tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21396577110079985192024-03-13T20:59:50.796-04:00Business EthicsPHIL 09322-01<br>
<a href="http://www.rowan.edu">Rowan University</a><br>
Fall 2008Sean Keegan-Landishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16387989235982669451noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139657711007998519.post-70716742251889990622009-01-18T14:50:00.001-05:002009-01-18T14:50:23.770-05:00Join the Club!Still subscribed to this course blog? Nice.<br /><br />So, I'm trying to start up a school club -- the "Owning Our Ignorance" club -- devoted to fun and logic, in that order. I've put up a blog for it <a href="http://owningit.wordpress.com/">over here</a>.<br /><br />Check it out. Please join if you're interested.<br /><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjybOUE8_SxeRP6zCj4C9D5q2uKibTOYO4Rm3pRQ3_iQL3EbfThPi2IYfSm4mzZEwAU1PPKnfd4o9pl_jUgSiqkSe2ZzT6dlqnm6HKr91vFkZe4AY4_WKPtFmqopLIsDXC89N8Y6XEwdpwf/s400/joinordie2.jpg" alt="Real Original, Landis" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292718468496847586" border="0" />Sean Keegan-Landishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16387989235982669451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139657711007998519.post-14278042510539861872009-01-06T19:07:00.004-05:002009-01-06T19:12:58.928-05:00Goodbye to Yesterday...Well, it took long enough, but it finally happened. Your grades are now <a href="https://admin9.rowan.edu:44300/PROD/twbkwbis.P_WWWLogin">posted</a>. Happy New Year!<br /><br /><center><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3104/3130405412_98e6f68821.jpg"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3104/3130405412_98e6f68821.jpg" alt="Toni Likes PJs; Dave, Shorts" width="180" /></a><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3100/3129575411_593dc7a21e.jpg"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3100/3129575411_593dc7a21e.jpg" alt="Yankees? More Like Stinkees!" width="180" /></a></center><br /><center><a href="http://www.myspace.com/seanplandis"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2212/2475757207_c955e56f97.jpg" alt="Don't Ever Change!!!" width="300" /></a></center>Sean Keegan-Landishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16387989235982669451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139657711007998519.post-85763269126175555622008-12-09T07:17:00.000-05:002008-12-09T07:17:00.981-05:00Final ExamThe final exam is at 4:50 p.m. on Monday, December 15th. It's in our normal classroom.<br /><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; width: 400px; height: 223px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhFVkzZbGaqknFja5PtEFyh_cPq1sZ4wuCL0NOh7M4YYCaYV_2RwERV5G5PlHGU7iAjSPs_kPIkrUNoCE5Nmp3YYfoxpnwM1LuI4ir4tYxnOC1M24FC6nIma8-73Nsa7Y8lN7azP9BwrI/s400/enc_70.jpg" alt="OK, One: Napping" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275750027473091714" border="0" />Sean Keegan-Landishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16387989235982669451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139657711007998519.post-31764809290174841592008-12-08T20:55:00.007-05:002008-12-08T21:39:09.679-05:00The Car That Gives You That Warm Feeling<img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: right; width: 121px; height: 79px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS5C5QilyqPel0wxnP9VVW6kCVJYSuwzFfLIA1vE3HNYZs5r12o6LlyVPfzNO5FAWIMHKjV4VWNgkNE0-mKEf29VgLBdwcOri_FPQ-0pJKwJmeeV725KrxREp1y05YW_RFY_tMI9bhUnU/s200/Bomb_Pinto_Rr_LH.jpg" alt="My Other Car Is a Chevette" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277612403787035298" border="0" />Here are some links about consumer safety and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Pinto">Pinto</a>:<br /><ul><li>So <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Pinto#Safety_problems">what exactly was dangerous</a> about the Pinto?</li><li>Here's a <a href="http://www.pointoflaw.com/articles/The_Myth_of_the_Ford_Pinto_Case.pdf">law review article</a> debunking some of the misconceptions about the <a href="http://online.ceb.com/calcases/CA3/119CA3d757.htm">Pinto court case</a>.</li><li>Here's the <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/1977/09/dowie.html">full version</a> of the 1977 <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.motherjones.com/">Mother Jones</a> investigative report on the Pinto that we read for class. </li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Nader">Ralph Nader</a> came up a few times in this section of our textbook. He first became known for his <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Nader#Automobile-safety_activism">consumer safety advocacy</a> and his <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unsafe_at_Any_Speed">book on car safety</a>.<br /></li><li>Is it inappropriate to put a dollar amount on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Value_of_life">value of life</a>? Well, <a href="http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/pagerender.fcgi?artid=1227852&pageindex=1">it's been done for a while</a>, there's a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actuarial_science">whole field devoted to it</a>, and it turns out that <a href="http://www.law.harvard.edu/programs/olin_center/papers/pdf/422.pdf">the amount varies from job to job and industry to industry</a>.<br /></li><li>There are still some <a href="http://www.fordpinto.com/smf/index.php">Pinto enthusiasts</a> out there.<br /></li></ul>Finally, here are some videos. First, here's an actual Pinto bursting into flames after a rear-end collision:<br /><center><a style="left: 340px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-08816567105875384 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/rcNeorjXMrE&hl=en&fs=1"></a><a style="left: 340px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-08816567105875384 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/rcNeorjXMrE&hl=en&fs=1"></a><a style="left: 340px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-08816567105875384 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/rcNeorjXMrE&hl=en&fs=1"></a><a style="left: 340px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-08816567105875384 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/rcNeorjXMrE&hl=en&fs=1"></a><a style="left: 340px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-08816567105875384 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/rcNeorjXMrE&hl=en&fs=1"></a><a style="left: 340px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-08816567105875384 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/rcNeorjXMrE&hl=en&fs=1"></a><a style="left: 340px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-08816567105875384 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/rcNeorjXMrE&hl=en&fs=1"></a><a style="left: 0px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-08816567105875384 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/rcNeorjXMrE&hl=en&fs=1"></a><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rcNeorjXMrE&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rcNeorjXMrE&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></center><br />Second, here's a fictional version of an exploding Pinto from the comedy <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_Secret%21"><span style="font-style: italic;">Top Secret!</span></a>:<br /><center><a style="left: 340px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-08816567105875384 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/Glcj0szvevU&hl=en&fs=1"></a><a style="left: 340px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-08816567105875384 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/Glcj0szvevU&hl=en&fs=1"></a><a style="left: 340px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-08816567105875384 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/Glcj0szvevU&hl=en&fs=1"></a><a style="left: 340px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-08816567105875384 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/Glcj0szvevU&hl=en&fs=1"></a><a style="left: 340px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-08816567105875384 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/Glcj0szvevU&hl=en&fs=1"></a><a style="left: 340px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-08816567105875384 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/Glcj0szvevU&hl=en&fs=1"></a><a style="left: 340px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-08816567105875384 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/Glcj0szvevU&hl=en&fs=1"></a><a style="left: 0px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-08816567105875384 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/Glcj0szvevU&hl=en&fs=1"></a><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Glcj0szvevU&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Glcj0szvevU&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></center>Sean Keegan-Landishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16387989235982669451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139657711007998519.post-72628926924183102412008-12-03T00:27:00.001-05:002008-12-03T00:27:00.667-05:00Intellectual HonestyAn important claim I make in class is that, although it has many benefits, <a href="http://rowanbizethics.blogspot.com/2008/12/after-these-sponsors.html">advertising</a> is a fundamentally <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intellectual_dishonesty">intellectually dishonest</a> medium. So here's a little rant on the topic of intellectual honesty to help explain what I mean.<br /><br />A simple goal of this class is to get us all to recognize what counts as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rationality">good evidence</a> and what counts as <a href="http://www.butterfliesandwheels.com/badmoves.php">bad evidence</a> for a claim. I think we're getting better at that. But it's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apathy">not clear that we're caring</a> about the difference once we figure it out.<br /><br />Getting us to care is the real goal of this class. We should care about good evidence. We should care about it because it's what gets us closer to the truth. When we judge an argument to be overall good, <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zj99tunLZb4">THE POWER OF LOGIC COMPELS US</a> to believe the conclusion. If someone likes an arg, but still stubbornly disagrees with its conclusion, she is just being <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/wooden-headed">irrational</a>.<br /><br />This means we should be open-minded. We should be willing to let new evidence change our current beliefs. <span style="font-weight: bold;">We should be open to the possibility that <a class="ymp-btn-page-play ymp-media-8bb2392089e682c1ab80ade2c9ae3644" href="http://www.freewebs.com/seanlandis/todd%20glass%20being%20right%20vs%20things%20to%20be%20right.mp3">we might be wrong<em class="ymp-skin"></em></a>.</span> This is how <a href="http://www.toddglass.com/v2/index.php">Todd Glass</a> puts it:<br /><br /><center><a style="left: 340px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-05772362158125806 visible ontop" href="http://www.odeo.com/flash/audio_player_standard_gray.swf"></a><a style="left: 340px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-05772362158125806 visible ontop" href="http://www.odeo.com/flash/audio_player_standard_gray.swf"></a><embed src="http://www.odeo.com/flash/audio_player_standard_gray.swf" quality="high" allowscriptaccess="always" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="valid_sample_rate=true&external_url=http://www.freewebs.com/seanlandis/todd%20glass%20being%20right%20vs%20things%20to%20be%20right.mp3" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" width="300" height="52"></embed></center><br />Admitting when we're wrong, or simply ignorant, is a very important step in intellectual honesty. Here's an excerpt from a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcast">podcast</a> I listen to called <a href="http://www.maximumfun.org/blog/labels/jjgo.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">Jordan, Jesse GO!</span></a> about owning our ignorance:<br /><br /><center><a style="left: 340px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-05772362158125806 visible ontop" href="http://www.odeo.com/flash/audio_player_standard_gray.swf"></a><a style="left: 340px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-05772362158125806 visible ontop" href="http://www.odeo.com/flash/audio_player_standard_gray.swf"></a><embed src="http://www.odeo.com/flash/audio_player_standard_gray.swf" quality="high" allowscriptaccess="always" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="valid_sample_rate=true&external_url=http://www.freewebs.com/seanlandis/jjgo%5Fown%5Fyour%5Fignorance.mp3" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" width="300" height="52"></embed></center><br />Here are the first two paragraphs of a <a href="http://www.salon.com/env/mind_reader/2008/09/22/voter_choice/">great article I just read on this</a>:<br /><blockquote style="font-style: italic;"><p>Last week, I jokingly asked a health club acquaintance whether he would change his mind about his choice for president if presented with sufficient facts that contradicted his present beliefs. He responded with utter confidence. "Absolutely not," he said. "No new facts will change my mind because I know that these facts are correct." </p><p>I was floored. In his brief rebuttal, he blindly demonstrated overconfidence in his own ideas and the inability to consider how new facts might alter a presently cherished opinion. Worse, he seemed unaware of how irrational his response might appear to others. It's clear, I thought, that carefully constructed arguments and presentation of irrefutable evidence will not change this man's mind. </p></blockquote>Ironically, having extreme confidence in oneself is often a sign of ignorance. In many cases, <a href="http://www.apa.org/monitor/feb03/overestimate.html">such stubborn certainty is unwarranted</a>.<br /><br /><center><img src="http://images.icanhascheezburger.com/completestore/2008/10/27/128696016445995912.jpg" alt="Certainty Is a Sign of Ignorance" width="350" /></center>Sean Keegan-Landishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16387989235982669451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139657711007998519.post-84861666698855623902008-12-02T22:12:00.006-05:002008-12-02T23:01:21.887-05:00After These Sponsors...Here are some links on advertising ethics.<br /><ul><li>The first is about <a href="http://adage.com/garfieldtheblog/article.php?article_id=116162">the underlying intellectual dishonesty in even the most honest of ad campaigns</a>.<br /></li><li>By the way, if you're into advertising, <a href="http://adage.com/garfieldtheblog">that entire blog</a> is great. I'm a bit biased, though, since I used to <a href="http://www.onthemedia.com/">work with the guy who writes it</a>.</li><li>Here's a <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6153163">radio interview</a> with the director of <a href="http://factcheck.org/">FactCheck.org</a>, a great website devoted to debunking claims in political ads. </li><li>I also used to work with <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4142110">the guy who interviewed FactCheck's director</a>. Yup, I'm a pretty big deal.</li></ul>Finally, here's a recent <a href="http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Saturday Night Live</span></a> skit on the distortions of political ads:<br /><center><a style="left: 340px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-05772362158125806 visible ontop" href="http://widgets.nbc.com/o/4727a250e66f9723/4935fa4d09290655/4741e3c5156499a7/f532875a/-cpid/b9ae876bff387cd8"></a><a style="left: 340px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-05772362158125806 visible ontop" href="http://widgets.nbc.com/o/4727a250e66f9723/4935fa4d09290655/4741e3c5156499a7/f532875a/-cpid/b9ae876bff387cd8"></a><a style="left: 340px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-05772362158125806 visible ontop" href="http://widgets.nbc.com/o/4727a250e66f9723/4935fa4d09290655/4741e3c5156499a7/f532875a/-cpid/b9ae876bff387cd8"></a><a style="left: 340px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-05772362158125806 visible ontop" href="http://widgets.nbc.com/o/4727a250e66f9723/4935fa4d09290655/4741e3c5156499a7/f532875a/-cpid/b9ae876bff387cd8"></a><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://widgets.nbc.com/o/4727a250e66f9723/4935fa4d09290655/4741e3c5156499a7/f532875a/-cpid/b9ae876bff387cd8" id="W4727a250e66f97234935fa4d09290655" width="384" height="283"><param name="movie" value="http://widgets.nbc.com/o/4727a250e66f9723/4935fa4d09290655/4741e3c5156499a7/f532875a/-cpid/b9ae876bff387cd8"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="allowNetworking" value="all"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></object></center><center><img src="http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/truthinadvert128390672225937500.jpg" alt="Lies in News?" width="400" /></center>Sean Keegan-Landishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16387989235982669451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139657711007998519.post-89149362713113551062008-12-01T14:25:00.005-05:002008-12-01T15:02:46.542-05:00Extra Credit: Mom's ClippingsSince I started teaching business ethics, my mom has sent me a bunch of articles that she thinks would be helpful for the class. So I thought I'd use her gifts to create an optional extra credit assignment, due at the beginning of class on Wednesday, December 10th.<br /><br />Below are links to these articles. (As you can see, she reads a lot of <a href="http://www.newsweek.com/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Newsweek</span></a>.) The assignment is to write a short (about one-page) response to one of these articles. The response should include the following:<br /><ul><li>A brief summary of the article (no more than a paragraph).<br /></li><li>An explanation of your opinion regarding the ethical issue the article brings up. </li><li>A defense of your opinion. Support your opinion with good reasons!<br /></li></ul> The response doesn't have to be typed. You won't be graded on your opinion. You'll be graded on how well you <span style="font-weight: bold;">DEFEND</span> your opinion. This assignment is worth up to 25 points.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mom's Clippings</span><br />-<a href="http://www.newsweek.com/id/143737">How Much Privacy Do You Have at Work?</a> <span style="font-style: italic;">(Newsweek)</span><br />-<a href="http://www.newsweek.com/id/135376">Humane Fast Food?</a> <span style="font-style: italic;">(Newsweek)</span><br />-<a href="http://www.newsweek.com/id/135378">Salmon Fishing Crash</a> <span style="font-style: italic;">(Newsweek)</span><br />-<a href="http://www.newsweek.com/id/135373">The Business Behind Niagara Falls</a> <span style="font-style: italic;">(Newsweek)</span><br />-<a href="http://www.slate.com/id/2202489">The Financial Crisis Disproves Libertarianism</a> <span style="font-style: italic;">(Slate)</span><br />-<a href="http://www.newsweek.com/id/158752">The Invisible Hand Still Works</a> <span style="font-style: italic;">(Newsweek)</span><br />-<a href="http://www.gourmet.com/magazine/2000s/2004/08/consider_the_lobster?printable=true">David Foster Wallace: Consider the Lobster</a> <span style="font-style: italic;">(Gourmet)<br /></span>-<a href="http://chronicle.com/temp/reprint.php?id=pwq4w52rk7wg916xkfflm6r43x0h2d5s">Nudge: Government Paternalism</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> (Chronicle of Higher Education)<br /></span>-<a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2008/03/17/onthejob.DTL">You Don't Deserve Your Salary</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> (San Francisco Chronicle)<br /></span>-<a href="http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/01/08/070108fa_fact?currentPage=all">How Obvious Was Enron?</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> (New Yorker)<br /></span>-<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/09/magazine/09wwln_freak.html?_r=1">Free Market for Organ Donations?</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> (New York Times Magazine)<br /></span>-<a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27958458/?GT1=43001">Company Rewards Workers... with Its Profit!</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> (MSNBC)<br /></span><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfuVR3cJUZXRuCJk5ynutvAjS5xAMQ-agKqhcJ_aOoMGlVP5WrbhrhopspGGENcFI4i6HzKzx5JZLU5NdE1Vf06EZ5mHdVOKfneUjGUwITyxpJCFooaRsf_VxEWWDx7_28d27GHIgVmCY/s400/mom-standing.jpg" alt="I'm Not Doing Anything!" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274913935364015522" border="0" />Sean Keegan-Landishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16387989235982669451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139657711007998519.post-20113160614559015092008-11-29T14:11:00.002-05:002008-12-01T15:04:47.991-05:00Email PrivacyHere are some links on email privacy.<br /><ul><li>Legally speaking, are workers entitled to email privacy? <a href="http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs7-work.htm">Not really</a>.</li><li>But wait: there's a <a href="http://www.newsweek.com/id/143737">recent court ruling on employee text messages</a> that could start changing things. <span style="font-style: italic;">(Thank Mama Landis for that link!)</span></li><li>Here's the <a href="http://www.onthemedia.org/yore/transcripts/transcripts_061402_espn.html">interview</a> on the <a href="http://www.onthemedia.com/">radio show I used to work for</a> with the <a href="http://www.espn.com/">ESPN</a> employee who was <a href="http://www.g-sports.net/articles/article39.shtml">fired after ESPN monitored his emails</a>.</li></ul>As always, feel free to <a href="mailto:landis@rowan.edu">email me</a>. I promise to keep our correspondence confidential.<br /><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJy-utN__KJY89xDhUjCXByW-pIxA2sJcoGFk5woAdnFTDCGV_XL3pXP_bhOKctTfBzB9XGBdn01cWlmmGYF_qOS55O4fqmPvgGDJQqBSXLjljrQlu1w_hZhdYVDIbgqghZvMRwv_JC8U/s400/anger.jpg" alt="Don't Fire Me!" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274903518593473490" border="0" />Sean Keegan-Landishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16387989235982669451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139657711007998519.post-92102338220059276102008-11-23T20:51:00.004-05:002008-11-24T00:14:21.108-05:00Paper Guidelines<span style="font-weight: bold;">Due Date:</span> The beginning of class on Monday, December 15th, 2008<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Worth: </span>15% of your overall grade<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Logistics: </span>Write an argumentative essay on one of the topics below. Papers must be typed, and must be between 600-1200 words long. Provide a word count on the first page of the paper. (Most programs like Microsoft Word & WordPerfect have automatic word counts.)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Assignment: </span> Explain and evaluate a pair of articles from our textbook that we do not go over in class.<br /><ul><li>First, briefly explain each main argument in the two articles you read. (Choose pairs from those listed below.)</li><li>Then, evaluate each argument. Are the premises true, false, or questionable? Is the structure good or bad? Consider criticisms to each argument, along with responses to these criticisms.</li><li>Finally, explain and defend your opinion on the issue. Which side—if either—do you think is correct? Why? Be sure to defend each of your opinion with reasons.<br /></li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold;">Topics </span><span style="font-style: italic;">(readings and page numbers from our textbook)</span><br />1. Can restructuring a corporation’s rules make a moral difference?<br /> -Josef Wieland (25-37) and Ian Maitland (38-53).<br /><br />2. Is it a mistake to urge corporate managers to be moral?<br /> -John Boatright (74-81) and Jack Guynn (82-90)<br /><br />2. Is privatizing Social Security good business?<br /> -David Altig & Jagadeesh Gokhale (94-112) and Thomas Bethell (113-119)<br /><br />3. Should the states regulate appropriate business behavior?<br /> -Eliot Spitzer (122-131) and Alan Yuspeh (132-142)<br /><br />4. Is “employment-at-will” good social policy?<br /> -Richard Epstein (221-226) and John McCall (227-244)<br /><br />5. Is direct-to-consumer advertising of pharmaceuticals bad for our health?<br /> -Sidney Wolfe (281-285) and Alan Holmer (286-290)<br /><br />6. Should we require labeling for genetically modified food?<br /> -Philip Bereano (322-328) and Joseph Levitt (329-338)<br /><br />7. Are multinational corporations free from moral obligation?<br /> -Manuel Velasquez (342-347) and John Fleming (348-351)<br /><br />8. Should patenting life be forbidden?<br /> -Jeremy Rifken (354-359) and William Domnarski (360-364)<br /><br />9. Do environmental restrictions violate basic economic freedoms?<br /> -John Shanahan (368-377) and Paul Ehrlich & Anne Ehrlich (378-386)<br /><br />10. Is bottling water a good solution to problems of water purity and availability?<br /> -Julie Stauffer (389-392) and Brian Howard (393-405)<br /><br />11. Should the world continue to rely on oil as a major source of energy?<br /> -Red Cavaney (408-411) and Howard Kunstler (412-417)<br /><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; width: 400px; height: 352px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDneni8eN3XOJEJvMY3gXsu5GHgqPiD8SWTsIF1uKUB_fL9qrXknxpJ0PuTz8prwzf5za0xeaCtFZ80c7cRKnU4cy_Xm7DhATeqe5fdLVr68dRCK-b_Z-0u2o5zKFQx8Livg6bZV6vdK4/s400/corp.jpg" alt="Default on This" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272036636584621490" border="0" />Sean Keegan-Landishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16387989235982669451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139657711007998519.post-22220785466116661752008-11-12T21:37:00.004-05:002008-11-12T22:40:20.643-05:00The Banality of EvilHere are some links related to our discussion about <a href="http://rowanbizethics.blogspot.com/2008/11/corporation.html">the documentary we watched in class</a>:<br /><ul><li><a href="http://www.iep.utm.edu/a/arendt.htm">Hannah Arendt</a>'s thesis about the <a href="http://www.iep.utm.edu/a/arendt.htm#H6">banality of evil</a>.</li><li><a href="http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/arendt">More on Hannah Arendt</a>.</li></ul>Also, here are some deleted scenes from a recent episode of <a href="http://www.nbc.com/The_Office">"The Office"</a> titled <a href="http://www.nbc.com/The_Office/episodes/season5/5003">"Business Ethics."</a> You can <a href="http://www.hulu.com/watch/38492/the-office-business-ethics#s-p1-so-i0">watch the entire episode online</a>.<br /><center><a style="left: 348px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-08339293218429391 visible ontop" href="http://widgets.nbc.com/o/4727a250e66f9723/491b92eaff6bcfde/4917acf1f4674200/ea0efba0/-cpid/397641b43c490f87"></a><a style="left: 0px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-08339293218429391 visible ontop" href="http://widgets.nbc.com/o/4727a250e66f9723/491b92eaff6bcfde/4917acf1f4674200/ea0efba0/-cpid/397641b43c490f87"></a><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://widgets.nbc.com/o/4727a250e66f9723/491b92eaff6bcfde/4917acf1f4674200/ea0efba0/-cpid/397641b43c490f87" id="W4727a250e66f9723491b92eaff6bcfde" width="384" height="283"><param name="movie" value="http://widgets.nbc.com/o/4727a250e66f9723/491b92eaff6bcfde/4917acf1f4674200/ea0efba0/-cpid/397641b43c490f87"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="allowNetworking" value="all"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></object></center>Sean Keegan-Landishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16387989235982669451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139657711007998519.post-50420373048091717772008-11-05T22:08:00.003-05:002008-11-05T22:12:46.948-05:00"The Corporation"The two-part movie below is <a href="http://www.thecorporation.com/">"The Corporation,"</a> the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Corporation">documentary</a> we're watching in class.<br /><br /><center><embed id="VideoPlayback" style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 326px" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" hl="en&fs=" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always"></embed><br /><embed id="VideoPlayback" style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 326px" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" hl="en&fs=" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always"></embed> </center><br />So what did you think of the movie?Sean Keegan-Landishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16387989235982669451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139657711007998519.post-38586722116533362072008-10-30T12:33:00.001-04:002008-10-30T12:33:51.435-04:00Midterm on MondayThis is just a reminder that the midterm is on Monday, November 3rd. <br /><br />Also, <span style="font-weight: bold;">CONGRATS TO THE WORLD CHAMPIONS OF BASEBALL!</span><br /><br /><CENTER><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/12GNs8ERYL0&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/12GNs8ERYL0&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></CENTER>Sean Keegan-Landishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16387989235982669451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139657711007998519.post-66729219375729823412008-10-21T19:29:00.005-04:002008-10-21T20:39:34.477-04:00Everyday Low WagesHere are some links related to our third consensus session on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wal-Mart">Wal-Mart</a>:<br /><ul><li>Is Wal-Mart good for the working class? Here's a <a href="http://www.slate.com/id/2144517/entry/2144521/">great debate</a> between an <a href="http://www.brookings.edu/experts/furmanj.aspx">economist</a> who says <a href="http://homepages.nyu.edu/%7Ejf1264/walmart.pdf">yes</a> and an <a href="http://www.barbaraehrenreich.com/">activist</a> who says <a href="http://mondediplo.com/2006/01/07cultofsam">no</a>.</li><li>How did Wal-Mart become the biggest retailer? <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Taking-Sides-Clashing-Business-Controversial/dp/0073527270">What we read for class</a> said <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Walton">Sam Walton</a>'s big idea was that lower prices would increase total sales and lead to higher profits. But another important development was how Wal-Mart <a href="http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:BRFyc-TeoMkJ:josephdamiano.com/Articles/JIT.htm+wal-mart+%22just+in+time%22+inventory&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us">streamlined its inventory process</a>.<br /></li><li>Yes, Wal-Mart has low prices, and apparently <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20070121232613/http://economics.missouri.edu/Working_Paper_Series/2004/wp0401_basker.pdf">the prices at other stores also go down in the long run</a> when a Wal-Mart comes to town.</li><li>Here are <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Wal-Mart">many of the common criticisms of Wal-Mart</a>.<br /></li><li>Beware of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_dilemma">false dilemmas</a>! This isn't a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero-sum">zero-sum</a> game: <a href="http://www.epi.org/content.cfm/ib223">Wal-Mart doesn't have to raise its prices to raise its wages</a>.</li><li>Here's the <a href="http://www.southparkzone.com/episode.php?vid=809">full episode</a> of <a href="http://www.southparkstudios.com/"><span style="font-style: italic;">South Park</span></a> about a "Wall-Mart" coming to town. Below are some clips from the episode.<br /></li></ul><br /><center><a style="left: 340px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-02588112204041192 visible ontop" href="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:southparkstudios.com:104409:"></a><a style="left: 340px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-02588112204041192 visible ontop" href="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:southparkstudios.com:104409:"></a><a style="left: 340px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-02588112204041192 visible ontop" href="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:southparkstudios.com:104409:"></a><embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:southparkstudios.com:104409:" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="window" allowfullscreen="true" scriptaccess="always" width="425"></embed><a style="left: 340px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-02588112204041192 visible ontop" href="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:southparkstudios.com:104412:"></a><a style="left: 340px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-02588112204041192 visible ontop" href="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:southparkstudios.com:104412:"></a><a style="left: 340px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-02588112204041192 visible ontop" href="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:southparkstudios.com:104412:"></a><embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:southparkstudios.com:104412:" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="window" allowfullscreen="true" scriptaccess="always" width="425"></embed></center>Sean Keegan-Landishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16387989235982669451noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139657711007998519.post-45224706572751956882008-10-19T15:28:00.000-04:002008-10-21T17:48:59.775-04:00Incorporate ResponsiblyHere are some links related to our second consensus session topic on corporate responsibility:<br /><ul><li>A <a href="http://www.econlib.org/library/Enc/bios/Friedman.html">concise article</a> on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milton_Friedman">Milton Friedman</a>, from a <a href="http://www.econlib.org/index.html">free online economics encyclopedia</a>. (How many <a href="http://www.econlib.org/index.html">free</a> <a href="http://plato.stanford.edu/">online</a> <a href="http://www.iep.utm.edu/">encyclopedias</a> do you think I know about?)</li><li>Friedman played a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_school_%28economics%29">big role</a> in making <a href="http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/libertarianism">libertarianism</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laissez-faire">laissez-faire</a> economic policies seem cool again...<br /></li><li>... although the current financial collapse <span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><a href="http://www.slate.com/id/2202489">might be killing libertarianism</a>.</li></ul>What's this current financial collapse all about, anyway? Here's a bunch of pretty good stuff on it:<br /><ul><li>How did the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subprime_mortgage_crisis">subprime mortage crisis</a> happen? The radio show <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.thislife.org/">This American Life</a> gives <a href="http://www.thislife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?episode=355">a great explanation</a>, and radio host <a href="http://freshair.npr.org/">Terry Gross</a> asks <span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><a href="http://www.michaelgreenberger.com/">Michael Greenberger</a> to <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89338743">explain it.</a></li><li>Why did the mortgage crisis lead to the collapse of huge financial companies? <a href="http://www.thislife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?episode=365"><span style="font-style: italic;">This American Life</span> gives another great explanation</a>. OK, <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94686428">Greenberger does</a>, too.<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></li><li>There's also <a href="http://onigame.livejournal.com/38334.html">this short play</a> on the role that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Credit_default_swaps">credit default swaps</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netting">netting</a> (or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedge_%28finance%29">hedging</a>) played in the collapse of those huge financial companies.<br /></li></ul>Finally, we wondered in class which members of a business are required to be socially responsible. Should we focus on the owners, or the management, or the employees? The following scene from <span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clerks">Clerks</a> </span>suggests that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Smith">Kevin Smith</a> believes we should focus on all of them.<br /><br /><center><a style="left: 348px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-02588112204041192 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/n6lzEhoXads&hl=en&fs=1"></a><a style="left: 340px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-02588112204041192 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/n6lzEhoXads&hl=en&fs=1"></a><a style="left: 340px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-02588112204041192 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/n6lzEhoXads&hl=en&fs=1"></a><a style="left: 340px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-02588112204041192 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/n6lzEhoXads&hl=en&fs=1"></a><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/n6lzEhoXads&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/n6lzEhoXads&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></center>Sean Keegan-Landishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16387989235982669451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139657711007998519.post-686998585435364342008-10-12T15:26:00.000-04:002008-10-21T17:46:50.660-04:00Cap & ComHere are some links related to our first consensus session topic on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitalism">capitalism</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communism">communism</a>.<br /><ul><li>An <a href="http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/marx">advanced overview</a> of the writings of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_marx">Karl Marx</a>, from <a href="http://plato.stanford.edu/">my favorite free online philosophy encyclopedia</a>.</li><li>An <a href="http://www.iep.utm.edu/s/smith.htm">advanced overview</a> of the writings of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Smith">Adam Smith</a>, from <a href="http://www.iep.utm.edu/">another free online philosophy encyclopedia</a>.<br /></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Will">George Will</a> gives an <a href="http://www.newsweek.com/id/158752">explanation </a> of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invisible_hand">invisible hand</a>'s emergent control of a free market.</li><li>Wait, what's <a href="http://www.wnyc.org/shows/radiolab/episodes/2005/02/18">emergence</a>?<br /></li><li>Is America's economy capitalist? Well, not exactly. <a href="http://www.slate.com/id/2201534">So what should we call it?</a><br /></li></ul><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU8UvAKoBhsK3Fi0ahHf_Oer7vj-6lLUm-dH2Z8GtArjgFRfjx1Z4190dSZsB1c_V-0o1DFl-FIAZr5ZgOVZMICoDaDnsnyEKFH2LO7hg7bjh4OmBfaVwHH5RcrCU9E-FVhfKIFUjNQ2A/s400/Invisible+hand.jpg" alt="Now You See It, Now You Don't" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259713551256569522" border="0" />Sean Keegan-Landishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16387989235982669451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139657711007998519.post-39595144854184938102008-10-04T12:32:00.001-04:002008-10-04T12:34:35.340-04:00Cole Hamels Is An Exception<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> </h3> <div class="post-body entry-content"> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252338307867178994" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="OH YES WE ARE" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTHqDXs1_0jyn84Y2J9mstz3r3Qo0JOkkRW_coFqRX_gsUklTIiWiDP_yesafEJCdx99_iNIs3k4cbOuAd_OAS5O9-fO_gSf38_KhnewllS20Eag94bzsJWkzMoIHmrdojPE4oUDDffag/s400/Image.jpg" border="0" />Thanks to the mysterious "Eric from your Rowan class," our anti-I'M-SPECIAL-ism pin made it to the first Phillies playoff game on Wednesday. Not to go against the <a href="http://www.nyu.edu/classes/gmoran/NAGEL.pdf">message of the pin</a> or anything, but I'm taking credit for the <a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20081001&content_id=3578797&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=phi">win</a>. Clearly the pin is <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/04/AR2007020401032.html">lucky</a>.</div>Sean Keegan-Landishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16387989235982669451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139657711007998519.post-56082643723171727852008-09-25T00:32:00.004-04:002008-09-25T00:40:12.069-04:00Consensus Session GuidelinesMost Wednesdays we’ll be holding a consensus session on the current issue we’ll be discussing. Groups of about 4 students will be responsible for leading these consensus sessions.<br /><br />Your group’s first job is to understand and evaluate the arguments contained in the readings for your issue. (You can find which group you're in <a href="http://rowanbizethics.blogspot.com/2008/09/consensus-session-groups.html">here</a>, and find which articles your group is assigned to on the schedule <a href="http://rowanbizethics.blogspot.com/2008/09/course-schedule.html">here</a>.)<br /><br />Then you should reach a group-wide consensus as to whether each argument is good or bad. During your consensus session, your group’s job is to present your findings regarding the arguments to the rest of the class, and lead a class-wide consensus session on each argument.<br /><br />When preparing, play the back & forth game. That is, consider as many responses to the argument and your criticisms of it as you can think of. Is the argument misguided? Mistaken? Can you revise the argument to overcome the criticisms you come up with?<br /><br />NOTE: It doesn’t matter which side you end up on! The goal isn’t to say what’s wrong about the argument. The goal is to figure out whether it’s good or bad.<br /><br />When you lead the consensus session, follow the following steps:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Consensus Session Format</span><br />1. Explain the main point of the reading.<br /><br />2. Explain the author’s argument in support of this main point.<br /><br />3. Say whether you think the argument is good or bad.<br /><br />4. Explain how you came to the conclusion that the argument is good/bad. Discuss the back & forth process you went through to come to your conclusion.<br /><br />5. Hold a small question and answer round to explain and clarify the argument and your evaluation of it.<br /><br />6. Run a consensus session (a thumbs up or down vote) with the rest of class.<br /><br />7. Go back & forth with every dissenter until a consensus is reached (or class ends).<br /><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_UhxEQUY-vzj6IVV_OlIqQrbJeml6bQcfkNEJWUB4BBADN8wOkEABGsOu175W1s30UoPoX9PeUHnoii_M1-oUh2KXkYqNwbFDfq2NzxLCGkkcjBgiDVaEfG9RQ2VvgQgxvVovSY5rrdI/s400/consensus+hands.jpg" alt="So We All Agree: We're Wrong" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249813517155619394" border="0" />Sean Keegan-Landishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16387989235982669451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139657711007998519.post-79153628198457386742008-09-24T21:00:00.000-04:002008-09-25T00:40:36.649-04:00Quiz Me OnceThe quiz will be held at the beginning of class on Monday, September 29th. You will have about 25 minutes to take it. There will be a section on evaluating arguments, and 4 short answer questions on the topic of whether moral claims are facts or opinions (the ethical relativism and Thomas Nagel readings). The quiz is worth 10% of your overall grade.<br /><br />Feel free to <a href="https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=2139657711007998519&postID=7915362819845738674">insult me in the comments</a> for putting you through the terrible ordeal of taking a quiz.<br /><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6GOZW3Wc57g98WxYeMUqy-VjO78VLDgun1IgDOb0xjcj2RshNXZj28JVXqogtSmB9xtu9QjfraITLDcZsRVuNHHDygNrbWQIgkUUXXYzk6PQURN005ZXV7EB73InMQn470tPekbAF_BF3/s400/booo.gif" alt="HEADS UP THUMBS DOWN" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179738357949669202" border="0" />Sean Keegan-Landishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16387989235982669451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139657711007998519.post-56500367658341909632008-09-23T10:42:00.001-04:002008-09-23T10:42:32.151-04:00Understanding ArgsHere are the answers to the extra credit assignment on understanding arguments.<br /><br />1. <u>(P1) Fairdale has the best team.</u><br />(C) Fairdale will win the championship<br /><br />2. (P1) The housing market is depressed.<br /><u>(P2) Interest rates are low.</u><br />(C) It's a good time to buy a home.<br /><br />3. (P1) China is guilty of extreme human rights abuses.<br /><u>(P2) China refuses to implement democratic reforms.</u><br />(C) The U.S. should refuse to deal with the present Chinese government.<br /><br />4. <u>(P1) The results of the Persian Gulf War were obviously successful for the U.S. military.</u><br />(C) The U. S. military is both capable and competent.<br /><br />5. (P1) Scientific discoveries are continually debunking religious myths.<br /><u>(P2) Science provides the only hope for solving the many problems faced by humankind.</u><br />(C) Science provides a more accurate view of human life than does religion.<br /><br />6. (P1) Freedom of speech and expressions are essential to a democratic form of government.<br />(P2) As soon as we allow some censorship, it won't be long before censorship will be used to silence the opinions critical of the government.<br /><u>(P3) Once we allow some censorship, we will have no more freedom than the Germans did under Hitler.</u><br />(C) We must resist all effort to allow the government to censor entertainment.<br /><br />7. <u>(P1) I'm very good at my job.</u><br />(C) I deserve a raise.<br /><br />8. (P1) Jesse is one year old.<br /><u>(P2) Most one-year-olds can walk.</u><br />(C) Jesse can walk.<br /><br />9 <u>(P1) The revocation of the 55 mph speed limit has resulted in an increased number of auto fatalities.</u><br />(C) we must alleviate this problem with stricter speed limit enforcement.<br /><br />10. <u>(P1) The last person we hired from Bayview Tech turned out to be a bad employee.</u><br />(C) I'm not willing to hire anybody else from that school again.<br /><br />11. (P1) Maebe didn't show up for work today.<br /><u>(P2) Maebe has never missed work unless she was sick.</u><br />(C) Maebe is probably sick today.<br /><br />11. (P1) The United States, as the most powerful nation in the world, has a moral obligation to give assistance to people who are subjected to inhumane treatment.<br /><u>(P2) The ethnic Albanians were being persecuted in Kosovo.</u><br />(C) It was proper for the U.S. to become involved in the air campaign against Kosovo.<br /><br />----------------<br />Hat tip: I took some of the examples (with some revisions) from <a href="http://www.uky.edu/%7Erosdatte/phi120/lesson1a.htm">Beth Rosdatter's website</a>, and some (with some revisions) from <a href="http://faculty.uncfsu.edu/jyoung/toppage2.htm">Jon Young's website</a>.<br /><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1AXN-hAUEI95cQ64BDkhrQwGjBrevJd7YOmxqh-0TkUUrqaEYFbnXG-S-NaXqkeahijaporthmDrTbbPukbkFSaumEiJUgk8U-TjGt3kMKw_CjxWbk-LLkmIZ0bLf-DNDPHwWGvukMd0/s400/funny-pictures-hot-cat-girlfriend.jpg" alt="The LOLCat Dolls" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246079403240479138" border="0" />Sean Keegan-Landishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16387989235982669451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139657711007998519.post-30333038946595849422008-09-16T06:00:00.001-04:002008-09-16T06:00:00.763-04:00Relative to You, But Not to Me<p>Here are some links on ethical relativism.<br /></p><ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_Benedict">an </a><a href="http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/moral-relativism">advanced overview</a> of various versions of moral relativism (from a <a href="http://plato.stanford.edu/">free online philosophy encyclopedia</a>)</li><li>An <a href="http://www.believermag.com/issues/200508/?read=interview_haidt">interview with a moral psychologist</a> who supports a sophisticated version of ethical relativism</li><li>An argument against the DIVERSITY THESIS: <a href="http://schwitzsplinters.blogspot.com/2007/10/why-im-not-moral-relativist.html">cultures morally agree more than they disagree</a></li><li>A <a href="http://bloggingheads.tv/diavlogs/9785">webcam dialogue on morality, psychology, and religion</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannibalism">Cannibalism!</a></li></ul><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtOcEppo88EiKsupPm4mV3BgOK-Moeal3p_e4Ptu59TQA1MRanOzNpzNhBF3wacu_R9MbptVNSQjO7mybKT3omriOrM_Y94oI392ZB52r1WapHS3SYi-03PfsbJyMJSvvHDpTYvUcY9w/s400/ecard+entitled+to+incorrect+opinion.jpg" alt="We're All Allowed to Be Wrong" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109548413246525650" border="0" />Sean Keegan-Landishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16387989235982669451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139657711007998519.post-11416038517413114022008-09-15T18:30:00.001-04:002008-09-15T19:50:09.305-04:00Evaluating ArgsHere are the answers to the handout on evaluating arguments that we went over in class. Perhaps I should have titled the handout "So Many Bad Args!"<br /><br />1) All bats are mammals.<br /><u>All mammals live on earth.</u><br />All bats live on earth.<br /><strong></strong><blockquote><strong>Overall Good</strong> (good structure and true premises)<br /></blockquote>2) All students in here are mammals.<br /><u>All humans are mammals.</u><br />All students in here are humans.<br /><blockquote><strong>Bad Structure</strong> (what if a dog were a student in our class?), so<br /><strong>Overall Bad </strong>(even though the premises are true)</blockquote> 3) (from Stephen Colbert)<br />Bush is either a great prez or the greatest prez.<br /><u>Bush isn’t a great prez.</u><br />Bush is the greatest prez.<br /><blockquote><strong>Questionable Premises,</strong> so <strong>Overall Bad</strong> (even though it has a good structure)<br /></blockquote> 4) All students in here are humans.<br /><u>Most humans are shorter than 7 feet tall.</u><br />Most students in here are shorter than 7 feet tall.<br /><blockquote><strong>Bad Structure </strong>(there could be a lot of tall students in here even if most humans aren't tall), so <span style="font-weight: bold;">Overall Bad</span><strong></strong> (even though the premises are true)<br /></blockquote> 5) Some people are funny.<br /><u>Sean is a person.</u><br />Sean is funny.<br /><blockquote><strong>Bad Structure </strong>(only some are funny, so I don't have to be funny), so <span style="font-weight: bold;">Overall Bad</span><strong></strong> (even though the premises are true)</blockquote> 6) If Sean sings, then students cringe.<br /><u>Sean is singing right now.</u><br />Students are cringing right now.<br /><blockquote><strong>False 2nd Premise</strong> (and questionable 1st premise), so<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Overall Bad</span> (even though the structure is good)</blockquote> 7) All email forwards are annoying.<br /><u>Some email forwards are false.</u><br />Some annoying things are false.<br /><blockquote><strong></strong><span style="font-weight: bold;">Questionable 1st Premise</span>, so <span style="font-weight: bold;">Overall Bad</span> (even though the structure is good)<br /></blockquote> 8) If Sean sings, then students cringe.<br /><u>Sean isn't singing right now.</u><br />Students aren't cringing right now.<br /><blockquote><strong>Bad Structure </strong>(students could cringe for a different reason) (and questionable 1st premise), so <span style="font-weight: bold;">Overall Bad</span><strong></strong><br /></blockquote> 9) All bats are mammals.<br /><u>All bats have wings.</u><br />All mammals have wings.<br /><blockquote><strong>Bad Structure</strong>, so <span style="font-weight: bold;">Overall Bad</span> (even though the premises are true)</blockquote> 10) If Sean sings, then students cringe.<br /><u>Students aren't cringing right now.</u><br />Sean isn't singing right now.<br /><blockquote><strong>Questionable 1st premise</strong>, so <span style="font-weight: bold;">Overall Bad</span> (even though the structure is good)</blockquote> 11) Some dads have beards.<br /><u>All bearded people are mean.</u><br />Some dads are mean.<br /><blockquote><strong>Questionable 2nd premise,</strong> so <span style="font-weight: bold;">Overall Bad</span> (even though the structure is good)<br /></blockquote> 12) If Sean sings, then students cringe.<br /><u>Students are cringing right now.</u><br />Sean is singing right now.<br /><blockquote><p><strong>Bad Structure </strong>(I don't have to sing for students to cringe) and <span style="font-weight: bold;">False 2nd premise</span> (and questionable 1st premise), so <strong>Overall Bad</strong></p></blockquote> 13) This class is boring.<br /><u>All boring things are taught by Sean</u><br />This class is taught by Sean.<br /><blockquote><strong style="font-weight: bold;"></strong><span style="font-weight: bold;">Questionable 1st Premise</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">False 2nd Premise</span>, so <span style="font-weight: bold;">Overall Bad</span> (even though the structure is good)<br /></blockquote><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://icanhascheezburger.com/2008/01/22/funny-pictures-sisyphus-cat-tries-again/"><img style="width: 363px; height: 353px;" alt="Try Again... FOREVAR!" src="http://icanhascheezburger.wordpress.com/files/2008/01/funny-pictures-sisyphus-cat-watermelon-water.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sisyphus">(More on Sisyphus)</a></span></div>Sean Keegan-Landishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16387989235982669451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139657711007998519.post-76336762880070395722008-09-13T11:45:00.001-04:002008-09-14T23:48:55.308-04:00Thomas Nagel ReadingIn case you didn't get a copy of the <a href="http://philosophy.fas.nyu.edu/object/thomasnagel">Thomas Nagel</a> handout assigned to read for Monday, it is available online <a href="http://www.nyu.edu/classes/gmoran/NAGEL.pdf">here</a>.<br /><br />Enjoy!<br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhou4Ggv0Dpl5exo-OcVl3uH0cKYdwJvNmCVb8-4foUHMtnE76LojElJqExdw1mm63XUPktc3xzEN5SEXOm7khhzntFDWX6T1BCQTN4qj0l2-TBZ3IjSDGXe4NkU9Fdbx8vbPM75U6xbSs/s400/antiimspecialism+new.JPG" alt="No, You're Not" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246089818067447298" border="0" />Sean Keegan-Landishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16387989235982669451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139657711007998519.post-32645673759029202052008-09-12T06:00:00.001-04:002008-09-15T19:52:01.375-04:00Consensus Session GroupsHere are the groups for our <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consensus_decision-making">consensus sessions</a>:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1. Capitalism vs. Communism (10/1): </span>Kevin, Ryan, Samantha P., Yaz<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />2. Corporate Responsibility (10/8): </span>Nick, Sean P., Sean R.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />3. Wal-Mart (10/15): </span>Danielle H., Kyle, Sam K., Tim <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />4. Enron (10/22): </span>Adele, Kristin, Laurie, Matt G.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />5. Whistleblowing (11/12): </span>Bill, Coleen, Dave, Matt M.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />6. Employee Privacy (11/19): </span>Alexia, Jeff, Matt T., Teresa, <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />7. CEO Compensation (11/26): </span>Danielle T., Devin, Pat, Scott<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />8. Advertising Ethics (12/3): </span>Aaron, Edward, Lauren, Toni<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">9. Product Safety (12/10): </span>C.J., Natasha, Sean M., Vasil<br /><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2F5RjNyM3z27V_5vUDuvI52PluhOxshLBqb9s1sAHMR4z4izR_nzsf2QfD4w8MjNFXJ5Ges7N7yD-yiDW9Y6dku_RkKe1Mk826pvBGVykUmAyXjzRj_obVTzYVG-KHxI_iprVyvJrsuo/s400/thumbs-up-down.jpg" alt="Heads Down, Thumbs Up" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244570828545970562" border="0" />Sean Keegan-Landishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16387989235982669451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139657711007998519.post-10863934558530061142008-09-10T21:18:00.002-04:002008-09-10T21:19:49.785-04:00Defining Our Terms<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> </h3> <div class="post-body entry-content"> <img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGTNv6XX4JsFGuwF_KVkH1E8OiXQmK0X5U7DbqyO8c0seoxRae5SAC4J3T04iT0kZR-GpHedDbEpPBDkuWWlpvD_2jpnLuXLTVbyvfDY8b6FxAeClMHgeZxPzaOfQv1-5s60dMzTKWniN/s400/emo-hair-cuts.gif" alt="Lame?" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244560806625571474" border="0" /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1. Tool: </span>Here's one <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/">Urban Dictionary</a> definition of "tool," the one I had in mind when referring to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nh_xfJZxvto">Dane Cook</a>: <blockquote style="font-style: italic;">someone who tries too hard. a poser. one of those chic's who holds the sign saying "Carson Daly is Hot." the asstard who goes to a rock show because they heard one of the songs on the radio or mtv. or someone who insists on wearing velour sweat suits. Avril Lavigne. </blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. Fugly: </span>uh, rather ugly. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moe_Szyslak">Moe Szyslak</a> has been called <a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=%22I%27ve+been+called+ugly%2C+pug+ugly%2C+fugly%2C+pug+fugly%2C+but+never+ugly+ugly.%22">a few variations of this term</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3. Emo Kid: </span>"Emo" has a ton of meanings. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emo_%28slang%29">wikipedia article on "emo"</a> has a nice history of the term. Plus, there's always <a href="http://www.emophilips.com/home">stand-up comedian Emo Phillips</a>:<br /><br /><center><a style="left: 340px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-07017181330646199 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/-yUPD-r6fLk&hl=en&fs=1"></a><a style="left: 0px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-07017181330646199 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/-yUPD-r6fLk&hl=en&fs=1"></a><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-yUPD-r6fLk&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-yUPD-r6fLk&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></center><br />Did I forget any terms? <a href="https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=2139657711007998519&postID=1086393455853006114">Let me know!</a></div>Sean Keegan-Landishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16387989235982669451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139657711007998519.post-45176950050726139392008-09-08T21:52:00.003-04:002008-09-08T21:54:52.529-04:00Why? Why? Why?Here's a video of comedian <a href="http://www.louisck.net/">Louis CK</a>'s take on the broad, fundamental questions kids ask (the routine starts 2:40 into the video).<br /><center><div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p><a style="left: 348px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-057205288718608 visible ontop" href="http://youtube.com/v/Fdc28bZ90G4"></a><a style="left: 348px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-057205288718608 visible ontop" href="http://youtube.com/v/Fdc28bZ90G4"></a><a style="left: 348px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-057205288718608 visible ontop" href="http://youtube.com/v/Fdc28bZ90G4"></a><object width="425" height="350"><param value="http://youtube.com/v/Fdc28bZ90G4" name="movie"><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://youtube.com/v/Fdc28bZ90G4" alt="[video: Louis CK]" width="425" height="350"></embed></object></p></div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fdc28bZ90G4">Louis CK - Why?</a></center><br />"SOMETHING HAS TO ISN'T! EVERYTHING CAN'T IS!"Sean Keegan-Landishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16387989235982669451noreply@blogger.com0