1. Ethics in Business and Critical Thinking

2. A bit about Me George Belic Background
PhD Candidate (graduating summer 2019) in Philosophy at U of Florida
Masters in Philosophy from University of Alberta
Computer Science (BSc.) from Ryerson!
(primary):
(secondary): SLATE
Office: B588
Office Hours: Thursdays 1-2pm or by appointment

3. Course Information SLATE Your Responsibility Accommodations
Syllabus, readings, and assignments
Announcements about deadlines and course changes
Your Responsibility
Attend class and participate
Be courteous and respectful to everyone in class
Hand in all assignments on time
Get in touch with me as soon as possible if there is an emergency
Accommodations
If working with Accessibility Center, get in touch as soon as possible

4. No Cell Phones! No Non-Class Laptop Use!

5. What is Philosophy? 1

6. Philosophical Problems
Examples:
Love: Am I treating my partner (wife, boyfriend) morally wrongly or not?
Abortion: Should I abort a pregnancy? Does my partner have any say in the matter?
War: Is my government acting wrongly by going to war?
The Philosophers’ Way of Answering These Questions
First: Understand what love, ethical worth of fetuses or morality of war are
Second: look at the specific circumstances of your own decision, and then decide!

7. Many Areas of Philosophy
Ethics
Business Ethics
Medical Ethics
Animals Ethics
Science
Philosophy of Physics
Philosophy of Biology
Many Others
Philosophy of Art

8. Main Branches of Philosophy
Metaphysics: the study of general features of reality
Epistemology: the study of nature and extent of human knowledge
Ethics: the study of morally right/wrong actions
Political Philosophy: the study of the nature and norms of political states/governments

9. Philosophy is Practically Useful2

10. Philosophers have unique skills
Analytical Skills and Problem Solving
Critical Thinking
Clear Writing
Political Philosophy: the study of the nature and norms of political states/governments

11. Philosophy is good preparation for many other programs
History
History of Art
Linguistics
AAA

12. Philosophers do well on Entrance Exams
Business School (MBA)
Law School (LSAT)
Any Graduate School (GRE)
University in USA (SAT)

13. Philosophers have high incomes (in the long run)

14. Ethics and Business 3
With a Disclaimer

15. Central Concepts and Stake-Holders
Business Ethics: the study of the nature, ethical norms of businesses, their employees and commerce
Concepts
Social responsibility, Moral Right/Wrong, Human Rights
Conflict of Interest
Whistle-Blowing
Externalities
Stake-holders and Their Relationships
Public Citizens <-> Businesses
Governments <-> Businesses
Consumers <-> Businesses
Employees <-> Employees
Employees <-> Businesses
Businesses <-> Businesses

16. Central Concepts and Issues
Ethical
Can a corporation or any other business be held morally accountable in the way that individuals are held accountable for crimes?
What moral responsibilities do corporations have to society, employees and customers?
What moral responsibilities do managers have to their employees?
What rights do employees have?
How should international corporations act in foreign countries?
Are corporations responsible for externalities (bad consequences to society that result from their business practices)?
Political and Economic
Should governments govern or punish corporations for wrong doing?
Is capitalism a good economic practice? Is it detrimental to democracy or well-being of citizens?
Metaphysical
what is a corporation?

17. Next Class: Critical Thinking
Critical thinking: proper reasoning (in science, philosophy, moral decision making) and clarity of thought
Two Kinds of Proper Reasoning
Deductive Arguments (e.g. mathematical proofs)
Non-Deductive Arguments (e.g. scientific arguments)
Clarify of Thought
By Definition
By Dialectic: making objections, replies, counter-objections, and so on.