The 1993 film, The Firm, is about revealing the business environment as a cut-throat competitive and money driven realm of society that is faced with many personal and business ethical issues. In this essay, we will discuss The Firm’s multiple situations of corruption and deceit as it relates to business ethics concepts demonstrated by James Brusseau (2016); the decisions made and alternative outcome; the reasons why the character made his choices according to Kohlberg’s theory of moral development; and the results behind those decisions. The major business ethical issues identified in this movie are: theories of duties and rights involving perennial duties we owe to ourselves and others and categorical imperative, something we need to do
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Instead, he was impressed, flattered, and greedy and took the offer that led him to this predicament. In his eyes, the ends justified the means because as stated by Brusseau (2016), their “ethical interest focused on the consequences of an act instead of what you actually do”. At the conventional morality level, Mitch wasn’t going to “not question and reason the norms of the firm he wanted to belong to” McLeod (2013) In the beginning, Mitch considers continuing along the typical path of associate attorneys and initially does so as he grows concern about losing his prestigious job and lifestyle. Mitch is not considering the rules or consequences for his actions, rather, as stated by Brusseau (2016) monetized utilitarianism, attempting to measure happiness in terms of money, and McLeod (2013) his post-conventional morality where he “becomes aware that while rules/laws might exist for the good of the greater number, there are times when they will work against the interest of particular individuals”. After much uncertainty, Mitch decides to meet FBI and the Firm halfway by acting, Brusseau (2016), according to the ethical theory of altruism because “the action’s consequences are more beneficial than unfavorable for everyone except the person who acts”, therefore he does not provide the FBI with the documents needed to prosecute Bendini, Lambert, & Locke for the charges the government was investigating. Instead, along with his brother, wife, assistant, and others Mitch provides documents of Bendini, Lambert, & Locke’s mailed invoices with inflated billable hours to clients, which is a lesser federal offense but still punishable under the law. None of these instances led to the firm ceasing their illegal business with the Mob or
Instead, he was impressed, flattered, and greedy and took the offer that led him to this predicament. In his eyes, the ends justified the means because as stated by Brusseau (2016), their “ethical interest focused on the consequences of an act instead of what you actually do”. At the conventional morality level, Mitch wasn’t going to “not question and reason the norms of the firm he wanted to belong to” McLeod (2013) In the beginning, Mitch considers continuing along the typical path of associate attorneys and initially does so as he grows concern about losing his prestigious job and lifestyle. Mitch is not considering the rules or consequences for his actions, rather, as stated by Brusseau (2016) monetized utilitarianism, attempting to measure happiness in terms of money, and McLeod (2013) his post-conventional morality where he “becomes aware that while rules/laws might exist for the good of the greater number, there are times when they will work against the interest of particular individuals”. After much uncertainty, Mitch decides to meet FBI and the Firm halfway by acting, Brusseau (2016), according to the ethical theory of altruism because “the action’s consequences are more beneficial than unfavorable for everyone except the person who acts”, therefore he does not provide the FBI with the documents needed to prosecute Bendini, Lambert, & Locke for the charges the government was investigating. Instead, along with his brother, wife, assistant, and others Mitch provides documents of Bendini, Lambert, & Locke’s mailed invoices with inflated billable hours to clients, which is a lesser federal offense but still punishable under the law. None of these instances led to the firm ceasing their illegal business with the Mob or