Question

Ben is assigned by his employer to improve an ultrasonic range-finding device. While working on the improvement, he recognizes that a novel modification of the equipment might be applicable to military submarines, which, if successful, could be worth a lot of money to his employer. However, Ben is a pacifist, a person who opposes war of any kind, and does not want to be involved in military work. He does not develop the idea himself or mention it to anybody else in the company. He has signed an agreement that all inventions he produces on the job are the property of the company but does not believe the agreement is relevant to this situation. If Ben decides whether the potential military application would be used for offensive aims, or only used for defensive purposes, his issue is primarily:

Answer 1

1. He has not developed the idea yet

2. His employer knows he his a pacifist so he has the delima is he ethically correct to not develop a product that can be used for warfare.

Step-by-step explanation:

In this scenario Ben signed an agreement with his employer that all ideas he has developed on the job and while working with the company is a property of the company.

This is a common agreement that gives a company property rights over work developed by their employees.

However since Ben is a pacifist he has an ethical dilemma when he has an idea that can weaponize an ultrasonic range-finding device.

He is justifying his decision by saying the idea has not been developed yet and his employer will not expect him to develop such technology since he is a pacifist.