Question

“Hypothetically, would it be unethical to place a security firm’s law signs around my front yard even though I have not install its security system? These fake “warnings” would discourage intruders, and a security firm would get free advertising for its product. So who’s hurt?

Answer 1

Yes it will be ethical to place a security firm’s law signs around your front yard even though you have not installed its security system.

This is based on the principles of the ethical theory of Utilitarianism. As per the theory of Utilitarianism an act or a choice that yields the greatest benefit to the most people is the ethically correct choice.

In this case the choice of placing the security firm’s law signs on the front yard will benefit you by deterring intruders. It will also benefit the security firm as their products are being promoted by you when you put their signs on your front yard. Your neighbors and passersby’s will recognize the security firm and this will promote their products.

Thus by putting the security firm’s law signs around your front yard even though you have not installed its security system you will be maximizing benefits to different stakeholders in this action of yours and hence this action will be considered ethical as per the theory of Utilitarianism.

The only stakeholders who will be hurt are the prospective intruders and robbers who will probably now not enter your premises on the fear of getting captured by the security system.