PHIL 305 (CSUN)
Final Assignment: Technology & Moral Development
This project will give students the opportunity to evaluate how science and technology impact
moral development within business and public policy. [SLO 2]. In particular, it will ask
students to consider how science and technology influences our responsiveness to ethical
reasons.
Ch. 9 and 10 of our textbook discusses the conditions for moral accountability. These
conditions include (A) an emotional sensitivity to the existence of moral issues; (B) an
intellectual and often emotional responsiveness to ethical reasons (these vary according to
which ethical theory is adopted; see below); (C) an intellectual ability to make competent
ethical decisions; and – at times – D) causal responsibility. (see pp. 164-65 for context)
Much of “moral development” entails a cultivation of (B) – one’s intellectual and emotional
responsiveness to ethical reasons. The more one develops morally, the more responsive one
becomes to ethical reasons. This project will ask students to consider how our use of
technology influences this responsiveness.
As an aid to guide your understanding, I provided the table below highlighting some of the
“ethical reasons” which a moral agent is expected to respond to according to the theory he or
she adopts:
Thus, this project will ask you to consider how our use of technology influences the skills/
capacities in the far right column.
Ethical theory Ethical Reasons What ‘Responsiveness’ Entails
Virtue Ethics
[Ch. 7]
virtues (stable character traits that
contribute to the ‘flourishing’ of the
moral agent or society as a whole)
developing and acting habitually from
virtues; applying virtue ethics “rules of
action”
Care Ethics [Ch. 8] positive partial relationships and
domestic virtues
being sensitive to and taking
responsibility for special relationships
Principle-Based abstract principles (see below) understanding which general principle to
apply to which particular circumstance
Duties [Ch. 5] prima facie and absolute duties
(e.g., the categorical imperative)
understanding and prioritizing duties;
fulfilling them regardless of outcomes
Rights [Ch. 5] rights and correlative duties respecting one’s rights and encouraging
the fulfillment of their correlative duties
Justice [Ch. 6] instances of justice (equality of
opportunity, welfare, resources)
recognizing the demands of justice and
employing principles appropriately
Utilitarianism
[Ch. 4]
aggregate net utility/welfare
(pleasure, preference-satisfaction)
anticipating consequences, calculating
net welfare (of actions or policies), and
acting accordingly
Ethical pluralism all of the above all of the above
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PHIL 305 (CSUN)
Directions and Prompts:
Preparation
1. Construct a hypothetical business-person with a position in a hypothetical business: you
can choose a position similar to one you’ve personally had (cashier, server, supervisor,
manager, intern, etc.); you can choose a position discussed in our book (in an example
given within the chapter or in a case study at the end); you can choose a position recently
discussed in the media (excluding positions in politics and humanitarian work); or you can
use your imagination and choose a position from any level of any kind of business
(including sole-proprietor or independent contractor). Make sure you choose a position in
which you can envision encounters with moral dilemmas.
2. Take stock of different ways that technology influences how business is carried out in this
position. Today, every job should be influenced by technology. Make sure to also include
inappropriate use of technology (for example, the misuse of smartphones or computers for
non-work-related purposes).
3. Decide on three ethical theories from the table above (excluding ‘ethical pluralism’) and
isolate three circumstances (one per theory) in which technology influences the
responsiveness of your business-person to ethical reasons. These ways should be illustrated
by having your business-person confront a hypothetical ethical dilemma like the ones
discussed in our case studies. Of course, the influences of technology can be positive or
negative – that is, positively or negatively influencing our capacity to respond appropriately
to ethical reasons (again, see the table above)
Writing your Paper
4. Technical Criteria: 1000-1500 words (~4-6 pages), double-spaced, normal formatting
5. Introduction Paragraph: Your thesis is a response to this question “Does modern-day
technology, overall, have a positive or negative influence on our moral development (i.e.,
our responsiveness to ethical reasons) within business?” Mention why or why not by briefly
mentioning the three circumstances that you will discuss in your body…
6. Body Paragraphs: In your body, elaborate on the three circumstances in which technology
influences the moral development of your business person by providing one distinct
paragraph for each point that you want to make (the ‘point’ will be summarized in the topic
sentence of each paragraph before providing further evidence). Make sure you define
important terms and provide examples when necessary.
7. For each circumstance in which technology influences our moral development, briefly
propose at least one policy (imposed by the business to its employees or by the
government to its constituents) intended to provide or preserve a healthy relationship
between technology and moral development in business.
8. Concluding Paragraph: In your conclusion, restate the thesis and emphasize that your
paper provided good evidence for your thesis. Don’t add any new information, just remind
the reader of the points that you’ve already made and why they support your thesis.
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PHIL 305 (CSUN)
Final Assignment Checklist / Rubric
Introduction
State your thesis explicitly as a response to this question: “Does modern-day
technology, overall, have a positive or negative influence on our moral development (i.e.,
our responsiveness to ethical reasons) within business?” [10 %]
Body
Briefly present your hypothetical business-person with a position in a hypothetical business
and define any relevant terms or concepts [5 %]
Present three circumstances in which technology influences the moral development of your
business-person (a.k.a. the moral agent) and evaluate them:
Each circumstance uses a distinct ethical theory [10 %]
Each circumstance defines relevant terms and concepts according to our reading
(any quotations or paraphrases are properly cited) [10 %]
Each circumstance highlights the way technology hampers or helps the moral agent
to respond to the relevant ethical reasons [10 %]
Each circumstance clearly demonstrates that technology has a positive or negative
influence on the agent’s moral development (by having a positive or negative
influence on his or her responsiveness to ethical reasons) [5 %]
For each circumstance, briefly propose a policy or program at the corporate level or
governmental level that would helps the moral agent to respond to ethical reasons according
to the corresponding ethical theory [10 %]
Conclusion
In your conclusion, restate the thesis and emphasize that your paper provided good
evidence for your thesis [10 %]
Technical Criteria
1000-1500 words (4-6 pages), double-spaced, normal font and margins, properly cited
according to a standard citation style [15 %]
The paper in general is neat and well-organized (i.e., if a paragraph becomes too unwieldy,
please break it up so that each paragraph is dedicated to one point that you’re trying to
make; feel free to use section headings) [15 %]
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