This past semester, I took Business Ethics at Central Michigan University. I learned a lot about ethical principles and controversies such as planned obsolescence and environmental impacts. The class wasn’t strictly about business ethics, but also ethics in general. For example, I learned about the classic trolley problem and how Utilitarians would choose the option that results in the greatest amount of good for the greatest amount of people while Kantians would choose whatever action derives from goodwill. Seeing a trolley flying down a track isn’t something you see everyday, however, people are faced with decisions where one action might benefit more people but doesn’t derive from goodwill and vice versa.
I learned it is important to understand different viewpoints of others and why they have them. This class didn’t change my beliefs or attitudes, but it made me aware of the beliefs and attitudes of others. I understand why some businesses make certain decisions. For example, I learned there is a broad view and a narrow view. The broad view considers all the stakeholders when making decisions while the narrow view considers only the stockholders when making decisions.
I believe an important takeaway is that everyone should consider each view before judging someone deeming their decisions as “bad”. Because of this class, I am expanding my way of thinking and how I see things. Instead of agreeing or disagreeing with the actions of others, I want to start understanding why people believe what they do.
Juliana Lancaster 