Homework on Vivien Lim and Henry Thoreau


In the Lim article, read pages 675-681, and 687-688. All answers must be in your own words.

1. According to Lim, what makes employees more likely to engage in "cyberloafing?" Explain this in terms that someone who had not read the paper would understand. (2pts)

2. a. To what extent does Thoreau think we are morally obligated to obey the law? Why? (2pts)
b. To what extent does Thoreau think we are obligated to make sacrifices to fight injustices? In other words, does he think we are obligated to give up a lot, or work really hard, to fight injustices? Give some textual support. (2pts)

3. Thoreau does not discuss the relationship between employer and employee, but the ideas he discussed are potentially relevant to this relationship. Specifically, one could try to use ideas in the Thoreau reading to argue that cyberloafing is morally permissible when done for the reasons Lim discusses (see your answer 1). Give this argument. (2pts)

4. In your opinion, to what extent is it morally permissible for employees to cyberloaf for the reasons Lim discusses? Why? (2pts)