Alice and Bob are utilitarian engineers working in the oil and gas industry in Houston. They are currently seeking permission to drill for gas in Siberia, Russia. The only way to obtain all the required permissions, to which they are not entitled, is to bribe the Mayor of Krasnovgorod. Would it be ethically and legally permissible to do so?
A) While it would certainly be illegal to bribe foreign government officials, this might still be the morally right thing to do, if the total consequences for everyone concerned would be optimal.
B) It would certainly be illegal to bribe foreign government officials, and according to all versions of the utilitarian theory, this would also be morally wrong.
C) The legal status of this act is unclear, but it would certainly be morally right to pay the bribe.
D) None of the above (All answers are incorrect.)

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Bribing foreign officials is illegal under laws like the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and is generally considered morally wrong by utilitarian standards, as it can lead to negative consequences such as corruption and unfair practices.

Alice and Bob Are Utilitarian Engineers Working in the Oil