Question

Review the following ethical dilemmas:

1. A newspaper columnist signs a contract with a newspaper chain. Several months later, she is offered a position with another newspaper chain, offering a higher salary. Because she would prefer making more money, she notifies the first chain that she is breaking her contract. The courts will decide the legality of her action, but what of the morality? Did the columnist behave ethically?
2. An airline pilot receives his regular medical checkup. The doctor discovers that he has developed a heart murmur. The pilot only has a month to go before he is eligible for retirement. The doctor knows this and wonders whether, under these unusual circumstances, she is justified in withholding information from the company regarding the pilot's condition.
3. An office worker has had a record of frequent absence. He has used all his vacation and sick-leave days, and has frequently requested additional leave without pay. His supervisor and co-workers have expressed great frustration because his absenteeism has caused bottlenecks in paperwork, created low morale in the office, and required others to do his work in addition to their own. However, the individual believes he is entitled to take his earned time and additional time off without pay. Is he right?
4. Rhonda enjoys socializing with fellow employees at work, but their discussions usually consist of gossiping about other people, including several of her friends. At first, Rhonda feels uncomfortable talking in this way about people with whom she has a close relationship; but then she decides it does no real harm, and she feels no remorse for joining in.

Use the resources assigned for this week and additional research to decide which ethical dilemma you believe is most problematic and why. Address the following:

• Apply the ideas of "good vs. evil," "wrong vs. right," and "ought/should be vs. what is."
• Determine the ways in which Augustine and Aquinas would have solved the problem. In what ways do Augustine and Aquinas differ and why?

Answer 1

Answer: It is mentioned that a contract was signed between the newspaper columnist and newspaper chain. So, there must be rules and regulation and the condition applied. So, it is unethical to break the contract without any formal notice. The contract may have terms and conditions for few years. Before signing bond, the conditions were accepted and it can not be denied at a certain stage. It is ethically wrong act to ditch the contract. The columnist has done wrong. The another thing is that it is against the socioeconomic order. One must follow the rules and regulations and should not rum after the money. There could be the formal method to approach for ending the contract after once the tenure get completed.