What Job You Can Accept
I. An Only Opportunity
Gerald Wahr was not prepared for such a sudden turn of
events. He was scheduled to complete his degree in chemical
engineering in June. He planned to return to help his parents
run the family farm right after graduation. However, in early
May his father, Hans Wahr, became seriously ill, and it was
evident he would be hospitalized for an extended period of
time. Gerald's mother and his older brother could continue to
run the farm. But the medical bills would quickly mount.
Without an additional source of income, the family would soon
begin defaulting on its mortgage payments. The best hope for
saving the farm would be for Gerald to find employment as an
engineer.
Since Gerald had expected to return to the farm, he already
missed many opportunities for job interviews. He would have to
work quickly. After an intensive search, only one solid
opportunity surfaced. Pro-Growth Pesticides, Inc. would be on
campus next week to interview candidates for a supervisory job
requiring a degree in chemical engineering.
Gerald certainly seems well qualified for the job. However,
there is a hitch. The Wahr farm uses strictly organic methods.
Gerald's father had always opposed the use of pesticides on
their farm. In fact, he was rather outspoken about this among
the farmers in the area. Gerald admired this in his father. As
a young child he often proudly announced that he wanted to grow
up to be just like his father. Hans Wahr, however, had
different ideas about this. A high school dropout, Hans advised
young Gerald to further his education. "Without a college
degree," he told Gerald, "you'll be as ineffective as I am. You
have to fight fire with fire. If you really want to show those
pesticide folks a thing or two, you've got to be able to talk
their language." So, Gerald decided he would go to college and
study chemical engineering.
Gerald's study of chemical engineering did nothing to shake
his conviction that organic farming is best. Quite the
contrary. He is now more convinced than ever that the pesticide
industry is not only harming the environment generally, but
farm products in particular.
Should Gerald go for the interview? Discuss.
II. Conversations With Friends
At first Gerald rejects the idea of going for the interview.
He thinks of it as a matter of integrity. How could he work for
a company that researches, produces, and markets the very
products he and his family have so long opposed? However, his
friends counsel him otherwise. Here are some of their
arguments. How might Gerald respond to them?
Allen: Look, if you don't go for the job, someone else will.
The job won't go away just because you stay away. So, the
work's going to be done anyway. Your refusing the job won't
change a thing.
Bob: Right! Furthermore, you need to look at this from a
utilitarian point of view--the greatest good for the greatest
number. If you don't go for the job, someone else who really
believes in pesticides will--and that's going to make things
even worse! If you take the job and aren't gung ho, that might
just slow things down a little.
Don: Besides, you might be able to introduce a few reforms
from the inside. That won't kill the pesticide industry, but it
might make it a little bit better--certainly better than if
some zealous pesticide nut takes the job.
Allen: So, it's pretty clear what to do. All things
considered, you ought to go for the job. It's your only real
chance to save the farm; and if someone else gets the job,
Pro-Growth will cause even more harm. You can't be a purist
about these things. It's not a perfect world, you know.
III. The Interview
Gerald Wahr is uncomfortable during the interview, but it
seems to be going rather well. However, the interviewer then
asks: "There are a lot of people who disapprove of the use of
pesticides in farming. Of course, Pro-Growth disagrees. What
are your thoughts about the use of pesticides?"
How should Gerald answer this question?
IV. Jobs
Gerald Wahr's situation may seem extreme. However, it does
raise important questions about job choices. To what extent
should one be concerned about whether there is a good match
between one's basic ethical commitments and job selection? What
kinds of engineering related jobs, if any, would you decline
because of ethical concerns?