Topic #2
The movie The Insider tells the story of Jeffrey Wigand’s Whistle Blowing on his former employer Brown
& Williamson and their six largest competitors in the tobacco industry.
Write an essay in which you discuss the moral problem raised by Jeffrey Wigand’s contacting the CBS
News program 60 Minutes producer Lowell Bergman about his former employer and his telling his story
to 60 Minutes. Your essay should explain (and will be graded on):
Final Exam Essay Questions
PHI 6800 – Ethical Problems in Business and Society ©2020 Richard Legum, Ph.D., All Rights Reserved
1. The moral problems raised by Jeffrey Wigand’s telling the story to Lowell Bergman’s team at 60
minutes.
2. The moral importance of Trust and Truth in business and hence in the moral problems identified
above.
3. What make an action right according to the version of moral objectivism known as
Utilitarianism/Consequentialism and how the defenders of this theory would judge the morality
of incidents described above.
4. What make an action right according to the version of moral objectivism that is Kant’s
Deontology (Duty/Rule Based Moral Theory) and how defenders of this theory would judge the
morality of the incidents described above.
5. What you think is the correct moral evaluation of these incidents and how you would defend
this position.
General Directions:
Makes sure your essay reflects the concepts that were discussed in class and in the readings assign in
both classes (which will serve as the basis of you grade on the essay). Your essay should reflect your
understanding of the points made that we discussed in class. Before submitting your essay, make sure
you have discussed all five (5) items!
WARNING: Do NOT assume that the reader knows what you are talking about. Make sure to explain all
of your points.
Submission Details:
The essay is to be submitted in Microsoft Word format.
The essay should be done in 12 point Times New Roman or Cambria font and should be DOUBLE
SPACED.
***LINK TO VIDEO***
https://kingsborough.yuja.com/V/Video?v=1119690&node=4185362&a=917168839&autoplay=1
