Ethical Issues with Stealing

Case- Study Method 1. Identify the ethical issues * she is being paid double * she has not reported it after 2 and a half months * the money is not hers * she can get in a lot of trouble * she looks bad in front of other colleagues if they were to ever find out. 2. Identify two possible plausible courses of action * tell Human Resources they made a mistake and give back the money * keep the money and hope no one notices. 3. Identify and quickly define some ethical theories Rawls: the greatest amount of good for the worst off people * He would have thought that regardless of intentions the ends is more important than the means. * Difference principle applies because it justifies that creating (or increasing) inequality is ethical only if doing so also benefits the worst off members of society. * Utilitarianism: * The greatest amount of good for the greatest amount of people * Wouldn’t support this because it is a selfish act * The intentions don’t matter it depends on th e means of the situation. Francine would benefit from the situation but the department would be losing money so the greatest amount of people would not be benefit. * Veil of Ignorance * Original Position : assume the â€Å"state of nature† hwere there’s no cooperation * Everyone is perfectly rational and completely self0interested * No knowledge of : race, sex, age, socioeconomic position, marital status, local, abilities/ skill, intelligence, etc. this means that Francine would not have the knowledge that she was being overpaid and continue on being ignorant about it. . Analyze the courses of action using the ethical theories : use theories above. 5. Weigh the considerations and come to a single recommendation for action : * Francine should report that she is being paid double because it is not ethical to be receiving money for no reason. * Could be considered stealing * Looks bad upon her * Makes her seem untrustworthy * Can lose her job * No one will have respect fo r her * Only benefits herself (her debit) 6. Justify your recommendations with reasons: look above.