The Film Philadelphia As A Case Study Of Ethical Dilemmas In The Workplace

Abstract

In this paper we present the film Philadelphia as an exemplary text for teaching business ethics. For this purpose, we show students three scenes from the film and guide them as they engage in ethical reasoning. Through the exercise, students should: understand the nature of ethical dilemmas; understand a model for ethical decision-making and apply it to shed light on selected situations presented in the film; and lastly, understand ethical dimensions of discrimination. After engaging with the exercise, students should also develop a clear understanding of the difficulty of reaching ethical decisions in their professional careers. In addition, the exercise serves as an opportunity to discuss issues of HIV and AIDS in contemporary organizations.