How do we determine the motives of people when attempting to know whether something is ethical? Petria Russell, Will Paisley & Emily Nelson

Transcription

1 How do we determine the motives of people when attempting to know whether something is ethical? Petria Russell, Will Paisley & Emily Nelson

2 Real World Event - The Foundation -Child labor for H&M -12 year old children work up to 14 hours a day for H&M in Uzbekistan and Bangladesh -One of H&M s slogan is fashion and quality at the best prices -Should we let this influence our decision to purchase H&M clothing?

3 Ethics in advertising Ethics: a system of moral principles, differentiation between right and wrong Applies to a society Can also apply to an individual Knowledge claim: Each person has a unique set of moral principles that influences decision making How do our personal ethics influence emotion, reason, perception of language, intuition? And therefore our decision making? Examining politically/socially charged advertising and its effect - can effect be justified? Consider motive of advertisement: MAKE PROFIT

4 Adidas Individuals would perceive this advertisement differently Emotional response would differ - some would react positively, others negatively Should we let this emotional response affect our decision to buy Adidas shoes? What was the advertiser s intent for using potentially controversial content? No way to know, intuitive conclusion Advertiser genuinely believes that gay relationships aren t adequately reflected in media and wishes to change it? Knows that controversy (good or bad) creates popularity? Knows the majority of the consumer demographic would react positively? Does emotional reaction cloud ability to make reasoned decisions?

5 Cheerios In my opinion, the alleged controversy is less clear in this advertisement Still, emotional response would differ - some would react positively, others negatively Lack of media diversity is an official civil rights issue - minorities are often stereotyped, and in this case they are not Should we let this emotional response affect our decision to buy Cheerios? What was the advertiser s intent for using potentially controversial content? No way to know, intuitive conclusion Advertiser genuinely supports civil rights cause Knows that controversy (good or bad) creates popularity? Was the controversy even intentional? Does emotional reaction cloud ability to make reasoned decisions?

6 Patagonia Individuals would perceive this advertisement differently Emotional response would differ - some would react positively, others negatively based on personal political views (both reasoned and emotional) Should we let this reasoned response affect our decision to buy Patagonia? What was the advertiser s intent for using politically divisive content? Intuitive conclusion Advertiser genuinely wishes to bar Keystone XL Knows that controversy (good or bad) creates popularity? Knows the majority of the consumer demographic would react positively? Does emotional/reasoned reaction cloud ability to make reasoned and logical decisions?

7 How does the ambiguity of language affect the role of the consumer?

8 Food Statistics The average American person spends 3.66 years eating, approximately 67 minutes a day 89.7 percent of Americans described their diet as somewhat (52.6 percent), very (31.5 percent), or extremely (5.6 percent) healthy Yet over 68% of people in the US are overweight The word healthy is very subjective. We spend a great deal of our daily lives eating, yet do we truly know what we are eating? Can we trust that food companies are telling us the truth about what their food contains?

9 What does All Natural mean?

10 What does all natural mean? The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) does not have a definition, but the label is often given to food that does not have added color, artificial flavors, or synthetic substances

11

12 Kraft Crystal Light Caroline Krajewski, a corporate affairs representative from Kraft, stated that We believe all our labels comply with the law and are not misleading. Is it Kraft that is at fault, trying to attract customers with misleading labels? Or is it the FDA s lack of a concrete definition?

13 Gluten Free Foods that do not have gluten Foods that have gluten

14 Gluten Free -No wheat, barley, rye, or any cross breeds of these -20 ppm (mg/l) of gluten or less allows it to be called gluten free -Naturally gluten free products can be labeled as gluten free -Manufacturers do not have to test food for being gluten free, they only have to meet definition - Headline: General Mills said 1.8 million boxes made at a California plant in July could contain gluten

15 Gluten Free Diet Craze

16 Naturally Gluten Free Foods with Label

17 Ethics behind Gluten Free Labels Are companies just trying to attract consumers being that the gluten free diet is trending? Or do the companies genuinely want to make customers aware that there is no gluten in their products for health purposes? Example: Mr. Slater s story with sister

18 What do you think the term Free Range implies in regard to animals?

19 Common Associations with Free Range Chickens

20 Free Range Chickens in Reality -The term Free Range is regulated by USDA for poultry and they require that birds have access to the outdoors at least once a day. Five minutes of outdoor access is considered as meeting the Free Range requirements - Free Range chickens suffer from the same illnesses as caged chickens. Often time chickens suffer from ammonia burns, lung lesions and breast blisters from sitting in urine.

21 Difference between Chicken Conditions in Eggs

22 Perspectives on Free Range Chickens Is it the misleading labels that are unethical or is it the consumer that is unethical? The companies, although they use misleading labels, are following USDA and FDA definitions and guidelines so technically they are not being dishonest Is it the consumers job to read into labels and know what the labels truly entail?

23 Are you an ethical consumer in the modern world?

24 Corporate Consumerism Definition: Promotion of consumerist interests based on corporate ideals American and Capitalist society is dependent upon consumerism Frequently exploits developing world to lessen cost Popular products made unethically Pluralistic ignorance to unethical practices of brands Majority of successful corporations are exploitive

25 Outsourced Industry Vast majority of American manufacturing is outsourced to third-world countries Outsourcing: To send corporate work to somewhere outside of the corporation (typically foreign) Outsourcing frequently develops into economic exploitation Exploitation: Utilization for selfish purposes Exploitation through outsourcing leads to unethical production by popular brands H&M child labor (foundational event) What is the motive of these companies when outsourcing? Corporate or customer profit?

26 What is a life worth in tops? H&M Bangladeshi factory fire 21 killed, over 50 injured Clothing factories in Bangladesh are prone to fires as a result of poor safety standards (Hickman) Safety standards are generally lower in outsourced countries (mainly India and China)

27 The Economy of it all Majority of population knows where their consumerist options come from Ignorance to origin of product due to economy Over 90% of American clothes are imported (CR) Do you go for a deal? Is it the consumer or company s ethical responsibility? Should we enable companies to produce unethically?

28 How do we determine the motives of people when attempting to know whether something is ethical?

29 Works Cited "Don't Fall For This Food Label Lie." EverydayHealth.com. Web. 11 Mar "Free Range" and "Pasture Raised" Officially Defined by HFAC for Certified Humane Label - Certified Humane." Certified Humane "Animals Used for Free-Range and Organic Meat." Hickman, Martin. "21 Workers Die in Fire at H&M Factory." The Independent. Independent Digital News and Media, 1 Mar Web. 14 Mar "Media Diversity: Frequently Asked Questions." The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. Web. 14 Mar "Organic Food s Dirty Secret: What the seductive Label Fails to Tell You." Saloncom RSS. Web. 02 Mar "Organic.org - Organic FAQ." Organic.org - Organic FAQ. Web. 02 Mar PETA Animals Used for Free Range and Organic Meat Comments. Web. 07 Mar Web. 07 Mar "Products Made in America - Consumer Reports Magazine." Products Made in America - Consumer Reports Magazine. Consumer Reports, Feb Web. 14 Mar