SOC10236 - Ethical Analysis of Utilitarianism in Global Business

This essay provides an ethical analysis of utilitarianism in the context of global business operations, addressing the question of whether prioritizing the happiness of the majority through utilitarianism is justified when it potentially endangers humanity or compromises individual rights. It examines the application of utilitarianism, differentiating between act and rule utilitarianism, and discusses the consequences of act utilitarianism, highlighting both its potential benefits and drawbacks, such as biased outcomes and the weakening of individual rights. The essay concludes by emphasizing the importance of considering humanity and individual interests, even within a utilitarian framework, suggesting that no human life should be violated for the mere happiness of others. The document references several academic sources to support its arguments and analysis. Desklib provides a platform for students to access similar essays and study resources.

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Utilitarianism In business operations globally
A. Introduction
Is it just fair to watch humanity race at risk of distinction just because utilitarianism as an ethical
principle provides that the happiness of the majority be impartially favored and concluded right
in order to allow businesses organizations to thrive in the global economy?
Why Utilitarianism?
Humanity race is affected by health and other pandemic caused by the very businesses going
global and the same is at risk of extinction too. Is a company’s activities allowed to put its own
employees at risk even if it is thriving globally just because the whole country will be happy at
the products it will produce at the end of the production year? All these can only be put plainly
by the use of utilitarianism ethical principle (Sciulli, and Bebko,2020). This ethical practice not
only focuses on one’s comfort and ability and safety but also stresses on the desires and good
working environment for others
B. Relevant facts;
At times businesses can do lots of harm to the society just to achieve their goals and
requirements forgetting the effect they impose to the environment and its inhibitors. The
following facts are used to explain how utilitarianism can be of help when it comes to the
determination of the wrongness or rightness of a business decision (Wettstein F, 2009).
i. Whether the actions of the thriving business are morally acceptable or deniable fully
depends on the outcomes of the actions of the activity.
ii. The most important parts of actions are the fruits they bare, ether negative or positive and
only then can a business activity be deemed harmful or useful.

iii. The major crusade of utilitarianism as an ethical act is that an action is right if the
ultimate outcome results to the happiness of a greater number of individuals in the environment.
iv. The happiness of an individual depends on the morality of his deeds. And that no matter
how successful the deed outcomes if it wasn’t done the right way it doesn’t deem a
professionally happy worker.
v. Rule utilitarianism ensures that the majority benefits but the method used is the least
biased one among the available ones.
vi. Act utilitarianism on the other hand majors on the benefit of the majority however dire
the methods. This means it there might imparity in the decision, but the majority just have to
benefit.
C. Effects of act utilitarianism;
Act utilitarianism has been the most used means of ethical determinant in many business
decisions. It therefore would be better if both the positive consequences are highlighted before
the negative consequences are viewed (Logsdon, J.M. and Wood, D.J., 2002).
i. Take a case where a viral infection pandemic has occurred and the lockdown of
international airlines have been made. Even though a forceful quarantine is done by the
government at designated hotels chosen by the government, the hotels are definitely going to
thrive for they will get lots of clients.
ii. A lot of building constructors are required to build lifts for residents staying up a tall
story building. Instead a tramp is made for the crippled staying on the base of the flat all because
the resources required to make the facilities that will accommodate both the

The negative outcomes of act utilitarianism on the other hand are;
i. Parties with different needs for the same product end up leaving the minority suffering.
The company in mention will become absolutely biased and produce the commodity with
features mostly based on the specifications of the majority. The consumers that have to bear with
the feature even though they don’t like the features will have some of their interests not put to
consideration. They therefore end up unhappy.
ii. Some of the company’s producing harmful emissions don’t get tube stored because the
amount of taxes and resources they produce are way much sufficient for the government. The
government ends up happy and satisfied , the citizens to get the benefits .Utilitarianism allows
these companies to operate in the expense that humanity’s existence is at stake .this even though
is ethically right according to act utilitarianism it is not morally
iii. Individual rights are weakened by act utilitarianism. A human beings rights sometimes
can be rough down to weakened until the human. Sometimes interests are sacrificed for other
peoples happiness in the case of quarantine the suspected
D. Conclusion
No human life deserves to be violated just because of mere happiness of other individuals and so
whatsoever utilitarianism made, humanity and their interests should at least be considered.

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