Mr. Triff's piano example.Mr. Jones goes to Mr. Triff's house and sees a piano. The piano happens to be a Steinway of the 1850'. It is worthy on the market 30000$. But this is an information that only Mr. Jones knows. Now, it happens that the piano is the only thing that Mr. Triff owns, and is also without money.Instead Mr. Jones has plenty of money and offers only 400$ for the piano without disclosing the fact that the piano is worthy 30k.They make the deal. Now, Mrs Smart that happens to be friend with both of them walks in Mr Triff house and with surprise asks: Where is the piano? Being the only thing he owns is the only thing that she can notice; and Mr T. says: Can you immagine? I sold it for 400$$$$$. MR.Smart:But that was worty 30K???? Triff: i did not know that, it was there since my granmather passed, and nobody ever played it, and with the 400$ i bought all i needed to start my new business!!! i don't need anything else!!! It is all i wanted! (So Mr. Triff is happy and got what he wanted and needed).Mrs Smart walks now in the Mr. Jones house and sees the piano and she asks Mr Jones why he did not buy a brand new yamaha with all the effects and for the same 400$.Mr Jones goes like this: Well, you know, i just needed a piano to practise my limited skills and to fill the space in the living room, i don't even know if i am never going to use it; but it looks good and the sounds is great!(Mr Jones is happy and got what he wanted and needed).Both the Mr. Jones and Mr. Triff came to a deal that made both of them happy eventhough Mr. T did not maximize his profit which happens to be irrelevant for him, and Mr. Jones did not get the best deal because it was not in his interest.The only unhappy here is Mrs Smart that did not get anything, probably even the understanding of the matter.The fair value of X is the value that fits both needs Y and Z.Here what happens his just that Y and Z agreed about X.Bot have justified true beliefs about $400 being the fair value and also the best explanation for it. Is not it?
The 30k information is irrelevant for both..
Is Mr. Jones's behavior not ethical?
List of student assistants HONORS
8 years ago
Yes, it isn't ethical cos you don't need to think of what is right only for that person, but for what is 'known' as right. If you know that sth is wrong, and you do it anyway, but it harms the rights or possibilities of another person in an illegal or immoral way, of course that isn't ethical.
ReplyDeletei agree with Wu. even if both of them got what they wanted and were "happy" with it, someone wasn't fair, doing sthg he knew was wrong. if he had the money and could pay the right amount for the piano, why did he pay so little? for his own advantage. (my comment is based in personal believes though, not in ethics or philosophy...)
ReplyDelete