Assignment:
Capitalism is an economic and political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state whereas socialism is a political and economic theory of social organization which advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole. (Shaw, William H. (2014). Business ethics (8th ed.). Boston, MA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning). In this assignment, you will define the roles capitalism and socialism play along with the pros and cons of each.
In two to three (2 to 3) paragraphs:
• Briefly define, in your own words, the concepts of capitalism and socialism. Then list three pros and cons of each.
The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:
• Determine the considerations for and process of ethical business decision making to balance corporate and social responsibilities, and address moral, economic, and legal concerns.
• Analyze selected business situations using the predominant ethical theories, such as utilitarian, Kantian, and virtue ethics to guide ethical business decision making.
• Use technology and information resources to research issues in business ethics.
• Write clearly and concisely about business ethics using proper writing mechanics.
This week we are discussing capitalism and its key features. Take a moment to reflect on the following questions.
• Do you believe that people take for granted the economic system they live in, specifically in the United States? Why or why not?
• Discuss why some people might believe a capitalistic society is unequal. Do you agree? Why or why not?
Our natural resources are valuable and important to sustain so that we have continued access to these resources in the future. With that being said, what do you think a utilitarian's view of the earth's natural resources might be? What about a libertarian viewpoint? Justify your response.