Applying Ethical Theory to the Jobs Killer Case Study - CSU

This essay analyzes the ethical implications of the 'Jobs Killer' case study, which focuses on the introduction of driverless trucks in Australia. The essay applies four classical ethical theories—utilitarianism, deontology, virtue ethics, and contract theory—to evaluate the case. The analysis considers the benefits of technological advancement in transportation, such as increased efficiency and reduced costs, while also addressing the potential negative impacts, including job losses for truck drivers and the economic consequences for related businesses like roadside hotels. The essay provides well-reasoned arguments for each ethical perspective, offering a comprehensive understanding of the ethical dilemmas presented by the case study and concludes that the case study is unethical in nature. The work includes a conclusion that justifies the recommendations made in the essay and a reference list adhering to APA style.

SCHOOL OF COMPUTING AND MATHS, Charles Sturt University
Jobs Killer is Coming
Assignment 3: Applying Ethical Theory
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Student Number
Word Count: 1200

Jobs Killer is Coming
Task
Choose one of the media articles or case studies from the following list:
1. http://www.news.com.au/finance/business/travel/the-jobs-killer-is-coming-how-driverless-
trucks-could-change-australia/news-story/4f5b8a42b0452703d62e00f3e7644d7b
2. http://www.pressreader.com/canada/waterloo-region-record/
20170422/281758449172066 http://www.smh.com.au/it-pro/security-it/rentahacker-site-
leaks-australian-buyers-names-and-addresses-20150529-ghca3f.html
3. https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/eu-actions-net-neutrality
4. http://www.cnbc.com/2015/11/09/privacy-will-hit-tipping-point-in-2016.html
5. http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/life/technology-and-dating-20090520-besc.html
6. http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/amin-sthapit-murder-trial-accused-roy-tabalbag-provoked-
into-killing-girlfriend-geecy-rebucass-lover-20150601-ghdzge
Use the title of the article/case study provided as the title of your essay, so that I will know
which article you are analysing. Undertake further research about your chosen case, to
assist you in analysing and discussing it in your essay.
In your essay, you are requiredtoanalyseyour chosen article/case study from the perspective
of four classical ethical theories includingutilitarianism, deontology, virtue and
contract. Your essay should present well-reasoned arguments for yourassessments and
recommendations.
Write an overall conclusion that justifies your recommendations made in your essay.
Include a Reference list at the end of your work, in the correct APA referencing style,
corresponding to in-text citations.
The word limit for the essay is 1200-1300 words. Headings, citations and references do not
count towards the word limit, but quotations do.
1. Introduction
Australia will be launching an extraordinary advancement in the technological world. The
entire business of transportation will be getting benefitted from this particular technology.
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They would be launching driverless trucks in Australia. The driverless trucks will be
driven by robot drivers (The jobs killer is coming., 2018). New and innovative
enhancements are occurring with these driverless trucks. Australia is thus amalgamating
the business or transportation and technology. Real drivers will be replaced by the robot
drivers. The main and significant benefits of this driverless truck are that robot driver
does not require to take rest or to eat or sleep. Robots only need electric charges for
working perfectly. The only significant problem that the launching of driverless truck
would be having is that all the real truck drivers will be losing the jobs and will be having
problem for their living. Moreover, the road side hotels or motels will be losing business
as these real truck drivers used to visit there while taking long journeys (The jobs killer is
coming., 2018). The following report will be outlining this particular case study on the
basis of four classical theories of ethics, which are utilitarianism theory, deontology
theory, virtue ethics theory and finally contract ethics theory. The description of the
above discussion is given in the following paragraphs.
2. Utilitarianism Theory
The first classical theory amongst the four is Utilitarianism theory. Utilitarianism theory is
a particular normative theory, which discusses about the utility of any specific situation.
The utility should be maximum in respect to all others and thus this utility can either be
for the society, the surroundings, and the entire world or even for any particular person
(Hayry, 2013). If any situation is providing maximum utility, it is the core part of this
utilitarianism theory. It is considered as one of the main versions of the theory of
consequentialism and hence stating regarding the several consequences that any
activity discusses and proves that whether it is correct or incorrect. There are various
forms of consequentialism theory such as egoism; however this particular utilitarianism
theory is based on the factor of division of interests of any human being equally (Minus,
2013). The case study provided here is regarding jobs killing or robot drivers for trucks in
Australia, has various utilities. The first and the foremost utility of this case study is that
the entire technological world is getting the new and innovative advancement, hence
reducing the technological complexities. The society will be benefitted from this.
Moreover, the transportation business is getting advanced day by day. This is the
second utility in the scenario (Chakrabarty & Bass, 2015). Although, in spite of having
various significant advantages or utility in society, there are some of the most important
non utilities or non ethical features in the case study. The most important no ethical
aspect is that various truck drivers will be losing their respective jobs due to this and
hence they could be facing major problem. Next, all the road side hotels and motels used
to flourish their business with the presence of the truck drivers (Mill, 2016). Now, as they
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will be replaced by robots, their businesses will be at stake. Therefore, as per
utilitarianism theory, the case study is unethical.
3. Deontology Theory
The next theory of the classical theories of ethics is the deontology theory. This theory is
different from the utilitarianism theory. This particular theory is responsible for eventually
judging any specific situation that whether it is moral or not on the basis of various rules
(Singer, 2013). This theory is being contrasted to pragmatic ethics and consequentialism
theory. The deontology theory is described according to the rules based ethics or
obligations. The basic moral obligation or rule of any specific situation arises from either
any internal or external source. The set of rules is majorly inherent to ethical naturalism
or universe. The individual knows as well as learns new things either from the
surroundings or from the universe. The family, friends or relatives are the main teachers
in this case. The next major rule is religious law. Often the capability of the decisions
depends on this rule. For this specific case study, all the robot drivers could be an
important problem for all the real drivers (Paquette, Sommerfeldt & Kent, 2015).
According to the deontology theory, the situation is absolutely non ethical just because
the drivers are losing their jobs. Furthermore, the hotels or motels will also be suffering
and hence there is not morality here. Their businesses can be in losses. Therefore, as
per deontology theory, this case study is unethical.
4. Virtue Theory
The third important theory is virtue ethics theory. This theory focuses on the various
virtues of minds or characters (Van Hooft, 2014). This ethics deal with the characters of
human beings or situations. This virtue is responsible for making any situation or person
perfect. The character traits of a situation prove whether it is morally desirable or
valuable. In the scenario of driverless trucks, the traits or the attributes mainly involve
bringing robot drivers in transportation. The technological world is thus benefitted from
this advancement (Russell, 2013). Therefore, according to the virtue ethics, the case
study is ethical in nature.
5. Contract Theory
The fourth or the final theory is contract theory of ethics. As per this theory, all the
individuals or persons, who are living in a society has an agreement with the rest of the
people regarding their well being. The moral or the political rules are established in this
case. The contract is nothing but a social contract and every person should follow it
(Crane & Matten, 2016). A framework is followed in this contract theory. In the case
study of driverless trucks, the social agreement is followed by them for bringing various
alterations in society. The technological world is benefitted from this and thus according
to contract theory, the case study is ethical in nature.
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6. Conclusion
Therefore, from the above discussion, conclusion can be drawn that ethics is the most
important requirement in any business. It is the significant part of moral philosophy,
which describes or provides judgment about any specific situation or person that whether
it is correct or not. If the situation or the individual is correct, it is termed as ethical in
nature. However, if the situation or the individual is incorrect or wrong, it is termed as
unethical in nature. The judgment is mainly done on the basis of harm caused by that
particular situation or individual to the society or surroundings. Australia will be launching
driverless trucks within the entire country for the purpose of producing maximum
productivity to the society. They are thus bringing new or innovative changes in the
technological world and transportation business. They are mixing the two wide domains
of transportation and technology. Driverless trucks would be driven by various robot
drivers and thus the real drivers would be eradicated in the entire process. Since,
Australia involves trucks for logistics scenarios in all of their business; this advancement
will be extremely beneficial for them. The robots do not require food, sleep or rest and
thus time consumption will be less. However, the real drivers would be losing their
respective jobs and hence this advancement can be a major problem for them. Thus, this
is not wrong ethically correct. The four theories of ethics are applied in the case study
and thus it is termed as unethical in nature.
References
Chakrabarty, S., & Bass, A. E. (2015). Comparing virtue, consequentialist, and deontological
ethics-based corporate social responsibility: Mitigating microfinance risk in
institutional voids. Journal of Business Ethics, 126(3), 487-512.
Crane, A., & Matten, D. (2016). Business ethics: Managing corporate citizenship and
sustainability in the age of globalization. Oxford University Press.
Hayry, M. (2013). Liberal utilitarianism and applied ethics. Routledge.
Mill, J. S. (2016). Utilitarianism. In Seven Masterpieces of Philosophy (pp. 337-383).
Routledge.
Minus, P. M. (Ed.). (2013). The ethics of business in a global economy (Vol. 4). Springer
Science & Business Media.
Paquette, M., Sommerfeldt, E. J., & Kent, M. L. (2015). Do the ends justify the means?
Dialogue, development communication, and deontological ethics. Public Relations
Review, 41(1), 30-39.
Russell, D. C. (Ed.). (2013). The Cambridge companion to virtue ethics. Cambridge
University Press.
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Singer, P. (Ed.). (2013). A companion to ethics. John Wiley & Sons.
The jobs killer is coming. (2018). NewsComAu. Retrieved 06 May 2018, from
http://www.news.com.au/finance/business/travel/the-jobs-killer-is-coming-how-
driverless-trucks-could-change-australia/news-story/
4f5b8a42b0452703d62e00f3e7644d7b
Van Hooft, S. (2014). Understanding virtue ethics. Routledge.
Do not remove the following marking sheet.
Marking Sheet
Criteria Standards
Marks
awarde
d
Classical
Ethical
Theory
(Value
60%)
HD: Demonstrates an excellent ability at applying ethical theories to
the ethical issues. (51-60)
DI: Demonstrates a good ability at applying ethical theories to the
ethical issues. (45-50.4)
CR: Makes a genuine attempt at applying the ethical theories to the
ethical issues. (39-44.4)
PS: The ethical theories do not link well with the ethical issues. (30-
38.4)
FL: The ethical theories are not properly applied to the ethical issues.
(0-29.4)
Writing &
structure
(Value
20%)
HD: Language features and structures are used to convey meaning
effectively, concisely, unambiguously, and in a tone appropriate to the
audience and purpose with no spelling, grammatical, or punctuation
errors. (17-20)
DI: Well developed skills in expression & presentation of ideas. Fluent
writing style appropriate to assessment task/document type. Grammar
& spelling accurate. (15-16.8)
CR: Good skills in expression & clear presentation of ideas. Mostly
fluent writing style appropriate to assessment task/document type.
Grammar & spelling contains a few minor errors. (13-14.8)
PS: The text contains frequent errors in spelling, grammar, word
choice, and structure, lacks clarity, and is not concise, but the meaning
is apparent to the reader with some effort. (10-12.8)
FL: Rudimentary skills in expression & presentation of ideas. Not all
material is relevant &/or is presented in a disorganised manner.
Meaning apparent, but writing style not fluent or well organised.
Grammar & spelling contains many errors. (0-9.8)
Conclusion
(Value
10%)
HD: Superior conclusion that ties the results of the analysis together
into a coherent, logically valid & convincing argument. (8.5-10)
DI: Very high standard conclusion that ties the results of the analysis
together into a coherent, logically valid & convincing argument. (7.5-
8.4)
CR: High standard conclusion that ties the results of the analysis
together into a coherent, logically valid & convincing argument. (6.5-
7.4)
PS: Rudimentary conclusion that provides a convincing argument. (5-
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6.4)
FL: Sub-standard (or no) conclusion. (0-4.9)
Referencing
(Value
10%)
HD: Referencing is comprehensive, demonstrates academic integrity,
and conforms exactly to APA style conventions. (8.5-10)
DI: Very good referencing, including reference list and citations. High
quality references. (7.5-8.4)
CR:Good referencing, including reference list and citations. Good
quality references. (6.5-7.4)
PS:Referencing is comprehensive, mostly accurate according to APA
style conventions, and demonstrates academic integrity. Some minor
errors or omissions in style and formatting choices (e.g. italics,
punctuation, etc) don’t impact on the transparency and traceability of
the source, or demonstration of academic integrity. (5-6.4)
FL: Sub-standard (or no) referencing. Poor quality (or no) references.
(0-4.9)
Total
Marks
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