Syllabus

PHL295H1S: Business Ethics Fridays, 12:00-3:00 Instructor: Chris MacDonald Location: SS 2135 Business ethics is the structured, critical examination of how individuals and organizations should behave in the world of commerce. This course examines a range of philosophical and practical questions related to business ethics. The course begins with an examination of the fundamental institutions that make modern commerce possible, namely the market and the corporation. It then proceeds to examine various theories of the obligations that corporate managers have in carrying out their duties, and ends by looking at a range of factors, both psychological, and conceptual, relevant to ethical decision making. Required Reading: Articles available online via U of Ts library (see list with links on course website)

Evaluation: Evaluation will be based on a constructive series of essays and a two-hour final exam. Quiz (5%) (on February 3) Writing Assignment 1, (10%) 500 words, due February 10 (returned Feb. 17) Writing Assignment 2, (20%) 700 words, due March 2 (returned Mar. 9) Writing Assignment 3, (25%) 1500 words, due March 30 (returned at final exam) Two-hour final exam (40%) (during regular exam schedule)

Contact Information: Office Hours: TBA Office Location: TBA (Centre for Ethics, Larkin Bldg., Devonshire Place) Email: chris.macdonald@rotman.utoronto.ca Course Website: see Blackboard, under My Courses Telephone: none Note: This course has been chosen for an Arts and Science initiative to provide support for student writing. You won't do any more writing or be graded differently than you would otherwise, but your TAs will have some additional time to give written and oral feedback on your work. There will also be a couple of sessions where you can get help with essay writing, from your TAs. Your Blackboard site will also set out links to other writing resources for your own use. Later in the year you may be given the chance to take a survey or be part of a focus group to comment on your writing experience in the course. Policies: Any assignment handed in late without documented medical excuse will be penalized by 5% per day late. Late assignments can be submitted in the drop box at the philosophy department, Jackman Bldg.,150 St. George St., 5th floor. Plagiarism (to represent as ones own any idea or expression of an idea or work of another) will not be tolerated, and any suspected cases will be submitted the Deans office for investigation without exception. Response to email will be at the instructors discretion; important email will always be responded to, but excessive or frivolous emails may go unanswered.