September 30, 2012

Welcome

 

photoqatarHi.  I’m John Hooker, a professor of business ethics at Carnegie Mellon University.  I created this blog to provide a forum for analyzing ethical dilemmas in a rational way.

I analyze each dilemma, based on the principles described under How to analyze.  You may need to look at these to understand what I am talking about.  You can also contribute to the discussion.

  • Recently posted dilemmas appear below.  To view all the dilemmas by category, click the topics on the left.
  • To contribute your dilemma, write it as a comment on this post.  I will convert it to a separate post so it can be categorized.
  • To help with someone else’s dilemma, reply to it.
  • For anonymity, omit your email address and website, and use a screen name.  Your post will be accepted without identifying information.

Posted by on September 30, 2012 in Uncategorized.

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August 1, 2021

“Soft” vaccine requirement

Some U.S. employers are imposing a “soft” vaccine requirement for Covid-19. They allow employees who refuse refuse vaccine to opt for regular testing, working from home, etc. Is this type of requirement ethical?

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Posted by on August 1, 2021 in Ethics on the job, Medical ethics and tagged , .

2 Comments

July 16, 2021

Requiring Covid-19 vaccination

Should a U.S. school or workplace require Covid-19 vaccination?

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Posted by on July 16, 2021 in Ethics at school, Ethics on the job, Medical ethics and tagged , , , .

1 Comment

May 3, 2021

Hobby Lobby mask mandate

I am requesting that you stop the illegal mask mandates for your employees, now. If they are forced to wear the unhealthy, unconstitutional masks with the threat of losing their jobs if they don’t this is wrong and you should know that. Please go to http://www.americasfrontlinedoctors.com , click on the legal tab and see the letter that is composed for adults, who DO NOT have to comply with the illegal mandates. Protect your employees from Big Government overreach.

Originally posted today by Mary K Fowler as a comment on another Hobby Lobby issue.

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Posted by on May 3, 2021 in Buying and selling, Ethics on the job, Medical ethics and tagged , .

1 Comment

August 24, 2020

Refusing Coronavirus vaccine

It is reported that half of Americans will refuse to be vaccinated for Covid-19. Is this ethical?

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Posted by on August 24, 2020 in Medical ethics and tagged , , , , .

2 Comments

June 27, 2020

Human challenge trials

Over 30,000 persons in 140 countries have volunteered for human challenge trials of Covid-19 vaccines, according to the organization 1Day Sooner.  They are willing to be deliberately infected with the Coronavirus after receiving a dose of an experimental vaccine—or a placebo!  Human challenge trials could shave weeks or months off the development time for a vaccine, when reducing it by even one day could save thousands of lives.  Yet, are such trials ethical?

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Posted by on June 27, 2020 in Medical ethics and tagged , , , , .

1 Comment

June 16, 2020

Masks and freedom

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a number of states and cities require customers who enter a store to wear a mask. Yet there is resistance.  Some view these rules as an attack on their freedom and may even assault store employees in response.   When a Target security guard in Michigan asked a family to wear masks, one of the family members shot him dead.  The mayor of an Oklahoma city had to rescind a mask-wearing order one day after it was enacted due to threats against store proprietors.   There are many other incidents like this.

While we can agree that assaulting employees is wrong, do the resisters have a point?  They see mask rules as just one example of government oppression that freedom-loving people must resist.  One letter to a Pennsylvania newspaper refers to mask-wearers as submissive “sheep,” a sentiment that many share, particularly in conservative regions of the country.  Are they right?

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Posted by on June 16, 2020 in Buying and selling, Medical ethics and tagged , , , , .

2 Comments

May 31, 2020

Warning labels on tweets

Twitter recently posted warning labels on some high-profile tweets, on the ground that they incite violence or spread harmful misinformation.  Is this ethical?  Is it obligatory?

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Posted by on May 31, 2020 in Ethics and technology/AI, Ethics on the job and tagged , , , .

2 Comments

April 23, 2020

When to reopen the economy?

People are saying that we are “past the peak” with Covid-19.  Given this, when is the right time to reopen the economy?

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Posted by on April 23, 2020 in Medical ethics and tagged , , , , .

1 Comment

April 13, 2020

Allocating scarce medical resources

The Covid-19 pandemic is forcing us to look again at the ancient dilemma of triage.  Which patients should get priority when there is a shortage of medical equipment and personnel?

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Posted by on April 13, 2020 in Medical ethics and tagged , , , , .

1 Comment

March 28, 2020

Is home stay an ethical obligation?

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, sheltering at home when possible is a government mandate in some areas, and voluntary in others.  If it is voluntary, is there nonetheless an ethical obligation to remain at home when possible?

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Posted by on March 28, 2020 in Medical ethics and tagged , , , , .

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