PHL 316 at Southern New Hampshire University is a philosophical study of moral issues in business.
The catalog lists corporate responsibility, conflicts of interest, morality in advertising, preferential hiring, personal morality versus employer loyalty, and cultural and theoretical issues in business decisions.
Because it is a philosophy course, a business answer is not enough. You must give reasons, use ethical theory and respond to the strongest opposing view.
Course at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| University | Southern New Hampshire University |
| Course code | PHL 316 |
| Credits | 3 |
| Level | Upper-level undergraduate (300 series) |
| Subject | Business ethics |
| Prerequisites | None listed in the SNHU catalog |
| Typical work | Case studies, position papers, discussions (check your course for the exact list) |
Topics in PHL 316
Each topic in the catalog is a recurring debate with positions on both sides. Know the strongest argument for each.
| Topic | Central debate |
|---|---|
| Corporate responsibility | Do firms owe duties only to owners, or also to wider stakeholders? |
| Conflicts of interest | When does a private interest compromise professional judgment? |
| Advertising | When does persuasion become manipulation or deception? |
| Preferential hiring | Is it fair to consider group membership to correct disadvantage? |
| Loyalty versus morality | What do employees owe an employer when their conscience disagrees? |
| Cultural issues | How do differing norms affect what is acceptable in international business? |
Building a Business Ethics Argument
Separate the Facts from the Norm
Say what is happening (facts), then what ought to happen (claim), and connect the two with a principle. Business cases mix these constantly.
Use a Principle, Then Test It
A principle such as "firms must not deceive consumers" gives a reason; test it against a hard case, such as exaggeration that most people recognize as puffery.
Invented scenario: An advertisement for a snack says it is "the healthy choice" without evidence. Claim: the advertisement is morally problematic. Principle: advertisers should not create false beliefs that consumers rely on to make decisions. Objection: consumers know advertising exaggerates. Reply: this applies to obvious hyperbole, but a specific health claim can be taken literally, so the objection fails here.
Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them
| Assignment type | What it tests | How to approach it |
|---|---|---|
| Case study analysis | Applying theory to a business situation | Identify stakeholders and conflicting duties, apply a theory, decide |
| Position paper | Defending a view on a topic | Thesis, reasons, strongest objection, reply |
| Discussion | Reasoning with peers | Take a clear stance and respond to a counterexample |
| Reading response | Understanding a philosopher's argument | Reconstruct the argument before you criticize it |
Mapping Stakeholders in a Case
Almost every business ethics case turns on who is affected and what each party is owed. A quick map before you write prevents one-sided analysis.
| Stakeholder | What they may be owed | Question to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Owners or shareholders | Honest reporting, lawful pursuit of returns | Does the decision breach trust with them? |
| Employees | Fair treatment, safety, honest dealing | Who bears the cost of this choice? |
| Customers | Truthful information, safe products | Could they be misled? |
| Community | Avoidance of harm | Who is affected outside the firm? |
Where Students Get Stuck
- Writing a management memo. Practical advice is fine, but the philosophical reasoning must be visible.
- Ignoring law versus ethics. Something can be legal and still wrong, or the reverse. Say which you mean.
- One-sided treatment. Present the best case for the view you reject.
- Loose terms. Define "stakeholder", "fairness" and "deception" before relying on them.
Study Tips for PHL 316
- Make a table of each topic with the main position for and against.
- Practice stating a principle in one sentence and testing it on a counterexample.
- Use real, publicly reported cases only when the course allows, and stick to documented facts.
- Draft the objection paragraph first, since it is the hardest to write well.
Three Lenses on Corporate Responsibility
The catalog lists corporate responsibility first, and it is the debate most other topics link back to. Know three positions well enough to place any case among them.
| View | Main claim | Typical criticism |
|---|---|---|
| Shareholder view | A firm's main duty is to pursue returns for its owners within the law | Ignores harms to people who are not owners |
| Stakeholder view | A firm owes duties to all affected parties | Can be vague about how to weigh competing claims |
| Social contract view | Firms operate by society's permission and must serve its expectations | Whose expectations count, and how are they measured? |
Writing the Objection and Reply Well
The most common weakness in a position paper is a thin objection. Write the objection as a believer in the other side would. Then reply in one of three ways: show the premise is false, show it does not apply to your case, or accept part of it and narrow your thesis.
Narrowing a thesis is not weakness. A claim such as "firms should not run advertisements that make specific health claims they cannot support" is more defensible, and easier to argue, than "all advertising is unethical".
How We Help with PHL 316
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Frequently Asked Questions
A philosophical study of moral issues in business, including corporate responsibility, conflicts of interest, advertising, preferential hiring, loyalty and cultural issues.
It is listed as philosophy, so arguments and ethical theory matter more than business technique.
None are listed in the SNHU catalog.
Present the strongest opposing argument fairly before replying. Fairness to the other side is part of the marking.
Only if the assignment asks. Use documented facts and cite them in the style your instructions require.
Yes. Send the draft and rubric and we review argument, structure and clarity.