Kantian theory can be applied as a moral tool to understand whose rights were violated in a particular action. Notably, the theory proposes that certain types of murder were prohibited even under cases where action leads to more value for one party. Therefore, it is wrong for Enron to offer a deal that was not true. The terms of the deal would never make Merrill Lynch the real owner of the generators. The outline from the case study proves that Enron was engaging in dishonest and manipulative business. The Kantian moral theory establishes the act as immoral and outright deception against Merrill Lynch.
From a utilitarian perspective, the moral right of a particular action is determined by the benefits for many people. Therefore, as long as the benefits are for many people, utilitarianism does not care whether the benefits are produced through coercion, manipulation, or lies. In this case, it would be morally wrong for Enron to engage in this fraud activity because of the potential harm to the company reputation as well as its leaders. Similarly, the virtue theory emphasizes virtues such as honesty and generosity, which are acquired through practice. The deal involved manipulative and dishonest information that was aimed to lure Merrill Lynch. The theory would be applied to establish the unethical conduct of Enron managers, primarily through engaging in accounting fraud.
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Notably, the application of the moral theories, in this case, would assist in identifying the potential risks as well as the problems in Enron’s proposal. Therefore, following the evidence of the moral theories would assist in the decision making of the case. It would have been easier for Merrill Lynch leaders and workers to avoid the contract because of the ethical concerns associated with the deal. Evaluating the proposals through the theories presents evidence of the agreement as a sham sale.
