Week 4 Q3 Business Ethics

BUSINESS ETHICS AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY GRADE 12, QUARTER 3
Name of Learner:________________________________________ Grade Level:___________________
Section:_________________________________________________ Date:___________________
LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET NO. 4

Philosophies Influencing Our Business Practices
I. Introduction
The fast-growing economy of the Philippines presents several opportunities for

entrepreneurs. Companies can learn from the techniques used by Greek philosophers
to achieve success in business. As you go through this module, you will learn about
the classical philosophies for business practices.
II. Learning Competencies
Illustrate how these philosophies are reflected into business practices (ABM_ESR12-
IIIe-h-2.1)
III. Objectives
At the end of this learning activity sheet, you are expected to:
1. identify the classical philosophers and their philosophies;

2. make a graphic organizer about classical philosophies; and
3. explain how each philosophy reflects into business practices.
IV. Discussion
The Classical Philosophers and Philosophies and Their Implications on Business
1. Socrates (469-399 BCE)- “The Gad-fly at the Marketplace” is one of the few individuals
whom one could say have shaped the cultural and intellectual development of the world for
without him, history would be profoundly different. This is Socrates’s philosophical idea:
“The unexamined life is not worth living.” Socrates pointed out that human
choice was motivated by the desire for happiness.
Socrates thought of the Entrepreneurs. The Socratic Method is a way of thinking that
allows individuals to define their own purpose of learning and exploring its purpose through
open-minded questioning of what they hold to be true. Socrates insisted on a right to think
of ourselves by introducing the philosophical concept, “Dare to Disagree”.
2. Plato – “The Philosopher-King” is one of the world’s best known and most widely read and
studied philosophers. He was the student of Socrates and the teacher of Aristotle. He wrote
in the middle of the 4th Century BCE in ancient Greece. This is Plato’s philosophical idea:
“Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad
people will find a way around the laws.”
Plato maintains a virtue-based eudemonistic conception of ethics. That is to

say, happiness or well-being (eudaimonia) is the highest aim of moral thought and
1
conduct, and the virtues (aretê: excellence) are the requisite skills and dispositions
needed to attain it.
3. Aristotle – “All or Nothing” (384-322 BCE) is a towering figure in ancient Greek philosophy,
contributing to logic, metaphysics, mathematics, physics, biology, ethics, politics,
agriculture, medicine, dance, and theater. These are some of Aristotle’s philosophical ideas:
“Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim, and end of
human existence.”
“Let people seek fulfillment.”
The word happiness in ethics is a translation of the Greek term “eudaimonia” which
connotes success and fulfillment. For Aristotle, this happiness is our highest goal. In relation
to business, Aristotle concludes that the role of the leader is to create an environment in
which all members of an organization can realize their potential.
4. Immanuel Kant (1724–1804). “Duty based Ethics”. He is one of the most influential
philosophers in the history of Western Philosophy. He was not concerned with the
consequences of one’s actions or the harm caused to one’s individual interests. Instead, he
is focused on motives and the willingness of individuals to act for the good of others, even if
the action might result to personal loss. Doing something for the right reason was more
important to Kant than any particular outcome.
For example, business ethics is littered with cases of companies that have suffered
damaging crises due to their leaders’ lack of commitment to act based on goodwill and about
what benefits others.
5. Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill- “Utilitarianism” revolves around the concept of
“the end justifies the means”. It believes that outcomes, as a result of an action have a
greater value compared to the latter.
Utilitarianism is a philosophy or belief suggesting that an action is morally right when

the majority of people benefit from it. Also, the doctrine that an action is right as it promotes
happiness, and that the greatest happiness of the greatest number should be the guiding
principle of conduct. Utilitarianism is a moral theory that advocates actions that promote
overall happiness or pleasure and reject actions that cause unhappiness or harm. A
utilitarian philosophy, when directed to making social, economic, or political decisions, aims
for the betterment of society.
V. Activities
Activity A.
Direction: Write the business philosophies of each philosopher in the table below. The
first one is done for you. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.
2
Activity B.
Directions: Give a situation that shows the implication of each philosophy in business.
Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.
1. Aristotle’s philosophy
2. Plato’s philosophy
3. Socrates’ philosophy
4. Immanuel Kant’s philosophy
5. Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill’s philosophy
Activity C.
Directions: Based on your life’s experiences, cite things/principles you consider in
your decision-making in five aspects below. Write your answers on a separate sheet
of paper.
1. Love _____
2. Education _____
3. Family _____
4. Friends _____
5. Money _____
VI. Assessment
A. Directions: Complete the sentences below and write your answers on a separate
sheet of paper.
Aristotle’s philosophy influences business practices in

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Plato’s philosophy influences business practices in
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Socrates’ philosophy influences business practices in
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Immanuel Kant’s philosophy influences business practices in
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill’s philosophies influence business practices in
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
VII. References
Nojadera M. S., Business Ethics and Social Responsibility – SHS Quarter 3 – Module 4:
Philosophies Influencing Our Business Practices. Edition, 2020., Printed in the
Philippines by Department of Education -Schools Division of Bataan
3
Prepared By:
MICHELLE M. MARCELO
Teacher I – Maruhat National High School - MNHS
Practice Personal Hygiene Protocols at all times.

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BUSINESS ETHICS AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY GRADE 12, QUARTER 3

Name of Learner:______________________ Grade Level:_

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET NO. 4

The fast-growing economy of the Philippines presents several opportunities for

II. Learning Competencies

1. identify the classical philosophers and their philosophies;

The Classical Philosophers and Philosophies and Their Implications on Business

Plato maintains a virtue-based eudemonistic conception of ethics. That is to

“Let people seek fulfillment.”

Utilitarianism is a philosophy or belief suggesting that an action is morally right when

Aristotle’s philosophy influences business practices in

Practice Personal Hygiene Protocols at all times.

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