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Normative Ethics In A Convicted Felon’S Life

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of a company is the person who is responsible for that company’s operations and is often the President or Chairman of the Board of Directors (“CEO,” n.d.). This individual has many duties and responsibilities. One such responsibility deals with the financial well-being of the company. Many CEOs in our country’s past have been charged and convicted of abusing this power. One such person is former WorldCom CEO Bernard Ebbers, who was convicted in 2005 of fraud and conspiracy. His alleged part in financial shenanigans at the company cost investors approximately 11 billion U.S. dollars (Yang & Grow, 2005). Despite the fact that he is currently incarcerated in a federal prison, Ebbers maintains his innocence. The question at hand would be concentrated around Ebbers intentions when making financial decisions while at WorldCom. There is no doubt that Ebbers was practicing consequentialism. However, was this Sunday school teacher acting as a utilitarian and doing what he believed was right for his stockholders? Or was he simply an ethical egoist—so accustomed to getting his way and living the high life that he would look out for numero uno? Deontologically speaking, did Ebbers childhood and background instill in him the moral values to successfully run a business? Did he feel he was performing his contractural duties as CEO to fulfill the financial rights of his company’s stockholders in the long run? Or was he so blinded by his own bank account and greed that he erroneously assumed that it was a basic human right to take what he wanted? To begin answering the above questions we must first take a look at Ebber’s personal and professional background.
Bernard Ebbers was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on August 27, 1941. He was the second child of five born to a travelling salesman and his wife. After he graduated high school, he attended the University of Alberta and Calvin College. He also attended Mississippi College,...