Business Ethics

Contents
Presentation and discussion of fundamental approaches in normative ethics (utilitarianism, social contract theory, Kantianism); introduction to the basic terms of business ethics (shareholder vs. stakeholder, relation of ethics and economics/normative vs. empirical projects); fundamental questions in business ethics: moral quality of the free market/of capitalism (distribution/inequality; externalities etc.); presentation and discussion of standard theories of business ethics (Homann, Ulrich etc.). Case studies (variable: e.g. Ford Pinto; corporate downsizing; sweatshops; advertising). Special ethical issues (variable: e.g. insider training; whistle-blowing). Guest lectures on social business etc.

Learning outcomes
Specialized competence:

• introductory knowledge of basic positions in business ethics and in corporate ethics
• practicing a critical competence on case studies
• acquiring background knowledge of this specific area independently
• formulating and categorizing the pertinent contents in a written form

Methodical competence:

• understanding, processing and formulating the contents in a written form
• reconstructing and evaluating the contents conveyed
• critical and independent thinking and reasoning

Personal competence:

• identifying the economic function of ethics and morals
• The course should increase the motivation to act ethically, e.g. also by broadening the horizon of possibilities.

Necessary prerequisites
–

Recommended prerequisites
–

Forms of teaching and learning	Contact hours	Independent study time
Lecture	4 SWS	2 SWS

ECTS credits	3
Graded	yes
Workload	90h
Language	German
Form of assessment	Written exam (60 min)
Restricted admission	no
Further information	–

Examiner

Apl. Prof. Dr. Julius Schälike

Frequency of offering	Fall semester
Duration of module	1 semester
Preliminary course work	–