Analyzing the Ethics of Driverless Trucks in Australia's Job Market

This essay examines the ethical implications of the increasing adoption of driverless trucks in Australia, focusing on the potential job displacement and economic changes within the transport industry. It applies several ethical theories, including Utilitarianism, Deontology, Virtue Theory, and Contract Theory, to analyze the decisions made by transport business owners in implementing advanced technologies. The essay discusses the motivations behind these decisions, such as increased efficiency and profitability, while also considering the negative impacts on employees, such as job losses and reduced benefits. Furthermore, it evaluates the role of the Australian Federal Government in assessing the benefits and drawbacks of these technological advancements and ensuring fair outcomes for both businesses and workers. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of considering ethical and moral factors before making decisions that affect society and the economy.

SCHOOL OF COMPUTING AND MATHS, CHARLES STURT UNIVERSITY
The jobs killer is coming: How driverless trucks could change Australia
Assignment 3: Applying Ethical Theory
Student Number
Word Count: -1250

Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................1
Utilitarianism theory..................................................................................................................1
Deontology theory......................................................................................................................2
Virtue theory..............................................................................................................................3
Contract theory...........................................................................................................................3
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................4
References..................................................................................................................................5

Introduction
With the increasing ramified economic changes in times, advance technologies have
been gaining momentum. In this report, case study analysis has been made to identify how
use of advance technologies has been killing jobs for the employees in transport industry.
The owners of the transport business are using the advance upgrade technologies to make the
efficient business functioning and implementing the strategic program to win over the
market. However, it has resulted to several negative impacts to the employees such as
reduction in the available jobs, loss of monetary benefits and other employment loss. There
are several theories which should be used by the busienss transport owners before
implementing the strategic decision making for the betterment of the society and
environment at large in the particular situation.
Utilitarianism theory
The Utilitarianism theory reflect the utility of the particular case based on the given
situation and circumstances. It is observed that each act has its own negative and positive
impact. Each act should be considered on the basis of the pleasure of the motivation used for
the taken action. In this case, business transport owners have taken the decision to adopt the
advance technologies in the busienss for the benefits of the business and increasing its
overall business efficiency. It is observed that the main motivation to take the decision to
adopt the advance technologies is based on the motivation of pleasure to increase the overall
return on capital employed. However, the negative impact of this decision would be
reduction of the overall job to employees and eventually reduce the employment rate of the
society.
In the given case, it is observed that transport busienss should take decision to adopt the
advance technologies in the system based on eh utility of it towards the society and busienss
at large (Argenziano, & Gilboa, 2015).
The Australian Federal Government needs to assess the benefits and negative impacts of the
decision taken by the transport busienss owners. The judgement of the Australian Federal
Government would be based on the pleasure of the motivation arise from the implemented
decision and facts of the utilitarianism theory (Garcia-Zamor, 2018).

Deontology Theory
It is analyzed that deontology theory focuses on the ethical and moral issues of the
undertaken work. It evaluates the pleasure of the motivation arise from the implemented
work and ethics and morality associated with the same (Resnik, 2018). It is observed that
sustainability of the society and economic condition should also be measured while
undertaking the particular decision. In the given case, it is observed that Uber is
endeavouring towards adopting the advance technologies and moving towards making
employees as contract based employees. It will eventually impact the benefits of employees
such as incentive program, loss of its employment benefits, dip and other allowance. The act
of the Uber is neither Ethical and nor Moral in context with the business support program
(Solum, Galleries, & edu Page, 2017).
The deontology theory emphasises upon how ethical and moral impacts of the decisions
taken by company on the employees and society at large. The Australian Federal authority
needs to evaluate all the positive and negative impacts of the decision undertaken and the
judgement should be based on the analytical factors of the deontology theory. It is analyzed
that if transport industry wants to adopt advance technologies then they will have to arrange
proper employment benefits for the employees for their sustainable benefits. The deontology
theory assists in evaluating the ethical and moral implication of the decision in the particular
situation (Brandt, 2018).
Virtue theory
The virtue theory focuses on identifying the inner strength, core power of the person
and their perceptions. It is evaluated that each and every person acts on the basis of their
self-interest and perception. The virtue theory assists in making the judgement in the
particular situation and analysing the positive and negative impact of the work program. In
the given case, Uber busienss decision has been analyzed by assessing the positive and
negative impact on the employees. If company wants to take proper decision then he needs
to asses decision and its impact on the people at large. The latest decision of the Uber was to
enter into employment contract with employees by keeping them as independent contractors

for their work (Seidman, 2014). It will eventually result to eliminating the benefits offered to
employees to such as incentive program, loss of its employment benefits, dip and other
allowance. This will eventually reduce the outcomes available to employees and put negative
impact on the society at large. Therefore, before assessing the decision, company needs to
evaluate the virtue and other factors of the decision. The virtue theory helps Australian
Federal Government to analysis the inner strength, perception and values of the busienss
owner and the potential benefits which they will have after implementing the decisions.
However, the new decisions might be job killers in the Australia but eventually it will
increase the overall benefits to society at large (Hill, 2015). The virtue theory assists in
identifying the hidden benefits and negative impacts of the undertaken decision. It will
reveal required perception to analyse the decision implemented by the transport busienss
owners.
Contract theory
This contract theory reflects the applicable rules, regulation, laws and other
implemented factors which need to be assessed for the better development of the society.
Each and every person has been given equal benefit for the betterment of the society. These
rules and laws should be complied by each and every person for rendering the best outcomes
to society. It is assessed that if person fails to comply with these rules then it may result to
high imprisonment and penalties. No person will be allowed to break the rules and if they
fail to do so then they will have to face high penalties. In the given case, Uber is formulating
the independent contract with its employees by making them the independent drivers and
killing their jobs and benefits available to them. However, it will eventually reduce the cost
of the car services for the benefits of the society. Nonetheless, it will eventually impact the
employee’s benefits and render the negative outcomes for them. The contract theory has
been designed to divulge the equal right of the people and the restriction of these rights for
the betterment of the society at large. This theory suggests in evaluating the positive and
negative impact of the decision of the transport owners on the employees job and society at
large (Harsanyi, 2012).
Conclusion
There are several theories and program which needs to be assessed by the decision
maker before undertaking the decisions. Now in the end, after evaluating all the cases, and

issues of the case, it could be inferred that there are several rules and regulation has been
formulated which are equally applicable to everyone. However, judgement should be taken
after analysing all the negative and positive impact of the undertaken decision. It is observed
that there are several theories and facts which needs be too assessed by the government,
transport owners and employees before taking decisions. These different theories assist
stakeholders to assess the ethical and moral factors, empirical factors which might arise if the
decision is taken for the time being in force.

References
Argenziano, R., & Gilboa, I. (2015). Weighted utilitarianism, Edgeworth, and the market.
Mimeo.
Brandt, R. B. (2018). A utilitarian theory of excuses. The Philosophical Review, 337-361.
Garcia-Zamor, J. C. (2018). Ethical Theories and Moral Principles that Apply to the
Migration Problem. In Ethical Dilemmas of Migration (pp. 95-106). Springer, Cham.
Harsanyi, J. C. (2012). Rule utilitarianism, rights, obligations and the theory of rational
behavior. In Papers in Game Theory(pp. 235-253). Springer, Dordrecht.
Hill, J. L. (2015). A Utilitarian Theory of Duress. Iowa L. Rev., 84, 275.
Resnik, D. B. (2018). Moral Theory. In The Ethics of Research with Human Subjects (pp.
53-85). Springer, Cham.
Seidman, L. M. (2014). Soldiers, martyrs, and criminals: Utilitarian theory and the problem
of crime control. The Yale Law Journal, 94(2), 315-349.
Solum, L. B., Galleries, L. B. S. P. P., & edu Page, M. A. (2017). Legal Theory Blog. Legal
Theory.