Solution : Virtue is not a single feeling, but it is a positive trait of a posse

Question

Solution : Virtue is not a single feeling, but it is a positive trait of a possessor. It is the characteristics imbibed in a person which is different from a single set of action or feeling. Virtue ethics are normative ethical theories, which put focus on rooted virtues of character and mind. As per Nicomachean ethics, there are following moral virtues as listed:

a. Wittiness - during conversation,

b. Truthfulness

c. liberality - with wealth and possessions

d. Courage - while facimg fear

e. Proper ambition

f. Modesty - while facing shame

g. Temperance - in face of pleasue and pain

h. Magnanimity

i. Righteous indignation

j. Magnificence

k. friendliness

All the agents are aligned to one or more of the above virtues. Pat's reply to her colleagues and subordinates will reflect courage & Wittiness, while replying to them; Magnanimity while being loyal to her boss; and friendliness while talking to colleagues and subordinates. On the contrary, Pat's colleagues and subordinates are expected to reflect Temperance in the face of pain and friendliness while talking to Pat.

These Virtue adoption will make both the agents comfortable while discussing the scenario.

Explanation / Answer

Business Situation- Pat is the plant manager on one of ABC Company’s five plants. She has worked for the company for 15 years, working her way up from the factory floor after the company sent her to college. Her boss told her, in complete confidence, that the company is in bad financial shape and will have to lay off 200 workers. Fortunately, her job won’t be affected. However, a rumour is now circulating in the plant and John, one of her co-workers (and old friend who now works for her), asks the question, ‘Well, Pat, what’s the word? Is the plant closing? Am I going to lose my job? The closing on our new house is scheduled for next week. I need to know!

What should Pat say?

What would I say?

This is probably found quite hard deciding what to do in Pat’s situation. This is an ethical dilemma because key values are in conflict – telling the truth, duty to her employer, and loyalty to a long-standing friend. If Pat decides to tell her friend the truth this would mean being disloyal to her boss and her employer who have treated her well. On the other hand, Pat has loyalties to her friend. She will need to consider how these weigh up against her loyalty to her boss and company. there are some important practical tools, based on philosophical approaches that can help through complex ethical dilemmas.

The stakeholders are likely to include Pat’s friend John, John’s family, Pat’s boss, Pat, her family, other workers, the company. Let’s say Pat has two potential choices of action – to tell or not to tell. A utilitarian approach would require Pat to consider the potential harms and benefits for each course of action for all of the stakeholders involved.

If Pat tells John, he could well tell other workers and cause ‘panic’ at the plant. More people may lose their jobs as a result. The trust Pat has with her boss is very likely to suffer once he finds out Pat broke a confidence. Pat may well lose her job because of this serious breach of trust, with negative consequences for her family. On the other hand, Pat would retain the trust of her friend John if she tells him about the layoffs. John could also use this information to decide whether to go ahead with the new house purchase.

After Pat has gone through a process of assessing the likely consequences for the available courses of action, the ‘right’ action will be the one that yields the greatest amount of net good overall (taking into account harms and benefits).

Based on above story,Briefly, outline virtue ethics theory in a paragraph. Use this ethical theory to analyse each of the agent’s options. Justify your recommendation for what the agent should do using this theory only.  

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