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ACCG 8048 2023, Semester 1: Ethics Theory Essay
Weighting: 30%
Due: The case study essay is to be submitted via iLearn by 11:55pm Friday 28th April.
Deliverables
One essay of 1500 words, excluding references. Your essay should be double spaced, 12-point
font in a professional font (Times New Roman, Arial etc.). Submissions may be up to 10%
over the word limit, but there will be a 5% penalty of marks for up to each 5% beyond that
limit. e.g. Exceeding word limit by 11% to 15% = 1.5-mark penalty; exceeding word limit by
16 to 20% = 3-mark penalty. And so on.
Your answer should be a single essay response following an essay structure (introduction, body
conclusion) and organised into paragraphs. Each question also provides a series of issues you
must address, in order, in writing your essay. Subheadings should also be used to clearly
indicate each section of your essay. The marking rubric (provided separately) allocates marks
for each of these tasks.
As set out in the rubric, distinction and high distinction marks for core categories require
appropriate research, which includes both the quality and quantity of your sources. As a guide,
you should refer to two to five additional sources in total, and at least half should come from
peer-reviewed academic journals. Useful starting points for identifying appropriate sources are
the recommended readings for each topic, Macquarie University library online search function
and Google Scholar.
Referencing
Ensure you reference all sources you use in your assignment, including online sources. Direct
quotes (i.e. statements not in your own words) should be included in quote marks in addition
to being referenced. You should use the APA 7th referencing system. Macquarie University
Library provides a useful list of resources and guides for using this system. There are also
numerous web resources on APA referencing, and popular referencing software (e.g. Endnote
– free to students) can be set up to automatically insert your references in the correct style.
Use of generative artificial intelligence
Generative AI (e.g. Chat GPT) may be used in limited ways to research your topic, but only
as expressly permitted in the attached Appendix. You may, for example, use this tool to
research definitions of key terms. However, all such uses must be referenced, including using
quote marks for any material taken directly. The referencing system here is recommended.
Generative AI may not be used to generate examples, analyse texts listed in the question, or
to produce text without attribution. Be aware also that it remains students’ responsibility to
ensure any use of generative AI is within the requirements of academic integrity. As penalties
apply for integrity breaches, please contact your convener before submitting your task if you
are unsure if any particular practice is acceptable.
Extensions and Penalties
Unless an application for Special Consideration has been submitted and approved, a 5%
penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not
submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be
awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set
at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical concern.
Marking: See the detailed marking rubric on iLearn.
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Questions
Choose ONE of the following questions for your essay. To answer your chosen question, you
will need to draw on both readings covered in the course and your own research.
QUESTION 1
While Tesla has been praised for being at the forefront of more environmentally sustainable
transport, it has also been criticised for its use of Cobalt mined in the Democratic Republic of
Congo. Critically analyse these issues and Tesla’s response drawing especially on theoretical
debates between relativism vs. universalism and global ethics (Topic 2). Your answer should
be organised in essay form – as a single written answer – but address the following stages in
order, using subheadings to distinguish each section (paragraphs lengths are recommended /
approximate):
1. Introduce your essay: Explain the purpose of your essay and how your essay will
achieve this purpose (1 short paragraph).
2. Explain theory steps: Explain the main steps a relativist would take to assess the ethics
of Tesla’s Cobalt mining and how these would differ from a universalist approach (1-2
paragraphs).
3. Explain reasons: Explain the main reasons each would provide for these steps (1-2
paragraph).
4. Apply ethics theory: Use the steps you outlined in point 2 to outline whether a (i)
relativist and (ii) universalist would agree with Tesla’s battery supply chain practices
and strategy (2-3 paragraphs).
5. Critically analyse: State whether you agree with a relativist or a universalist approach
to this case and explain why (1-2 par
agraph).
6. Conclude your essay: Summarise your main argument (1 short paragraph)
QUESTION 2
A recent article describes marketing techniques that poker machine manufacturers use to attract
and keep customers, which include design in sounds, lights, ‘loses discussed as wins’ and free
spins. Critically assess the ethics of each of these marketing devices drawing especially on
Kantian theory (Topic 4) and marketing ethics (Topic 5). Your answer should be organised in
essay form – a single written answer – but address the following stages in order, using
subheadings to distinguish each section (paragraphs lengths are recommended / approximate):
1. Introduce your essay: Explain the purpose of your essay and how your essay will
achieve this purpose (1 short paragraph).
2. Explain theory steps: In your own words, explain the three main stages of applying a
Kantian analysis as outlined in Topic 4, Lecture 1 (1 paragraph).
3. Explain reasons: Explain the reasons Kant would give for each of these steps (1-2
paragraphs)
4. Apply ethics theory: Apply the steps you describe in point 2 to analyse which
marketing tactics are legitimate and illegitimate and why (2-3 paragraphs).
5. Critically analyse: State whether you agree with this Kantian analysis of each
technique with reference to relevant limits of, or alternatives to, Kantian approaches to
marketing (1-2 paragraphs).
6. Conclude your essay: Summarise your main argument (1 short paragraph)
QUESTION 3
The multi-billion dollar collapse of the FTX platform has been widely linked to the character
of its founder, Sam Bankman-Fried. Others focus on capitalist economic systems, such as
incentives to chase profit without strong regulations. Drawing especially on virtue ethics theory
(Topic 5) and the capitalism and its critics topic (Topic 6) topics, critically assess to what extent
FTX’s collapse was a failure of individual character. Your answer should be organised in essay
form – a single written answer – but address the following stages in order, using subheadings
to distinguish each section (paragraphs lengths are recommended / approximate):
1. Introduce your essay: Explain the purpose of your essay and how your essay will
achieve this purpose (1 short paragraph).
2. Explain theory steps: In your own words, explain the two main steps a virtue ethicist
would follow to decide if a CEO’s actions are ethical as outlined in Topic 5, Lecture 1
(1 paragraph).
3. Explain reasons. Explain the reasons a virtue ethicist would provide for each of these
steps.
4. Apply ethics theory: Use the steps set out in point 2 above to assess to what extent, or
in what respects, a virtue ethicist might view the collapse of FTX as a failure of
individual character (2- 3 paragraphs).
5. Critically analyse: State whether you agree with this virtue ethics analysis and explain
why with reference to relevant limits of, or alternatives to, virtue ethics theory (1-2
paragraphs).
6. Conclude your essay: Summarise your main argument (1 short paragraph).
QUESTION 4
In 2022, LinkedIn ran a secret experiment to assess which variations of their recommendation
algorithm made people most likely to get jobs. While their stated aim was to ‘help people at
scale’, critics argued that it harmed job seekers who missed opportunities. Critically assess the
ethics of LinkedIn’s experiment. Your answer should draw especially on utilitarian theory
(Topic 4) and the customer rights topic (Topic 5). Your answer should be organised in essay
form – one single answer – but address all the following stages in order, using subheadings to
distinguish each section (note: paragraphs lengths are recommended / approximate):
1. Introduce your essay: Explain the purpose of your argument and the main steps you
will take to answer the question (1 short paragraph).
2. Explain ethics steps: In your own words, explain the three mains steps a utilitarian
would take to decide whether LinkedIn’s actions were ethical as outlined in Topic 3,
Lecture 1.
3. Explain reasons: Explain the main reasons a utilitarian would give for each of these
steps (1-2 paragraphs).
4. Apply theory: Apply the steps/criteria outlined in point 2 to assess to what extent a
utilitarian ethicist would believe LinkedIn’s experiment was ethical (2-3 paragraphs).
5. Critically analyse: State whether you agree with this utilitarian analysis and explain
why with reference to relevant limits of, or alternatives to, utilitarian ethics (1-2
paragraph).
6. Conclude your essay: Summarise your main argument (1 short paragraph)
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APPENDIX: Acceptable use of Generative AI for this task
Green Zone: GAIT use permitted within academic integrity guidelines
For this assessment, in addition to spelling/grammar checkers and referencing software,
students are permitted to use generative artificial intelligence tools (GAITs, e.g., ChatGPT)
to:
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Provide a key definition (with attribution)