Purchase Solution

Ethics, Privacy and Rights

Not what you're looking for?

Ask Custom Question

A) Compare and contrast the Utilitarian and Kantian arguments for viewing privacy as a right. Note the strengths and weaknesses of each approach.

B) Employees in the United States have less protection than anywhere else in the industrialized world. What protection is there? How do advocates of greater protection argue that the present situation is inadequate? Discuss the parts of model act to address the situation.

C) Government and private employers collect vast amounts of personal information. What challenges to privacy has arisen as a result.

D) How does the property rights argument support employment at will? Discuss the considerations that limit this argument. How might the property rights argument be used against employment-at-will?

Purchase this Solution
Solution Summary

This solution compares and contrast the Utilitarian and Kantian arguments for viewing privacy as a right including the strengths and weaknesses of each approach. It also discusses the protection there is for employees in the industrialized world and what advocates of greater protection argue that is in the present situation that is inadequate e.g. using parts of model act to address the situation. Referring to how the government and private employers collect vast amounts of personal information, it also discusses the challenges to privacy that has arisen as a result. Finally, it describes how the property rights argument does support employment-at-will and the considerations that limit this argument, as well as how the property rights argument might be used against employment-at-will.

Solution Preview

Excellent questions!

A) Compare and contrast the Utilitarian and Kantian arguments for viewing privacy as a right. Note the strengths and weaknesses of each approach.

Let's consider an example of violating the privacy of the student's information who is participating in research study:

1. Kantian argument

? You recognize and respect the promise given to the students to maintain privacy
? Students are persons they are entitled to the maintenance of that promise
? You would expect the same treatment if you were in the study yourself

2. Utilitarian argument
? What if students discover their privacy violated
? Knowledge is a good
? Future studies may not have participants so future knowledge that could be good for everyone will be in jeopardy

Limitations:

Kantianism: focuses on Universal rules. Limitations are linked to the question: How do I resolve conflicts between rules? Can I steal food to care for my children? Stealing is wrong. Caring for children is right. Likewise, for privacy rights; violating individual privacy is wrong. National security is right. Second, what about exceptions? Lying is wrong. Can I tell my wife I like her new haircut when I don't? Likewise, protecting privacy is right. Can I reveal information to save a life?

Similarly, utilitarianism ethics focus on the rules that generate the greatest good. Who defines what is good e.g., how much privacy is good? It is relative, so everyone has a different measure of what is good, which means that all behavior could be justified. In society this is dangerous. Other criticisms apply. How do we measure and compare "good"? How many dollars is a life worth? Who and what count in our computations? Second, unjust ...

Purchase this Solution
Free BrainMass Quizzes
Introduction to Finance

This quiz test introductory finance topics.

Managing the Older Worker

This quiz will let you know some of the basics of dealing with older workers. This is increasingly important for managers and human resource workers as many countries are facing an increase in older people in the workforce

Basics of corporate finance

These questions will test you on your knowledge of finance.

Lean your Process

This quiz will help you understand the basic concepts of Lean.

Accounting: Statement of Cash flows

This quiz tests your knowledge of the components of the statements of cash flows and the methods used to determine cash flows.

View More Free Quizzes
Related BrainMass Solutions

  • How Computer Ethics Affects the Development of Policy

    Computer ethics has affected the development of policy statements, due to the fact that the policy statements that are utilized by educational administrators and other school officials, must be aligned with the ordinary privacy rights that individuals

  • Description of reciprocal obligation

    The solution describes reciprocal obligation in the context of ethics and privacy.

  • Global Employee handbook

    What privacy rights issues must be addressed? 2. What must the company's position be in response to privacy rights issues? 3. How do your privacy protections limit the company's liability? 4.

  • HP's Patricia Dunn- Ethics, Information Privacy, Pretexting

    References are included to expand the research on general business ethics, informational privacy rights, United Nation's Universal Declaration of Human Rights and US Bill of Rights, as well as the Hewlett-Packard Patricia Dunn example itself.

  • Privacy Rights & Freedom of the Press

    The Drudge report is certainly accountable to the Ethics of Journalism and to the Rights of Privacy.

  • Ethical Standards, Principles, and Codes

    It also states that the rights of individuals to confidentiality and privacy should be respected.

  • Ethics, Laws, and Medical Records

    The major laws that protect patients' rights and confidentiality is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPPA). The law protects personal health information held by covered entities and gives patients an array of rights.

  • Employee Ethics in Credit Checks and Monitoring & Teaching

    The employer could put just about anything in the policy book and be within their “legal rights” to enforce it once you sign. References: Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. (2011). Fact Sheet: Workplace Privacy and Employee Monitoring.

  • E-business: Ethical, Legal and Regulatory Issues

    Thomas and Hall v. LaRonde (see attached article: Adult Websites...), PRIVACY RIGHTS Another privacy issue is email correspondence, which should also be private and confidential.

View More Related Solutions