Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE- Business ethics IS a topic that has been in the media more than corporate America probably wants to admit. Corporate scandals and contract negotiations can make a person question the definition of "business ethics."

UW-Platteville is offering a forum to discuss and explore such conflicts and questions with the course Special Topics in Philosophy and Business offered during UWP's Winterim session.

According to the course proposal, the course aims to fulfill the growing need and concerns of students, faculty, and our community to seriously address and debate matters of business ethics. The course is designed to gain greater insight into ethical business theories, standards and practices.

"We want to see if there is a need and an interest in business ethics classes, before we propose it as a regular course," said Mary Lenzi, UWP professor of philosophy. "We are using this business ethics course as a trial in the special topics area."

The course will be conducted and divided into three parts: Theories and Principles or Moral Reasoning, Analysis and Critique; Business Ethics Codes, Principles, Topics, Issues; and Student Presentations: Panels on Projects and Cases.

Special Topics in Philosophy 2940 will meet Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. during Winterim. The class is cross-offered under business administration as Special Issues in Business 2950. UW-Platteville professors Mary Lenzi and Robert Conway will lecture and oversee the class.

"Issues such as whistle blowing, corporate models, character, utilitarianism, values and law verses morality are all topics that fit into this type of class," said Lenzi. "We are trying to move in the direction of applied philosophy."

"We will define morals and ethics--try to connect where the codes come from," said Lenzi. "Business ethics are vital to society, the political system and the betterment of human life. Business as a field cannot exist or operate without philosophically based thinking going on."