Document Type
Article
Publication Date
Spring 2-25-2025
Abstract
In this paper, we examine an ethical dilemma surrounding the environmental and social impacts of uranium enrichment activities at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Piketon, Ohio. Framing the issue through the opposing ethical frameworks of Contractualism and Utilitarianism, we explore whether the economic benefits derived from plant operations justify the environmental and health risks imposed on the local community. Utilitarianism emphasizes the overall benefits to society, including job creation and economic development, while Contractualism argues for the protection of vulnerable groups, demanding fairness and transparency. Through three key arguments—environmental contamination, increased cancer rates, and economic losses in agriculture—we conclude that the long-term harms inflicted on local residents outweigh both real and speculative economic gains. Applying John Rawls' "veil of ignorance" thought experiment, we argue that true justice demands prioritizing the well-being of the most vulnerable and that the economic benefits of plant activities should not be allowed to dominate concerns related to the environmental and social costs.
Course Level
BUMG 6100: Regulations & Ethics in Business
Advisor
Claudia Hanrahan, PhD
Recommended Citation
Lawson, Joshua; Hurley, Allison; and Adams, Tyler, "Sacrificing the Few for the Many" (2025). Business Ethics. 16.
https://digitalcommons.shawnee.edu/business_ethics_3100/16