Philosophical essay

(Name (Professor (Subject

xx April 2007

Ethical Dilemma

The situation at hand involves an ethical decision between two possible courses of action relating to the promotion of tobacco as a product in the market . R . J . Reynolds Tobacco Co . is a corporation that earns huge amounts of money in selling tobacco and is concerned about keeping its profits despite the negative image now associated with tobacco Therefore , R . J . Reynolds Tobacco Co . hired Acme Global Advertising to again promote the product in the market

Being recommended by the company 's

Director for Global Accounts as the new head of the R . J . Reynolds Tobacco Co . account , I am constrained to decide whether to accept the position or not . There is no doubt that this is a once in a lifetime career opportunity , as the last manager to handle the R . J . Reynolds Tobacco Co . account had already retired after receiving a huge sum of money after his successful campaign . Indeed , a successful promotional campaign would result in huge profit for both R J . Reynolds Tobacco Co . and Acme Global Advertising , which would translate into big earnings for me . On the other hand , a simple refusal on my part would mean another eager person would immediately be taking my place and my big opportunity

The problem is not as simple as it looks , however . This is because the World Health Organization already declared tobacco as the second major cause of death in the world . Therefore , any effort on my side in promoting the consumption of tobacco would mean that I am personally exerting effort in favor of a product that causes death to millions of people arounf the world

It is clear , therefore , that the present situation presents an ethical dilemma that needs serious consideration . I have to make a decision between personal success and the health of innumerable people

In to solve this dilemma , I turn to the philosophical writings of Aristotle in his work entitled Nicomachean Ethics , as well as utilitarian ethical philosophy as explained by well-known ethical philosophers John Stuart Mill and Jeremy Bentham . Based on these ethical principles , I shall explain why it would be ethical for me to accept the challenge and exert my best effort in promoting the sales of tobacco products of R . J . Reynolds Tobacco Co . this shall discuss the relevant principles characteristic of each theory , and then apply such principles to the facts of this particular scenario

In Aristotle 's Nicomachean Ethics , he expounded on the notion called virtue , which to him is that which determines the character or nature of anything , be it a person or a specific thing (Ross . Virtue is that thing which makes a knife a good knife , and it is also that which makes a man a good person (Ross

Aristotle makes a distinction between two kinds of virtue , namely natural virtue and moral virtue (Kilcullen . For him , the former relates to characteristics that humans possess from birth , such as a particular temperament (Kilcullen . On...