Ethics in Business

PHIL 2600, 3 Credit Hours

Spring 2025

MWF 2:00-2:50 PM, Richardson Building 108

 

Instructor’s name: David Ween                                           Office location: None

Office hours: On Zoom, by appointment                              Email address: dween@tulane.edu

 

Course description:

 

This is a course in ethics and philosophy in business. We will be looking at philosophical questions that are one step removed from some of the more applied questions, such as, “why should be ethical when it’s irrational?”, “who’s to blame when corporations go wrong?”, “what’s wrong with selling and/or eating people?”, and “does equality really matter in business and economics?” This course is meant to provide you with analytic skills and help you navigate the process of carefully thinking through your own positions on some very difficult issues. It is meant to challenge some fundamental assumptions and common beliefs and equip you to be exceptional critical and strategic thinkers, rather than to give you the tools to craft convenient ethical excuses (though you will hopefully be able to do that as well, if you want).

 

Student Responsibility:

 

You are responsible for everything communicated in this syllabus. The due dates, scheduling, and policies listed here are as my (the instructor’s) act of communicating everything you need to know. You are also responsible for noting information communicated in class and via email or canvas. For this reason, I highly recommend checking Canvas frequently. Any additional due dates, responsibilities, or scheduling changes will be communicated promptly via Canvas, and, if necessary, the syllabus will be updated to reflect any necessary changes. While I will try to remind you of upcoming deadlines, meeting the deadlines and requirements stated here are your responsibility.

 

Course Goals:

This course is meant to:

1. Introduce students to fundamental questions about coordination, responsibility, and the morality of markets and market interactions.
2. Provide students with theoretical and strategic tools for dealing with these problems, and
3. Give students opportunities to practice applying conceptual tools and ethical principles to real-world cases.

 

Course Learning Objectives:

 

After completing this course, students will be able to:

1. Accurately explain common problems in collective action and business ethics
2. Accurately identify coordination problems in business settings, and
3. Successfully apply appropriate ethical and game-theoretic tools to solve these problems.
4. Accurately explain the main criticisms and defenses of free markets and market regulation.
5. More clearly articulate their own moral commitments when it comes to ethical consumption and production

 

 

 

 

Program-Level Outcomes (Major/Minor)

This course satisfies applied ethics requirements for business majors, and SLAM majors and minors.

 

 

Required Student Resources

 

All the required reading will be available on Canvas. I will provide some of the books from which we will read excerpts, should you (as I tend to) wish to have a paper copy for the class and beyond.

 

Evaluation Procedures and Grading Criteria

 

Criteria for Assessment: this is a course in both ethics and strategic thinking. To succeed in this class you must demonstrate your abilities in ethical reasoning, strategic and critical thinking, and cooperation. The course is made up of several components that evaluate these skills and your improvement both as individuals and as members of a group. Group projects and the final exam will primarily test your ability to manage and apply the relevant material as a group, while your participation in the classroom and our in-class activities, as well as your reading responses, are primarily meant to measure and cultivate your individual engagement.

 

Your grade is determined entirely by the quality of your work and participation, and your ability to complete work on time. I do not weigh the amount of time or other inputs invested.

 

Group Projects: 36% (12% each) — Each round of group presentations will be slightly different, but they will all be graded similarly:

 

            Peer Grade: 70% — this is the average grade your peers assign to your group’s presentation. I will eliminate extreme outliers (for example, if most people give you scores between 80% and 90% but one person gives you a 55%, I will not count the 55%).

 

            Peer Evals Completed: 30% — this is the number of peer evaluations you complete divided by the number of groups and multiplied by 20. If there are six groups presenting, and you complete evaluations for only 4 (out of 5, since your group will also present), you will receive 4/5•20 = 16 points.

 

            The presentation topics will be:

1. Present your business (Week 5): You must give a summary of your business, and your plan for launching it. Your goal is to persuade your peers that it is worth investing in. It will help if you can provide an idea of start-up costs, overhead, etc. so that your investors (classmates) know what investing in your business is likely to cost against return.
2. Ethical Analysis (Week 10): Research competition. You should have addressed what the field looks like in the first presentation (it matters if you are trying to enter a competitive field with established companies), but now you should also address whether your business can solve ethical problems faced by other companies in your field. The idea is to persuade your peers that they should not only feel financially confident in your company (that was presentation 1) but also that they should feel ethically confident in your company.
3. Ethical Dilemma (Week 16): I will give you an ethical dilemma roughly 48 hours before your final presentation. You must solve this dilemma in addition to addressing other feedback from the second presentation. The goal is to persuade your investors that your company can survive a crisis.

 

The dates for these presentations are on the syllabus, and you must be there for all presentations. Do not plan travel, work, etc. on presentation days. Missing a day of presentation without approval will result in a 0% grade on the peer eval portion of the presentation, which caps your grade at 70%, with no exceptions.

 

Pop Quizzes: 16% —  Six times throughout the semester we will have pop quizzes on the reading material. Each pop quiz will be worth 4 points and will cover the reading since the previous quiz. You will get one point for answering the question and another for answering correctly. They will all be multiple choice. I will drop the lowest two out of the six.

 

Participation: 13% — I will periodically take attendance, but your “attendance” grade comes from participating. Participating means coming prepared, asking questions, contributing to discussion, and answering questions. You start out with 80% on Participation, which is a B-.

 

You will lose points for:

            Having three or more unexcused absences (1% per absence)

            Using phones or computers in class for anything not related to the class

            Talking over your peers, especially when they are presenting

            Habitually arriving late or leaving early

            Generally demonstrating that you did not read the text

            Note: I am comfortable with long silences but as they get longer everyone loses points on participation.

           

You will gain points for:

            Asking questions

            Contributing meaningfully to discussion

            Answering questions

            Arriving prepared

            Participating in discussion respectfully and constructively

            Participating in classroom activities

            Demonstrating a familiarity with the reading

 

 

Syllabus Quiz: 5% — These are free points. This will be a 10-question, open-book, take home quiz with no time limit that you must complete by the end of week 2. You can think of this as five percent of your grade just coming from (actually) reading the syllabus.

 

Midterm Exam: 10% — The midterm will be a written, in class exam.

 

Final Exam: 20% — The final will be a cumulative, written, in class exam.

             

I do not give extra credit.

 

Tips for doing well: Show up consistently. Do the reading twice. Even if you feel stuck or you’re not sure you understand the text, come with questions or comments. Participate consistently. Ask questions during peer presentations. Demonstrate that you are working to familiarize with the material we cover, including readings. Be a leader in the classroom rather than a free rider.

 

An excel sheet will be posted that you can download and use to track your grade and simulate different outcomes.

 

 

Tulane Grade Scale

A         93-100

A-        90-92.99

B+       87-89.99

B         83-86.99

B-        80-82.99

C+       77-79.99

C         73-76.99

C-        70-72.99

D+       67-69.99

D         63-66.99

D-        60-62.99

F          <59.99

 

 

 

 

Attendance Statement

 

Faculty and students must comply with University policies on COVID-19 testing and isolation, which are located here [https://tulane.edu/covid-19/health-strategies]. Faculty and students must wear face coverings in all common areas, including classrooms, and follow social distancing rules. Failure to comply is a violation of the Code of Student Conduct and students will be subject to University discipline, which can include suspension or permanent dismissal.

 

If a student cannot attend class for any reason, the student is responsible for communicating with their instructors to make up any work they may miss. Faculty will provide online options for class participation, outlined in this document, and unless a student is seriously ill, they are expected to use this option. The University Health Center will provide documentation verifying a student is ill, as well as verification that a student may return to class. With the approval of the Newcomb - Tulane College dean, an instructor may have a student who has excessive absences involuntarily withdrawn from a course with a WF grade after written warning at any time during the semester.

 

Students have two unexcused absences. For an absence to be excused, please let the instructor know prior to the class missed. I realize there are often extenuating circumstances, and I will certainly take these into account. Please do not be afraid to reach out and let me know if you need support or accommodation, and please let me know as soon as you do if you will need to miss class meetings or assignments.

 

 

 

Late Work Policy

 

All work must be submitted on time. Last minute accommodations will not be made for presentation dates and quizzes cannot be made up. Peer evals will receive a 25% penalty for the first 24 hours they are late, a 50% penalty once they are 24 hours late, and will receive a 0% after a week.

 

Technology

 

I am aware that laptops have become commonplace in the university classroom, but laptops are not allowed in my classroom.

 

Phones must be put away and headphones/airpods/etc. must be removed and put away.

 

If I see you on your phone during class you will be marked absent. If I see you on your phone while your peers are presenting you will get a 0% on peer evaluations for that presentation.

 

The Use of AI

AI can be used as a tool or a crutch. There are many ways that it can be used to cheat, avoid work, decrease the challenges you face, and on the other hand it is proving to be an invaluable tool that you will likely have to be able to use well to be competitive on the job market. With that in mind, my policy for use of AI is this:

YOU MAY:

Use AI in ways that enhance your mastery of the material or cut down on tedious tasks. Examples include:

• Generating outlines of the reading to help you organize notes.
• Generating study questions to help you review material.
• Checking math (did you invest properly? Do you want to check different strategies for the games we’re doing?).
• Summarizing your own reading responses to see if your point is clear, or generating counterarguments to help you improve your reading responses.
• “Bouncing ideas” as a part of brainstorming.

 

YOU SHOULD NOT:

Use AI in a way that only serves to reduce your work or that hinders your learning. Examples include:

• Depending on AI summaries of the reading
• Asking an AI to fix problems in your writing
• Generating questions to then ask in class.

YOU MAY NOT:

Use AI to do any of the important work of generating anything you will submit as an assignment. Examples include:

• Having an AI write your reading response
• Having an AI generate your business plan
• Having an AI generate any part of your presentation
• Having an AI generate your feedback for your peers.

Any of the four cases above count as academic misconduct and will be reported in keeping with the policy for other forms of academic misconduct.

 

ADA/Accessibility Statement

Tulane University strives to make all learning experiences as accessible as possible. If you anticipate or experience academic barriers based on your disability, please let me know immediately so that we can privately discuss options. I will never ask for medical documentation from you to support potential accommodation needs. Instead, to establish reasonable accommodations, I may request that you register with the Goldman Center for Student Accessibility.  After registration, make arrangements with me as soon as possible to discuss your accommodations so that they may be implemented in a timely fashion. Goldman Center contact information: goldman@tulane.edu; (504) 862-8433; accessibility.tulane.edu.

 

Code of Academic Conduct

The Code of Academic Conduct applies to all undergraduate students, full-time and part-time, in Tulane University. Tulane University expects and requires behavior compatible with its high standards of scholarship. By accepting admission to the university, a student accepts its regulations (i.e., Code of Academic Conduct and Code of Student Conduct) and acknowledges the right of the university to take disciplinary action, including suspension or expulsion, for conduct judged unsatisfactory or disruptive.

 

Except for group presentations, all assignments must be completed individually, and must be the original work of the student. Group presentations must be the original work of the group as a collective, as spelled out in your group contract, which you will complete at the beginning of the semester.

 

Religious accommodation policy

Per Tulane’s religious accommodation policy (with hyperlink), I will make every reasonable effort to ensure that students are able to observe religious holidays without jeopardizing their ability to fulfill their academic obligations. Excused absences do not relieve the student from the responsibility for any course work required during the period of absence. Students should notify me within the first two weeks of the semester about their intent to observe any holidays that fall on a class day or on the day of the final project.          

 

            .

 

 

Course Schedule

This schedule is subject to change at the instructor’s discretion.

 

All readings and assignments can be found under their respective week and topic in our Canvas course’s “modules” page (or by clicking “Units” from the Canvas homepage). You do not need to dig through “files.”

 

 

 

Title IX:

Tulane University recognizes the inherent dignity of all individuals and promotes respect for all people. As such, Tulane is committed to providing an environment free of all forms of discrimination including sexual and gender-based discrimination, harassment, and violence like sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and stalking. If you (or someone you know) has experienced or is experiencing these types of behaviors, know that you are not alone. Resources and support are available: you can learn more at allin.tulane.edu.  Any and all of your communications on these matters will be treated as either “Confidential” or “Private” as explained in the chart below. Please know that if you choose to confide in me I am required by the university to share your disclosure in a Care Connection to the Office of Case Management and Victim Support Services to be sure you are connected with all the support the university can offer.  The Office of University Sexual Misconduct Response and Title IX Administration is also notified of these disclosures.  You choose whether or not you want to meet with these offices. You can also make a disclosure yourself, including an anonymous report, through the form at tulane.edu/concerns.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Confidential

Private

Except in extreme circumstances, involving imminent danger to one’s self or others, nothing will be shared without your explicit permission.       §  Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) | (504) 314-2277   §  The Line (24/7) | (504) 264-6074   §  Student Health Center | (504) 865-5255   §  Sexual Aggression Peer Hotline and Education (SAPHE) | (504) 654-9543

Conversations are kept as confidential as possible, but information is shared with key staff members so the University can offer resources and accommodations and take action if necessary for safety reasons. §  Case Management & Victim Support Services | (504) 314-2160 or srss@tulane.edu §  Tulane University Police (TUPD) | Uptown - (504) 865-5911 | Downtown – (504) 988-5531 §  Office of University Sexual Misconduct Response and Title IX Administration | (504) 865-5611 or titleix@tulane.edu §  Student Affairs Professional On-Call (24/7) | (504) 920-9900

 

 

 

 

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Statement (EDI)

 

"Equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are important Tulane values that drive excellence in our learning environments and help us build a supportive culture and climate for every member of our community  Diversity refers to many different identities and experiences that include the following and more: race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, military status, veteran status (or any other classification protected by applicable law). To live our values of EDI with one another, we acknowledge that each of us have areas of strength and growth in our EDI learning and competency that we each continuously work on to sustain EDI on our campus."

 

Emergency Preparedness & Response:

 

EMERGENCY NOTIFICATIONS: TU ALERT	SEVERE WEATHER
In the event of a campus emergency, Tulane University will notify students, faculty, and staff by email, text, and/or phone call. You were automatically enrolled in this system when you enrolled at the university.   Check your contact information annually in Gibson Online to confirm its accuracy.	§  Follow all TU Alerts and outdoor warning sirens §  Seek shelter indoors until the severe weather threat has passed and an all-clear message is given §  Do not use elevators §  Do not attempt to travel outside if weather is severe   Monitor the Tulane Emergency website (tulane.edu/emergency/) for university-wide closures during a severe weather event
ACTIVE SHOOTER / VIOLENT ATTACKER	EVERBRIDGE APP
RUN – run away from or avoid the affected area, if possible HIDE – go into the nearest room that can be locked, turn out the lights, and remain hidden until all-clear message is given through TU ALERT FIGHT – do not attempt this option, except as a last resort §  For more information or to schedule a training, visit emergencyprep.tulane.edu	§  Download the Everbridge app from the App Store or Google Play store §  The Report feature allows you to silently and discreetly communicate with TUPD dispatchers §  The SOS button allows you to notify TUPD if you need help §  The Safe Corridor button serves as a virtual escort and allows you to send check-in notifications to TUPD

From: Tulane Office of emergency preparedness and response

 

 

 

 

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