PHIL 164.001 – Morality and Business

Instructor: Christopher Howard. This course meets MWF 12:20 – 1:10 p.m. in GL 222.

This course explores a range of real-world ethical issues that arise in contemporary business contexts. We’ll begin with a brief introduction to ethical theory, paired with a discussion of the distinction between moral and legal responsibility. We’ll then analyze and evaluate rigorously ethical issues involving the nature and responsibilities of corporations, securities fraud and insider trading, corporate culture, the global context of business, and big data. The goal is to acquaint you with, and facilitate your understanding of, some of the deepest ethical problems facing business and the way it’s practiced in the world today.