Katie Hale | OGL 345 | Spring 2023 A

Organizational Ethics Situational Analysis

Category #1
Category: Utilitarianism
Chapter: 2
Explanation: A theory of ethics that focuses on the maximization of “the good”. It centers on
the utility, or beneficial usefulness, of decision-making in relationship to the associated
consequences. Consideration of consequences is the foundation of the theory, with several
differing variations and applications therein.
Approach: Act Utilitarianism
Explanation: Act Utilitarianism is an approach that morally justifies actions based on the
results of a specific course of action in a situation. The action taken is measured by the
potential consequence or outcome and is geared toward “maximizing the good”.
In contrast (for context): Rule Utilitarianism is an approach that encourages following general
moral rules and applying them similarly in all circumstances; individual consequences to
actions are not considered via a case-by-case basis under Rule Utilitarianism.

Category #2
Category: Kantian Theory
Chapter: 3
Explanation: Based on the writings of European philosopher, Immanuel Kant, this theory
focuses on taking the intention behind actions into account, using rational thought and a sense
of duty to determine ethicality, and the determination that ethical thought must come from a
place of freedom.
Approach: Reason-based duty: Imperfect duties
Explanation: Kant’s teachings about duty generally fall into two categories. One category,
“perfect duty”, outlines actions to which one is bound, regardless of circumstances. Another is
“imperfect duty”, which allows sentiment to factor into decision-making. Imperfect duty
allows flexibility in ethical decision making with concern for the feasibility of the given
situation and the duty to be kind to one another. While both use reason to inform decisions,
perfect duty is a moral obligation that applies to all circumstances, while imperfect duty allows
for benevolence.
Note: The “imperfection” of this approach, according to Kant, is due to the inability to fulfill
the duty to an absolute level—as it is not possible to be kind or generous to everyone at all
times in all circumstances.

Category #3
Category: Ethical Relativism
Chapter: 6
Explanation: Ethical Relativism is a theory that morality—and the variation thereof—
depends on societal and cultural norms and is a matter of opinion. This theory emphasizes the
importance of the emotional background and impact of ethical decisions, and that these

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decisions are subjective to their circumstances and situations. This theory acknowledges that
there may not be one objective/absolute moral or ethical framework appropriate for every
situation.
Approach: Ethical Authenticity: Anguish
Explanation: Since with Ethical Relativism there are no baseline ethical standards, ethical
decisions are based on personal experiences, feelings, and biases. As such, each person must
account for their ethical opinion having a basis in their personal experiences and take that into
account when deciding their actions.
Anguish: Moral relativist, Jean-Paul Sartre, acknowledged the difficulties of Ethical
Authenticity and the anguish that is often coupled with this approach. The realization of the
power and difficulty of choice, and the responsibility of such decision-making, can thus place
a heavy burden on the decision maker.

Situation:
The analysis situation I have chosen is not one I previously covered in the course and requires
some background. My father, William Collins, Jr., is an 89-year-old Korean War Navy Veteran.
He is the son of William Collins, Sr., a World War II Veteran that survived the beach at
Normandy on D-Day. For many years, the family had known the following picture to be that of
his father on the beach that day (center):

The picture graced the cover of a World War II book, had been shown on numerous
documentaries about the war, and even started showing up in some memes on social media. Our
family shared the picture each year on Veteran’s and Memorial Day, as a proud “claim to fame”
of this important day in history.

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One day, after my father had seen the photo come up on another documentary on the History
Channel, I became curious about its origins. I asked my parents how they knew that was a
picture of him, and my mother’s response was, “Because it looks like him.”
I was taken aback at—what seemed to me—the lack of a sufficient, evidentiary explanation for
this photo that had become famous to our relatives. I asked a couple more questions regarding
how certain they were at its authenticity, but stopped when I noticed that the questions were
making them visibly agitated.
I decided to do some light investigating to see what I could find about the photo. I found the
photo on the internet with a photographer’s name attributed to it. I did some more digging and
found the photographer’s granddaughter ran a Facebook page dedicated to his photography. On
that page was the photo with a caption stating the name of the soldier—Harold Wordeman.
I messaged the owner of the Facebook page to verify that this soldier was positively identified,
and she told me that her grandfather (the photographer) and the soldier had met and become
acquaintances at the hospital where they recovered from their injuries. She even produced a
magazine article and newspaper clippings with clearer photos of the soldier.

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I felt immediately heartbroken and simultaneously burdened with this new, correct knowledge. I
didn’t know if I should tell my family and break their hearts or let them go on incorrectly sharing
this soldier’s information and historical photograph as our own.
Another caveat to this dilemma is that my father has hardly any photographs or physical
keepsakes of his father—an entire trunk of his Army relics was thrown away decades prior by
my grandmother out of anger. While we all were proud of his service, he also returned from war
a broken man, and was never the same—to the point where a lot of ties with family were broken.
I know my father still swells with pride when he sees that photo come up in a public forum, but
now I know the truth: no matter how much I wish it did, it doesn’t belong to our family.

Ethical dilemma: Do I tell my father the truth, or continue to keep it a secret?

Soldier Photograph Ethical Applications:

Category #1: Utilitarianism; Act Utilitarianism Approach
Based on Utilitarianism’s mantra of “maximizing the good”, I have to ask, “What is the good,
and how do I reach it?” Under this theory, I must consider the utility, or benefits, of telling the
truth versus withholding the truth. I also must carefully consider the consequences of both.
Act Utilitarianism is an approach that morally justifies actions based on the results of a specific
course of action in a situation (as opposed to Rule Utilitarianism, in which a blanket rule applies
to all situations—such as “always tell the truth”). Act Utilitarianism might allow room for
emotional flexibility in this circumstance. The ultimate long-term “good” is arguably to know the
truth and stop spreading any more false history for our family. However, this version of the good
comes at a high short-term cost: my father’s heartbreak. At 89-years-old, taking something he
has known to be true for decades and turning it on its head is likely a much sharper blow than to
someone much younger. This emotional turmoil, therefore, must be factored into my decision on
whether or not to tell him about the photograph, as it may also have negative physical impacts on
my father’s health.

Category #2: Kantian Theory; Reason-based duty: Imperfect duties

Kantian Theory states that we must take intention and duty into account when it comes to the
truth about the photograph. The clear intention of telling my father about the photograph would
be to stop the spread of false information. The duty would be to that of the truth on an intrinsic
level, as well as to the soldier in the photograph—his real story should be told.
In contrast, Kantian’s Reason-based duty approach of “Imperfect Duties”, might look at this
situation as one in which sentiment was appropriately called-upon as a factor. The allowance of

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benevolence in this approach would take into account how kind or unkind it would be to tell my
father about this photograph at this stage in his life. There is ultimately little to no harm in the
belief that the heroic photograph is of his late father, and the sharing of the photo on social media
has little impact on a global scale, as our accounts are primarily private. Even if the photographs
were widely attributed to being his father, the consequences would likely be miniscule, at worst.
However, the “imperfect” part of this approach is that it is impossible to be kind to everyone in
this scenario—either we are unkind and tell my father the truth, or we are unkind to the soldier in
the photograph, as we are not properly honoring his story. There is no absolute resolution to this
situation without unkindness; but the potential impact of keeping the secret must be measured
alongside the likelihood that it would have any impact at all outside of our family.

Category #3: Ethical Relativism; Ethical Authenticity: Anguish

Ethical Relativism Theory emphasizes the importance of the emotional background and impact
of ethical decisions, and that these decisions are subjective to their circumstances and situations.
Ethical Authenticity, in the context of anguish, states that since there is no baseline standard of
morality, everyone is left to decide what is ethically correct for themselves. The anguish comes
from this burdensome task of having the responsibility and power to make the difficult decisions.
When applied to the soldier photograph scenario, this approach highlights the burden and
anguish I must reconcile when considering my course of action. As a general rule, I appreciate
and seek the truth in the situations in my own life. If I look at this situation through that lens, I
would want to know the truth. However, I am now burdened not only with truth about someone
else, but with the decision to impose that truth and burden upon their life. I don’t necessarily feel
I have the right to make that same decision on their behalf—in this case, for my elderly father.

Final Thoughts:
While I realize this class is focused on ethics in organizations, I couldn’t help but apply these
particular ethical theories to my current situation with my father. I was drawn to the ethical
theories that gave explanation for malleability in ethical decision making, whereas I would
normally be very against such “flexibility” in truth. I appreciated the ability to assuage my guilt
in the name of doing what is, to me, “the good”—being kind to my father and his sense of pride.
To be honest, I haven’t told him about the photo and don’t think I will. While this goes against
my own personal convictions about what is true and right, I feel the emotional toll of this
knowledge will be too much for him to bear. I see it as an act of love to carry this burden for
him, even though he is unaware of its existence.

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References

Fryer, M. (2014). Ethics Theory & Business Practice. In M. Fryer, Ethics Theory & Business
Practice. SAGE Publications Ltd.