Academic Seminar Report
1. In my opinion Alan Greenspan presents a very positive image of the possibilities of business ethics in the future. While some may call his point of view idealistic or naïve, I think that it is based on the realities of today’s business interactions. Reputation and fair dealings have become more important now than ever before because of the accessibility of information. With the instant spread of information via the Internet, it has become very easy to damage or lose your reputation. Moreover, it is very difficult to restore your reputation due to the great degree of competition in the field of business. Therefore, Greenspan’s view on the concept of business ethics is one that is very relevant in the modern world. It is doubtless that investors will always look for someone who they can trust and rely on, which means that personal qualities are strong points in the field of business. Alan Greenspan mentions that besides providing personal satisfaction, a good reputation based on honesty and integrity is a “profoundly practical virtue” (n.p.). What this means is that by being fair and reliable with your business partners, you gain their trust, which leads to a solid partnership and the development of your business. Furthermore, you can create a stable and long-term arrangement that will benefit your business. As stated by Greenspan, trust is the root of mutually beneficial exchanges and virtually all business transactions (n.p.). This means that business cannot develop without feelings of mutual trust since trust is closely connected with respect, responsibility and reliability. This also explains the lack of trust between business partners that are not known to possess a good reputation. There is no reason to suppose that an exchange with unscrupulous businesses will lead to something mutually beneficial. Therefore, Alan Greenspan’s view of business ethics founded on the realities of business transactions.
2a. In my opinion the film Shattered Glass is a solid 8 on a scale from 1-10. The actors, Hayden Christensen and Peter Sarsgaard in particular, did a great job in portraying two very different types of people. Christensen’s Stephen Glass was very convincing as an intelligent and manipulative journalist who fabricated stories. Likewise, Sarsgaard’s Chuck was the epitome of a serious, insightful and honest journalist. Besides the strong cast and good acting, the movie also did a good job of developing several themes, such as trust and honesty in the workplace; the value of honest journalism; the power of subjective thinking; and the importance of creating relationships built on trust. In addition, the plot of the movie was well structured, beginning with Stephen’s thoughts about journalism and ending with them. By the end of the movie, the audience got a chance to hear those words from a different perspective. In general, the movie left me with a very strong impression on the importance of questioning everything and always double checking the facts. This movie also stressed the significance of ethics in the workplace, the importance of being honest …
