relative closeness. We tend to sympathize with those closer to us in a single moment than a multitude of people we have never met. Smith uses the example of an earthquake in China against the threat of a severed finger. Although people claim the loss of a finger is nothing to... Continue reading "Understanding Sympathy and Economic Perspectives" »

Gruber 12.7: Mandates vs. Direct Public Provision

Why does the government mandate individuals to purchase their own insurance in some cases—such as automobile liability insurance—but directly provide insurance to people in other situations—such as health insurance?

According to Gruber, there are five primary reasons why the government intervenes in the insurance market:

• Adverse selection
• Externalities
• Administrative costs
• Redistribution
• Paternalism

Adverse Selection and Market Stability

Adverse selection occurs when insured individuals know more about their risk level than the insurer does. This asymmetry might cause those most likely to experience an adverse outcome to select insurance, leading the insurer to lose money if they offer coverage.... Continue reading "Government Intervention in Insurance Markets" »

First, a common objection to utilitarianism is that it prioritizes maximizing happiness without considering minority perspectives or moral implications, leading to unfair outcomes. For example, many believe there is no moral obligation to refrain from driving gas-powered cars for leisure. This perceived lack of moral obligation stems from the belief that maximizing happiness for the majority, even if it's for leisure and has detrimental future consequences, is justifiable.

Second, there's a disconnect between the benefits enjoyed by present generations and the costs imposed on future ones. People today often prioritize immediate happiness without considering the long-term environmental costs. A potential solution is to implement measures that... Continue reading "Utilitarianism and Climate Change: A Critical Analysis" »

Insolvency Act 1986: Director Liability

Section 213: Fraudulent Trading

If it can be established that a director committed an act of fraud beyond reasonable doubt, the court may lift the corporate veil and hold the director personally responsible.

Section 214: Wrongful (Negligent) Trading

If a director fails to take appropriate steps to minimize potential loss to creditors when the company is insolvent, they may be held liable on the balance of probabilities.

Corporate Veil and Parent-Subsidiary Relations

Key Legal Precedents

• Re Produce Marketing Consortium Ltd (No. 2): These principles have been extended to parent-subsidiary and multinational company structures.
• DHN Food Distributors Ltd v Tower Hamlets LBC (1976): Lord Denning held that subsidiaries

Stakeholder View Complexity

What do you think?

Stakeholder view is more complex. “Business ethics must clarify the notion of a legitimate interest in a company and the related notion of a justified stake in it. We must ask, then, what ethical responsibilities managers have, to whom and to what strength. The idea of multiple constituencies helps us focus on this question, but there remains much to say to clarify it.” (Audi, page 29).

Case Studies on Business Constituencies

On Monday, we are going to view a PBS Frontline documentary, “Life and Death in Assisted Living Care” (2013). The focus of the documentary is a Seattle-based chain of assisted living care centers called Emeritus. [BTW: “Emeritus” is a Latin term which, applied to a... Continue reading "Business Ethics: Stakeholder Interests and Responsibilities" »

The Illusion of Free Will: Analyzing Sam Harris

Harris sets the foundation for his position by attempting to analyze why so many believe they act freely in the first place. I believe he does this partly because many defenses of free will start with a phenomenological claim: it seems to us that we do, in fact, act freely and are responsible for those acts at times. If Harris can dispense with this experience, or at least explain why these experiences are not what we take them to be, he can cast doubt on an essential Libertarian starting point, which strengthens his case.

Choices, Efforts, and Intentions

In the section titled “Choices, Efforts, and Intentions,” Harris discusses the feeling of freedom and states that this feeling, while not inconsequential,... Continue reading "Sam Harris and the Illusion of Free Will: A Critical Analysis" »

Essentials of Business and Professional Ethics

1. Ethical Responsibilities of a Business

   • To the general public: Avoiding adverse effects on public health, the environment, and philanthropic efforts.
   • To customers: Ensuring informed choices, the right to be heard, and customer safety.
   • To the workforce: Providing a safe workplace, preventing harassment and discrimination, ensuring equal opportunity, and offering a chance for a quality life.
   • To investors: Practicing good accounting, and providing an accurate portrayal of the firm's financial resources and conditions.

Basis for Ethical Business Organizations

1. Ethical Awareness

   Implementing a code of conduct for all employees and managers.

2. Ethical Reasoning

   Providing ethics education for employees and managers.