Assessment on Virtue Ethics: Business Ethics and Moral Conduct

This essay delves into the application of virtue ethics within a business context, focusing on the moral character of individuals as opposed to rules-based approaches. The essay presents a scenario where a student receives an examination paper prematurely and explores how virtue ethics, specifically individual and professional character ethics, should guide the student's response. The analysis highlights the importance of traits like honesty, courage, and self-discipline in navigating ethical dilemmas. The essay argues that a virtue ethics approach would compel the student to inform the lecturer of the mistake, thereby upholding ethical standards and preventing potential complications for the lecturer. The conclusion emphasizes the significance of honesty and integrity in ethical decision-making, advocating for actions aligned with virtue ethics principles. The essay references various sources to support its arguments.

VIRTUE ETHICS

Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................1
Question 1 Applying the virtue ethic theory to react to dilemma................................................1
Question 2 Explaining what as virtue ethicist and what you agree to virtue ethicist would
consider your actions an ethical response....................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................4

INTRODUCTION
Virtue ethics would be focusing on the moral character of person which is been
contrasting the approach of rules and duties of that person. This could be regarded to as that
behaviour of human being that allow them to showcase their best moral standards like that of
goodness, morality, honesty or honouring someone which are been present in them. So in this
current assessment essay which is based on ethics and morals in business and society showing
how would theory of virtue ethics be applied in reacting to this dilemma and situation?
MAIN BODY
Question 1 Applying the virtue ethic theory to react to dilemma
After receiving the email from my lecturer of the examination paper just before the two
weeks in advance by mistake would be big question on my ethical actions and doings. As only
after opeing that word document I came to know that it was containing supplementary exam
questions for all my fellow students. This was sent to me by mistake as lecturer was sending it to
course administrator who is having same name as mine. So in this situation of dilemma is should
straight away go to my lecturer in order to convey him the mistake made by him instead of
taking the strongh advantage of the situation. As this would be ethically wrong in doing so if I’m
not going and telling this incident to him. If I’m applying two basic theory of virtue ethics
namely individual and professional character which are both helping me to say the truth in fornt
of my lecturer so that he could be knowing his mistake (Broad, 2014).
Figure 1: Major Types of Virtue Ethical Theories
1

[Source: Virtue Ethical Theories, 2018]
Both these theories would be having all ethics which a person must be showing at the
time when they are facing such complex situations in their life. After applying the virtue ethics
theory in order to react to the above stated situation would be showing me correct path to handle
the dilemma.
Individual character ethics-
This theory of virtue ethics would be including individual identity which person is having
at the time when it comes to noble human traits. Individual character ethic theory would be
including ethical or moral interaction of human beings in way of determining their intrinsic and
instrumental value (Virtue Ethical Theories, 2018). The qualities of traits which are included
within this type of theory would be revolving around person as individual in all respect of their
life or all situation where they are involved in any unexpected situation. Like here I’m having the
problematic dilemma which is including that of obtaining question paper before 2 weeks of the
supplementary exam. There are some of the traits which I need to show like that of courage,
gratitude, wisdom, understanding, sincerity and self-discipline. So all these traits need to be
shown on my part so that my lecturer is not coming into any difficult situation in coming times.
As if I’m not telling this situation to him he could in trouble due to this mistake which was
caused by him only.
Professional character ethics-
Under this theory all the ethics would be including those which are related to professional
virtue which would be related to ethics like that of loyalty, truthfulness and self-regulation
(Wilson, 2014). These are on the ground of professional traits which a person is having so that
they are having moral attitude towards their working which would be helping them to come to
correct and ethical decision. As I should be going to my lecturer telling the mistake which was
caused by him due to same name of mine and my examination administrator. As this would be
linked with individual’s dilemma and that related to community so that I could be having
strength of telling truth to him.
In order to reacting to this situation I need to apply virtue ethics theory so that I could be
able to take correct decision and courage of telling lecturer so that he is not in any kind of trouble
in coming time.
2

Question 2 Explaining what as virtue ethicist and what you agree to virtue ethicist would
consider your actions an ethical response.
Virtue ethicist is the person who is practicing this theory of virtue ethics so that they
could take out right and wrong from the action of another person. But all the virtue ethicist
would not be agreeing the notion of conception of bad behaviour by introducing the morally
impermissible (Moss, Neubaum and Meyskens, 2015). There are many ethicist who are
introduced to community as deciding about what is wrong and what is right on behalf of actions
and reactions of human beings. As it is clear that virtue ethics would be person based but it could
not is action related. It is looked that virtue character of human being is not carrying on the
action and not based on duties or rules and results of particular actions.
All the things would be based on rules and actions of morality of an action which is
carried forward as this would be binding people by the duty which people are performing.
CONCLUSION
Towards the end it could be concluded that if I’m not telling the truth to my lecturer that
he had made mistake by sending wrong email to wrong person then there are many chance of
him leading to problems. As he had send me the email containing supplementary examination
paper due to same name of me and college administrator so this should be conveyed to him. This
would be on behalf of my virtue ethics which is having honesty so that it is easy for me to
conduct further clarification.
3

REFERENCES
Books and Journals:
Broad, C.D., 2014. Five types of ethical theory (Vol. 2). Routledge.
Moss, T.W., Neubaum, D.O. and Meyskens, M., 2015. The effect of virtuous and entrepreneurial
orientations on microfinance lending and repayment: A signaling theory
perspective. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice. 39(1). pp.27-52.
Wilson, M., 2014. Critical reflection on authentic leadership and school leader development from
a virtue ethical perspective. Educational Review. 66(4). pp.482-496.
Online:
Virtue Ethical Theories. 2018. Accessed through: <https://businessjargons.com/virtue-ethical-
theories.html>.
4