Question

business ethics .

1- what does Right to Privecy means

2- Concept of Hyper-norms , moral free space

Answer 1

1) RIGHT TO PRIVACY

The Right to Privacy refers to the concept that one's personal and private information is protected from unwarranted assumptions. According to Justice Louis Brandeis, it is "the right to be left alone".

The Right to Privacy may be defined as an individual's legal right, not explicitly stated in the U.S. Constitution, to be left alone and live a life free from unwarranted scrutiny. It is often protected by statutory law. For example, HIPAA protects an individual's health information and the Federal Trade Commission enforces the right to privacy in various privacy policies and statements.

CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS

Several amendments to the U.S. Constitution have been used in determining a right to personal autonomy:

• The I Amendment protects the privacy of beliefs.
• The III Amendment protects the privacy of the home against the use of it for housing soldiers.
• The IV Amendment protects privacy against unreasonable searches.
• The V Amendment protects against self-incrimination, which in turn protects the privacy of personal information.

HYPER-NORMS

The term hyper-norm was devised by Donaldson and Dunfee in 1994. A hype-norm can be defined as a fundamental moral rule for all humans and is reflected in religious, philosophical, and cultural beliefs (Donaldson, Dunfee, 1994).

Hyper-norms plays a significant role in the 'Integrated Social Contract Theory' (ISCT). ISCT distinguish hyper-norms in 3 categories:

• procedural hyper-norms
• structural hyper-norms
• substantive hyper-norms

Procedural hyper-norms are defined as "conditions necessary to support consent in microsocial contracts (Donaldson, Dunfee, 1999). Structural hyper-norms are principles that establish essential background institution in society and are necessary for social and political organization. Substantive hyper-norms are fundamental concepts of the right and the good and apply to economic activity (Donaldson, Dunfee, 1999).

EXAMPLES OF HYPER-NORMS

• FREEDOM OF SPEECH
• PERSONAL FREEDOM
• RIGHT TO PHYSICAL MOVEMENT
• INFORMED CONSENT

MORAL FREE SPACE

Moral Free Space implies that it is right and proper for communities to self-define certain important aspects of their business morality. Since all business practices cannot be categorized as ethical or unethical and since business practices may change over time, there must be a moral free space that allows employees and managers to make decisions within the bounds of reason. Decisions should be guided by an understanding of basic values and principles of integrity- preferably shared within and supported by the organization.

Values that are determined within moral free space are not hyper-norms.