Major Ethical Issue and Secondary Ethical Issues
The author of this work believes that the central ethical problem of Lucy and her father’s case is that to finally get the desired appreciation and love of her harsh father, she would have to betray those who value her as a person. There are significant secondary ethical issues, such as the dilemma between family and business and forgiving the father’s sins (Family Ties and Business Ethics 1). It is also worth noting an ethical issue of a white lie.
Stakeholders and Options
The Categorical Imperative of Respect for Persons from Kant’s Deontology
The author of this work has chosen The Categorical Imperative of Respect for Persons from Kant’s Deontology. This principle can be described as a mandatory morally and unconditional rule that every human being deserves respect simply because they are persons. Person means free rational beings there. The first option when Lucy agrees to help her father and tells him about the company’s new tactics and strategy is not morally allowed because lying is disrespectful. Refusing to help her father is ethically acceptable because her father’s plan involves Lucy having to lie, and there are other ways to help her father. The legal way to help is moral because, in this case, Lucy does not have to lie, and she helps her father, which is a show of respect. It isn’t easy to judge whether the option is morally allowed when Lucy condemns her father because this case is a very subjective one. According to The Categorical Imperative of Respect for Persons from Kant’s Deontology, the best option is when Lucy is trying to help her father legally through the bid on a project.
The Right Option
The author of this work believes that the right option is when Lucy is trying to help her father legally. In this way, Lucy will maintain positive relationships with both her father and colleagues. It will also allow Lucy to solve her father’s financial problems, albeit partially and more slowly. However, two objections arise here. Lucy will not get the desired appreciation from her father, and he will still be leveraged. The counter-argument to it will be that in crises, in which Lucy’s father is, people tend to change, and Lucy’s help can become that driver of the father’s emotional change. Another counter-argument is that the temporary cooperation of two companies may grow into permanent, which would be financially beneficial, especially to Lucy’s father.
Author’s Note
It is safe to say that the steps of the model are a useful tool, especially for those lacking experience in ethical reasoning and ethical theories. The most difficult and, therefore, time-consuming part was the analysis of options and stakeholders. The author of this work finds the process of assumption and analysis of a potential impact of options as too chaotic. It is there where imagination can get in the way of logical reasoning.
Work Cited
“Family Ties and Business Ethics.” n.d. Microsoft Word file.