Self-interest and things that benefit companies in a business sense do not always align. That is to say, I can have a completely different view of an ethical dilemma from a personal standpoint but still manage to reach an agreement from a business perspective. A large part of this has to do with the simple fact that I am not at the center of everyone's world. More than I, or even a small few, will be affected. At the same time, people aren't the only ones at play. I would have to be aware of not just the consumers and the workers, but also things like the company's reputation and what we may gain as a result of the action taking place. I am a huge supporter of the utilitarian approach to most things but that isn't always an option. Sometimes what is good for the majority does far too much damage to the minority to be overlooked. So even though I support such a theory there is a good chance that I would go with the theory surrounding consequences. This means that if the act is good, the result will be the same. However, the opposite is stated if the action taking place ends with a negative effect.
Self-interest and things that benefit companies in a business sense do not always align. That is to say, I can have a completely different view of an ethical dilemma from a personal standpoint but still manage to reach an agreement from a business perspective. A large part of this has to do with the simple fact that I am not at the center of everyone's world. More than I, or even a small few, will be affected. At the same time, people aren't the only ones at play. I would have to be aware of not just the consumers and the workers, but also things like the company's reputation and what we may gain as a result of the action taking place. I am a huge supporter of the utilitarian approach to most things but that isn't always an option. Sometimes what is good for the majority does far too much damage to the minority to be overlooked. So even though I support such a theory there is a good chance that I would go with the theory surrounding consequences. This means that if the act is good, the result will be the same. However, the opposite is stated if the action taking place ends with a negative effect.
I agree with you that self-interest and things that benefit companies in a business sense do not always align. In fact, there are often times when these two things are in direct conflict.
In these cases, it is important to carefully consider the ethical implications of the decision. You need to think about who will be affected by the decision, both positively and negatively. You also need to think about the long-term consequences of the decision.
If you are a supporter of the utilitarian approach, then you will need to weigh the benefits of the decision against the costs. You will need to ask yourself if the benefits to the majority outweigh the costs to the minority.
However, as you mentioned, sometimes what is good for the majority does far too much damage to the minority to be overlooked. In these cases, you may need to go with the theory surrounding consequences. This means that you need to consider the likely outcome of the decision. If the act is good, then the result will be the same. However, if the action taking place ends with a negative effect, then you should not do it.
Ultimately, the decision of whether to follow your personal ethics or the company's ethics is a personal one. There is no right or wrong answer. However, it is important to carefully consider all of the factors involved before making a decision.
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