Theology 252 Syllabus
Department of Theology: Benedictine University – Mesa
Business Ethics in the Context of Catholic
Social Teaching
Overview of Course
Course Description
This course examines the standard issues of business ethics from three
perspectives: the norms of Kantian ethics, the utilitarian calculation of
the good, and virtue ethics as understood through the lens of Catholic
Social Teaching with its emphasis on the common good, solidarity, and
subsidiarity. It will use case studies to demonstrate the arguments
made for the strengths and weaknesses of each of the three
m
er as
approaches to current business problems.
co
eH w
Lecture-Free\Problem-Based Learning
o.
What is it, and why employ problem-based learning? Problem-based learning
rs e
focuses on critical higher-order thinking. Unlike traditional classrooms where
ou urc
students passively listen to lectures or view powerpoints, students come to
class to apply, create, critique and solve. Another distinction of PBL is that
students don’t take course content and then apply it to a case, rather PBL
o
starts with the problem and then moves outward to what content\information
aC s
is needed to solve the problem.
vi y re
Students learn best when doing, not listening. Most of the learning occurs
outside of the classroom. Students encounter the problem to be solved and
follow the steps:
ed d
1. What do I know about this problem?
ar stu
2. What Information do I need to know\learn to solve the problem?
3. How do I acquire the needed information?
is
Th
4. Based on steps 1 thru 3, how do I apply\solve the problem?
This course will employ Problem-Based Learning techniques in order to
explore our topics. As part of our lecture-free, or “flipped classroom” you will
sh
be collaboratively completing activities and tasks in class. Your class will be
collaborative, meaning you will be working with other students to solve a
problem or issue and complete assignments throughout the entire course.
To be successful in this class, you must come to class prepared with all
assigned work completed. The in-class activities will be based on the
work you do outside of class and you will interact with your classmates to
Benedictine University at Mesa
This study source was downloaded by 100000822587557 from CourseHero.com on 04-01-2021 01:28:07 GMT -05:00
Page 1
https://www.coursehero.com/file/30672005/Theology-252-Syllabus-1doc/
, Theology 252 Syllabus
discuss and explore the information you studied prior to coming to class.
Issue/Problem to be Addressed
The problem this course will introduce is whether a business can be both
profitable and ethical. Without profit (the money that remains from revenue
earnings after the costs of doing business are paid), there can be no business
because businesses need money to invest in its continued viability and
growth. However, given how the private nature of our economy tends to
have us focus on our private interests, there is the recurring hazard of
neglecting the people around us and the world around us which make
commerce possible in the first place. Business ethics has articulated many
ways in which the relationship between private interest and society,
government, the environment, etc. ought to be managed, if at all. This
course will not take us to an answer that lasts for all time, but will take us to
a reliable means by which the challenge of being profitable and ethical can
be addressed, constructively, in a consistently Christian manner, working
m
with and despite changing economic, political and social conditions.
er as
co
Course Objectives
eH w
o.
For successful completion of this course (a grade of “C” or better), the
student must be able to:
rs e
ou urc
Objectives for the student include:
1. Describe why Christianity, historically, has viewed the generation
o
and possession of wealth with suspicion.
2. Name and define basic principles of Catholic Social Teaching.
aC s
vi y re
3. Describe the different schools of ethical theory used in business
ethics.
4. Compare what virtue ethics is as distinguished from other forms
of ethical behavior.
ed d
5. Name and define the Cardinal Virtues and some of the subsidiary
ar stu
virtues which come from them which are relevant to business.
6. Define what conscience is and its role in moral behavior.
7. Collaborate with others in class on describing the proper
formation of the Christian in the business world.
is
8. Collaborate with others in the class on describing the arguments
Th
made for different models of business ethics.
9. Create with others in the class arguments as to how the Christian
ought to go about making good business decisions which enable
a business to be profitable and ethical.
sh
10. Evaluate the virtues as practiced in Confucian philosophy
and religion in comparison to how those virtues are practiced by
the Christian. Articulate how these differences in approaching
the virtues affects the practice doing business ethically in Asia.
Benedictine University at Mesa
This study source was downloaded by 100000822587557 from CourseHero.com on 04-01-2021 01:28:07 GMT -05:00
Page 2
https://www.coursehero.com/file/30672005/Theology-252-Syllabus-1doc/
Department of Theology: Benedictine University – Mesa
Business Ethics in the Context of Catholic
Social Teaching
Overview of Course
Course Description
This course examines the standard issues of business ethics from three
perspectives: the norms of Kantian ethics, the utilitarian calculation of
the good, and virtue ethics as understood through the lens of Catholic
Social Teaching with its emphasis on the common good, solidarity, and
subsidiarity. It will use case studies to demonstrate the arguments
made for the strengths and weaknesses of each of the three
m
er as
approaches to current business problems.
co
eH w
Lecture-Free\Problem-Based Learning
o.
What is it, and why employ problem-based learning? Problem-based learning
rs e
focuses on critical higher-order thinking. Unlike traditional classrooms where
ou urc
students passively listen to lectures or view powerpoints, students come to
class to apply, create, critique and solve. Another distinction of PBL is that
students don’t take course content and then apply it to a case, rather PBL
o
starts with the problem and then moves outward to what content\information
aC s
is needed to solve the problem.
vi y re
Students learn best when doing, not listening. Most of the learning occurs
outside of the classroom. Students encounter the problem to be solved and
follow the steps:
ed d
1. What do I know about this problem?
ar stu
2. What Information do I need to know\learn to solve the problem?
3. How do I acquire the needed information?
is
Th
4. Based on steps 1 thru 3, how do I apply\solve the problem?
This course will employ Problem-Based Learning techniques in order to
explore our topics. As part of our lecture-free, or “flipped classroom” you will
sh
be collaboratively completing activities and tasks in class. Your class will be
collaborative, meaning you will be working with other students to solve a
problem or issue and complete assignments throughout the entire course.
To be successful in this class, you must come to class prepared with all
assigned work completed. The in-class activities will be based on the
work you do outside of class and you will interact with your classmates to
Benedictine University at Mesa
This study source was downloaded by 100000822587557 from CourseHero.com on 04-01-2021 01:28:07 GMT -05:00
Page 1
https://www.coursehero.com/file/30672005/Theology-252-Syllabus-1doc/
, Theology 252 Syllabus
discuss and explore the information you studied prior to coming to class.
Issue/Problem to be Addressed
The problem this course will introduce is whether a business can be both
profitable and ethical. Without profit (the money that remains from revenue
earnings after the costs of doing business are paid), there can be no business
because businesses need money to invest in its continued viability and
growth. However, given how the private nature of our economy tends to
have us focus on our private interests, there is the recurring hazard of
neglecting the people around us and the world around us which make
commerce possible in the first place. Business ethics has articulated many
ways in which the relationship between private interest and society,
government, the environment, etc. ought to be managed, if at all. This
course will not take us to an answer that lasts for all time, but will take us to
a reliable means by which the challenge of being profitable and ethical can
be addressed, constructively, in a consistently Christian manner, working
m
with and despite changing economic, political and social conditions.
er as
co
Course Objectives
eH w
o.
For successful completion of this course (a grade of “C” or better), the
student must be able to:
rs e
ou urc
Objectives for the student include:
1. Describe why Christianity, historically, has viewed the generation
o
and possession of wealth with suspicion.
2. Name and define basic principles of Catholic Social Teaching.
aC s
vi y re
3. Describe the different schools of ethical theory used in business
ethics.
4. Compare what virtue ethics is as distinguished from other forms
of ethical behavior.
ed d
5. Name and define the Cardinal Virtues and some of the subsidiary
ar stu
virtues which come from them which are relevant to business.
6. Define what conscience is and its role in moral behavior.
7. Collaborate with others in class on describing the proper
formation of the Christian in the business world.
is
8. Collaborate with others in the class on describing the arguments
Th
made for different models of business ethics.
9. Create with others in the class arguments as to how the Christian
ought to go about making good business decisions which enable
a business to be profitable and ethical.
sh
10. Evaluate the virtues as practiced in Confucian philosophy
and religion in comparison to how those virtues are practiced by
the Christian. Articulate how these differences in approaching
the virtues affects the practice doing business ethically in Asia.
Benedictine University at Mesa
This study source was downloaded by 100000822587557 from CourseHero.com on 04-01-2021 01:28:07 GMT -05:00
Page 2
https://www.coursehero.com/file/30672005/Theology-252-Syllabus-1doc/
