Mateo, Alberto Nel R.

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Chapter 1: Introduction

Amazon Reference: http://www.amazon.com/Ethics-Contemporary-Introduction-Introductions-Philosophy/dp/0415156254

Quote: "Practically every view, even a false one, can teach us something."

What I expect to learn:

            I expect to learn concepts about philosophy and as to why study ethics.

Review:

            This chapter focuses on the concept of philosophy. It is said that philosophy is the search for reason about questions. In doing philosophy, we first should know what the question is asking us. Then after it, we now consider a range of possible answers that we might think. After that, we are now to criticize those answers that we have and filter it according to the best. We eliminate answers that we have gotten which would only lead us to nothing. In other words, we eliminate meaningless answers that we have. Therefore, we look for the best perspective that we can get out of what we have. If we come to the point that we can't find our answer, we are at the very least able to come up with a well thought perspective on that problem. When we are reasoning, it is common that we come up with argument which is composed of basis and conclusion. We aim to have the clearest basis to which the conclusion follows in a logical manner. That is why the most typical way of reason is to hit the perspective by showing how it implies things logically. Moral Philosophy is the one that refers to reason about the crucial questions regarding morality. It is consist of two parts. These are metaethics which is the study of the nature and methodology of moral judgments and normative ethics that studies the principles about the way we should live. Therefore, in studying moral philosophy, we would encounter some of the great questions in life. This would help us refine our thinking about morality and hone our common thinking process.       

What I have learned:

• Concept of Philosophy
• Moral Philosophy

Integrative Questions:

• What is philosophy?
• What moral philosophy?
• What is metaethics?
• What is normative ethics?
• What is the most typical way to reason?

Chapter 1: Introduction

Amazon Reference: http://www.amazon.com/Ethics-College-Student-Kenneth-Strike/dp/0205173470/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267365249&sr=1-3

Quote: "Dialogue is more like a conversation."

What I expect to learn:

            I expect to learn about moral ideals and some ethical principles.

Review:

            This chapter discusses about reflecting on some ethical aspects of being a student. All chapters in this book aim to help its readers learn to think clearly and greatly about ethical issues especially the ones that concern the life of being a student and to help the readers think about their college or university as a kind of moral community. The first goal can be achieved with the presentation of problems and giving some ethical principles that can be applied to it. It doesn't end on that; they make sure that they don't claim an absolute perspective on a certain principle to be applicable on their problems. It is for the reader to make his own reflection and be able to go deeper on it using the principles that were presented. The second goal is the more difficult to achieve for it persuades its reader to visualize their college or university as a moral community and if it's not the case, to make it one of those. This chapter defines a moral community as a place where there is shared understanding on its moral discussions about right and wrong. It is good in the sense of what it has that most of the communities don't. It is dialogue, a type of conversation wherein there is no authority that dominates in the conversation. It also requires openness to ideas of others with the freedom to defend your perspective. A person belonging in this kind of community should be willing to persuade others but at the same time being open on other's persuasion. Thus, it results to learning and teaching with the people that are also participating in this kind of conversation which makes up the moral community that this book aims to be seen on the college and university of its readers.

            The last part of this chapter leaves a case regarding cheating and exploitation of other students. It also present some principles related to it like benefit maximization (Utilitarianism), equal respect for person and consistency, relationship, community and character growth. This is how it will challenge the thinking of its readers on reflecting about moral issues and eventually coming up with a viable perspective. This perspective should still be subjected to other ideas in order to grow and eventually be more relative to the topic.

What I have learned:

• Moral Community
• Dialogue

Integrative Questions:

• What are the main goals of this book in entirety?
• How can the first goal be achieve?
• How can the second goal be achieve?
• What is moral community?
• What is dialogue?

Chapter 2: Excerpts from "The Parable of the Sadhu"

Amazon Reference: http://www.amazon.com/Business-Ethics-SAGE-Library-Management/dp/1412902541/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267364791&sr=1-15

Quote: "It is to change the values of the group so that it can, with all its resources, take the other road."

What I expect to learn:

            I expect to learn important lessons about the parable of the Sadhu.

Review:

            This chapter tells a parable about the Sadhu. The story is basically about the sadhu (an Indian holy man) who was brought by one of the New Zealanders to the group of Bowen. It is said that the sadhu was suffering from hypothermia. The one that brought the man left after he entrusted the sadhu in Bowen's group. Bowen is the one that take the carotid pulse while his companion Stephen and the four Swiss gave him clothing. When Bowen saw the Japanese group, he had entrusted the care of it to them and he had gone ahead. The sadhu was left with Stephen and Pasang.  Stephen then asks the Japanese group to let the sadhu use the horse in order to transport him to the nearest hut. Unfortunately the Japanese refuse so Stephen asks the porters to carry him. The porters then carried the man down to a rock at about 15000 feet and instructed to go to the hut which was 500 feet below. The Japanese group gives him drink and food. That is how they treated the sadhu. They are not sure if the sadhu lives or dies after that.

            This parable leaves a good lesson that Bowen has learned on that incident. It is that every person especially those in an organization needs support from their group. This is what makes them learn how to act. It also represents a success of that person in the group and it can add to the creation and preserving a corporate culture. With regards to the management, it is their duty to be sensitive to the needs of every individual. It is in order to form, direct and focus them for the benefit of the whole group. The managers must be a leader of action-oriented that resolves problems, tolerates ambiguity, stress and change and must have a strong wisdom of purpose for themselves and their organizations. If they can achieve this, they now have the ability to change the values of the organization so that it can now take the other path with using their own capacities.   

What I have learned:

• Every person needs support from the group
• Qualities of an effective manager

Integrative Questions:

• What is the contribution of Bowen in helping the sadhu?
• What is the contribution of the Japanese group in helping the sadhu?
• What kind of leader should the managers be?
• What is the duty of the management in order to create and maintain a corporate culture?
• What is the lesson of the parable?