A1: The three requirements of moral judgement are that it should be logical, should be sound and based on facts, the moral judgement which is weak on these three requirements are open to criticism, are being discussed below :
- Should be logical: Several things are implied when it is said that judgement should be logical, that is the connection between (1) the standard (2) the conduct or policy, and (3) the moral judgment should be such that 1 and 2 logically entail 3. The aim is to be able to support our moral judgments with reasons and evidence, rather than basing them solely on emotion, sentiment, or social or personal preference.
- Based on facts: Adequate moral judgments cannot be made in a vacuum. We must gather as much relevant information as possible before making them. For example, an intelligent assessment of the morality of insider trading would require an understanding of, among other things, the different circumstances in which it can occur and the effects it has on the market and on other traders. The information supporting a moral judgment, the facts, should be relevant—that is, the information should actually relate to the judgment; it should be complete, or inclusive of all significant data; and it should be accurate or true
- Should be sound: At the highest level of moral reasoning, these standards embody and express very general moral principles. Reliable moral judgments must be based on sound moral principles—principles that can withstand critical scrutiny and rational criticism. What, precisely, makes a moral principle sound or acceptable is one of the most difficult questions that the study of ethics raises. But one criterion is worth mentioning, what philosophers call our “considered moral beliefs.”
A2: “Before evaluating utilitarianism, one should understand some points that might lead to confusion and misapplication”. Several features about utilitarianism make it appealing as a standard for moral decisions in organizations.
- Deciding on which system will promote most happiness, which will depend on knowing the type of ownership, form of income distribution, range and character of material incentives, the nature and extent of social security and responsibility. These few arrangement is the organization helps in understanding the system of the organization, and how it will promote utilitarian approach. By utilitarian standards, an organizational policy, decision or action is good if it promotes the general welfare more than any other alternative. Utilitarians evaluate actions according to their consequences, and actions produce different results in different circumstances, almost anything might, be morally right in some particular situation.
- Workers Participation: Utilitarianism provides an objective and attractive way of resolving conflicts of self-interests. Mill argued for the formation of labor and capital partnerships promoting equality between workers and industrialists.
- Equality of income: Utilitarians are more likely to favor equal income distribution on the basis of the so-called declining marginal utility of money. Provides a flexible, result-oriented approach to moral decision making.
- Utilitarian Approach: As per Utilitarian view, happiness is the only overarching value. According to this approach the maximization of happiness determines what is ethical and what is not. Utilitarians are more concerned about human welfare. Mill contended, more specifically, that the concept of justice identifies certain rules or rights, the upholding of which is crucial for promoting well-being and that injustice always involves violating the rights of some identifiable individual. The appeal of this approach is in its claim of treating everybody equally, but it is too open approach, and could be influenced by selfish preferences which undermine equal concern in practical sense . The concern of Utilitarians for equality threatens to challenge the practicality of equal concern. It could generate the right results for incorrect reasons.
- Libertarian Approach: This philosophy is related to personal liberty that is the liberty of each person to live according to their own choices, provided that they do not attempt to coerce others and thus prevent them from living according to their choices. This theory identifies justice with liberty, which libertarians understand as living according to our own choices, free from the interference of others. The Libertarians reject Utilitarians concern for total equality of all. They refuse maximization of social happiness by restricting to individual liberty. As per this theory liberty takes over the moral concerns
Works Cited
Dworkin, R. (1990). The Double Counting Objection. In J. Glover, Utilitarianish and its Critique. New York: MacMillan.
Shaw, W. H., & Barry, V. (1998). Moral Issues in Business (7th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wardsworth Publishing Company.
