Q16 - Most Business ethics courses

[Anthony.Maneiro]

Can someone please explain this question and the incorrect answer choices?

Thanks!

[crazinessinabox]

First time posting, but I noticed that your post was recent and I happened to be looking at this question today. I figured I would throw in my thoughts and you can see what you think:

A lack of framework is cited as the deficiency of focusing on lists and specifics in the absence of theory. A framework helps you understand the specific principles. Argument concludes that a framework is provided by the addition of an abstract ethical theory.

First thing that jumps out to me is why an abstract ethical theory? Is there another way to provide a framework? With respect to the sub-conclusion, is providing a framework the only way of understanding specific principles?

(A) Out of scope - first off, diversity isn't an idea used by the argument and an answer choice focused on diversity won't get us anywhere; secondly, the rejection of a moralizing approach doesn't help us justify the need for an abstract ethical theory. Also, the argument does not reject the use of role playing and lists of ethical rules, but argues for the inclusion of theory.
(B) Out of scope - The addition of the idea of undesirability of using alien personae does not help us justify needing a framework to understand specific principles and specifically an abstract ethical theory.
(C) Although I personally found this answer tempting, the obligation at the center of this answer choice is out of scope and does not justify the use of an abstract ethical theory within the context of the argument itself. Ensuring that people have an obligation to behave ethically would seem an important objective of a business ethics course and thus support for including abstract ethical theory specifically into a course as a means of accomplishing this, but ultimately it seems like one of those assumptions the test taker cannot make, particularly because the answer choice is strongly worded to say "...to always behave ethically..." Instead, I hear myself say "so what? Perhaps business ethics courses aren't about ALWAYS behaving ethically, but of optimally balancing profits with ethics for example." Would love to hear if other people have thoughts on eliminating this answer choice.
(D) The correct answer choice: it justifies selecting an abstract ethical theory specifically (as opposed to any number of alternatives that can help understand specific principles). This definitely helps justify the conclusion.
(E) Out of scope - even if this were added into the argument, it would not help justify needing a framework to understand specific principles and an abstract ethical theory as the solution to doing so. There is no discussion of "a wide range of specific principles." Perhaps if the argument had noted that the main drawback of not using a theoretical framework is to make coverage of a wide range of specific principles impossible, we could give this more thought.

Hope this is helpful. Of course, let me know if any reasoning problems stand out to others. Thanks.

[demetri.blaisdell]

Welcome to the forum, crazinessinabox. Thank you for a great explanation of the problem. I just want to provide a slightly simpler explanation (although your explanation looks good). The argument core can be boiled down to:

The list approach isn't working because students don't get a framework ----> we should adopt Abstract Ethical Theory (whatever that is)

There are a lot of big words in the stimulus but the gap is clear: you told me one approach doesn't work but how do I know your approach does work? (D) answers exactly that question. AET is most appropriate for developing context (i.e. a framework).

Wrong answers:

(A) is out of scope. Moralizing approach?

(B) is also out of scope. Alien personae?

(C) is again out of scope. The stimulus is about getting students to understand ethics, not necessarily to behave ethically.

(E) might be tempting. But is this Abstract Ethical Theory? We don't know because they didn't define it.

Thank you both for posting. I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any questions.

Demetri

[shirando21]

can we use the new term rule for this question?

abstract ethical theory is new in the conclusion.

in answer choices, only C and D mention it.

C does not make sense, that leaves us with D?

[cvfh17]

I know that of all the questions D is the best, but the first time that I did the question I get it wrong because of the: "MOST appropiate" I thought that it was to strong because I didn't see nothing in the stimulus. Any suggestion. Thanks!

[sumukh09]

I know that of all the questions D is the best, but the first time that I did the question I get it wrong because of the: "MOST appropiate" I thought that it was to strong because I didn't see nothing in the stimulus. Any suggestion. Thanks!

In this case and in this question type, it's okay for an answer choice to be too strong - in fact, that's what we should be looking for. We want something to justify the claim that abstract ethical theory should be included in business ethics courses and textbooks. Saying that abstract ethical theory is the "most appropriate" definitely justifies that.

[judaydaday]

Would (e) be correct if it said "an ethics course should acquaint students with understanding of specific principles?"

[maryadkins]

No, because we need it to link up someway to abstract ethical theory. If (E) said what you wrote, it would just be more of a premise booster of the specific principles premise. The gap is BETWEEN that and the claim that abstract ethical theory should be taught. This is the space where a correct answer choice will strengthen...

[judaydaday]

No, because we need it to link up someway to abstract ethical theory. If (E) said what you wrote, it would just be more of a premise booster of the specific principles premise. The gap is BETWEEN that and the claim that abstract ethical theory should be taught. This is the space where a correct answer choice will strengthen...

Thank you! Ahhh... Another mistake because I did not focus on what the conclusion is stating.