Question

1. If bluffing in business is ethical on at least some occasions, when would it not be ethical? Give some examples of when you might consider bluffing to be ethical, and some of when you definitely think bluffing would be unethical or improper. What would you define as “bluffing” in a business context?

The Impact of Cost on Normal Duty is reviewed by Gillespie. His opinion is that there are three cases where a normal or ordinary duty may cease to be so because the cost is too high. Those situations are:

1.       The moral cost of obeying a standard moral rule is too great, so one must make an exception to that rule. Example: In order to same someone’s life you would have to lie. The price of not lying is so high you should break the lesser rule.

2.       The cost to the individual is too high so the ordinary duty ceases to be a duty. Example: Your brakes give out while descending a steep hill. You have three options: drive across the center lane into oncoming traffic; drive over the cliff; or run into the car in front of you. In the first two options, the cost to the driver is too high, therefore, no one would criticize the selection of option three.

3.       If everyone is not doing what ought to be done, then one would be a fool to act differently. This approach keeps one from being disadvantaged. However, the goal should be to change the situation. But, if “bucking the system” will harm the individual or not do any good, the individual should not try to effect a change. Example: Everyone takes a short-cut across the grass instead of walking on the sidewalk at a location. You can take the sidewalk to set an example, but it probably will not change the other’s actions. (this is for second question)

2. Considering Gillespie, do you agree with his result that one person should not try to make a difference if the cost is too high? Where should the line be drawn about what makes a cost too high?

(Answer within 200 words)

Answer 1

Business bluffing is a controversial issue. Bluffing would seem relevantly similar to lying and deception. Because of this business bluffing can be taken to be an activity that is at least prima facie morally condemnable.

Business like poker is often a game of strategic bluffing. The worlds of private and business life are separate and demand separate codes of ethics. Bluffing ethics is often mistaken with fraud or cheating.so the difference should be clear. Bluffing means not telling the entire lie and not telling the entire truth. It just an exaggeration of a true fact.

People tend not to believe everything that businesses say. They take everything they say with a grain of salt. If a businessman says that his product is the best, consumers tend to believe that it may be average or close to best but not 100% best. Products without bluffing is very hard to sell compared with the product where bluffing is involved. Bluffing in business cause an increase in the consumption of goods and boost the economy.

As a result, the customer is more satisfy their needs, the business earns more revenue, the government collects more tax, and some portion of the tax is given to needy ones. So, bluffing some way makes everyone happy.

Example when bluffing is unethical-

Selling liquor and it has a high percentage of alcoholic acid but it is not mentioned in the product nor mention by the seller.

Example when bluffing is ethical-

Advertisement of Colgate mentioning that they have the best quality of toothpaste but in reality, there are many other brands that are equally good or better than Colgate.

The cost is too high is not exactly the same. I disagree with the concept given by Gillespie about cost is too high so that person should not take that road. If the cost is too high, then return will also be too high.

In the second part, the line should be drawn so that its cost is too high taken by many other people. Even if walking on grass is a better option, but walking sidewalk doesn't harm anyone, it does not make anyone look a fool, until and unless the one thinks of himself as a fool walking on the sidewalk. The sidewalk is meant to be walk and grass is meant to spread greenery and a good environment.

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